Mid-week News 3-6-13

Dear Family of Faith, There is a God! That’s how I felt last Sunday after an incident on my way to church. I stopped at a light on Elgin Blvd. saw one car coming, waited for it to pass, and then pulled out to make a right turn. What I didn’t see was a sheriff’s deputy coming, and I “cut him off.” Well, it took about two seconds for the flashing lights to come on and I was pulled over to the side of the road. “Oh, no!” I thought. “I’ll be late for choir rehearsal and who knows what else!” As I handed over my driver’s license and waited for him to run his checks, I was ruing the fact that it would be a costly mistake for not seeing his car coming. He came back to the car. I rolled down the window, ready for the bad news. He handed me back my license and said, “Let’s just call it even this time.” There is a God!! At a time when I needed a little grace, it came—from a most unexpected source, too! That’s just like God—to show up in a disguise to remind us that He is not very far away, and that in our most desperate times, we can sure of His Presence. I hope that is true for you—that you, too, have those little reminders in your life that God has not abandoned you, but is very much with you in the midst of life. As you know by now, the Baltimore Ravens managed to hang on to a 3-point lead to win the Super Bowl over their opponents, the San Francisco 49ers, who came roaring back in the second half. Prior to the big day the mayors of San Francisco and Baltimore were interviewed on CNN. What struck me about the interview was not what they said as they bantered back and forth about the game, but rather that San Francisco’s Mayor Li is Asian American and Baltimore’s Mayor Rawlings Blake is African American. In other words, both are members of minorities. It was just one more reminder that the face of our country is rapidly changing, and we need to be open to the diversity around us. I’m so glad that you and we, as a congregation, are accepting of all people. Life will be much easier for us than for those who try to live in the past. See you on Sunday for the party. Wear some colorful clothes and plan to have a good time! With affection, Pastor Carlan