Blog:FOREST LAKE TALKS

Dear Friends,

This week has been packed with evidence of God at work in our world.

1. On May 19^th, Governor McMaster signed legislation that removes evictions and eviction filings from the public index once they are seven years old. This legislation has been a focus of the work of our MORE Justice organization this year, and the 26 congregations who are members of MORE Justice have been instrumental in drawing attention to the need for such reform. Tenants with evictions or filings (even those that didn’t result in evictions) often have trouble getting safe and affordable places to live.  Even when an old notice results from a job loss or divorce or other life season that has been resolved, a family can be plagued forever by one bad year.  Now, if a tenant has seven years of trouble-free rental history, they get a second chance.  Good thing Christians are second-chance people! This is bringing good news to bad news!
2. On Sunday, May 31^st we were privileged to baptize a mom and two children during worship, and also two children in a smaller service following worship. I have not ever baptized five people on one Sunday! In addition, during worship, we received two adult members by Reaffirmation of Faith.  To be baptized as an adult and/or to reaffirm one’s faith (that means that they were baptized earlier but had not intentionally lived and claimed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord) is always a sign of God’s Holy Spirit at work in our hearts!  And when we invited the congregation to walk forward during the final hymn to be marked with water from the Baptismal Font as a sign of their own reaffirmation of faith, people walked forward many of them with tears in their eyes.  Jesus calls us all to “follow” – not to argue over theology or to live perfect lives.  This congregation’s intention to follow in the way of Jesus is evidence of the Holy Spirit!
3. After worship last Sunday, 11 FLPC folks gathered for a Decker Collective event to pick up trash along Decker Blvd. And with us were neighbors, including three Rabbi’s, from all three Synagogues, and members of their congregations. Trash got picked up! Neighbors got to know each other! Interfaith cooperation was modeled! Good news!
4. And, this week, our building has been full of people! FLPCamp provided a safe, faith centered place for children and youth from Monday through Thursday (8 AM to 5 PM)!  The children and youth had a blast!!  If you were not here to see the energy and positivity, just ask the ten adult chaperones or the 22 kids who participated!  Then, we hosted a critical incident debriefing for our friends and community partners at the Forest Acres Police Department who were dealing with a traumatic event in our community.  And all of that was in addition to the regular meetings and traffic.

There is a lot of bad news in the world. Jesus brought good news to the bad news he found. When we do the same, we are following Jesus.  Where do you see bad news to which you can bring good news? That may be exactly what is required of you this week.

Look for the work of the Holy Spirit. We can recognize it wherever we see the fruit of the Spirit:love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)  THAT is Holy Spirit stuff!!