Dear Hot Metal Family,
In this week's Gospel (John 14:15-21) Jesus tells his disciples that though they may feel alone, that he was sending the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to be God's abiding presence with them. The Holy Spirit is the way in which we feel God's presence walking alongside us and working in the world.
Of course, discerning the presence of the Spirit is maybe easier said than done. While we have some stories in the Bible of the Spirit moving in BIG ways (stay tuned in two weeks for Pentecost!), more often than not the Spirit is found in the still, small voice. One might think that hearing that voice would be easier in a time of quarantine, and I know some of you have found that to be true. But the reality for others of us is that the uncertainty and anxiety and grief of this time can still make it hard to feel the Spirit abiding with us.
And yet, we take Jesus at his word and trust his promise that the Spirit is indeed with us and we are not alone. Whenever we see signs of God's love and God's grace, those are signs of the Spirit at work. When we are comforted, or offer comfort to others, that is the Spirit moving in and through us. When we use our voice and actions to advocate for God's justice, that is the work of the Spirit being made known.
I encourage you to find some time in the coming week to think about and pray for the Spirit to be made known to you and through you. Find moments of silence or moments of action where God's comfort and love and grace are more apparent in this world. And remember to join us in community on Zoom as we gather to feel the presence of the Spirit in our own homes, binding us together across time and space, and abiding with us always.
In Christ's peace,
Pastor Erin
Join HMBFC in Anti-Racisim Work: The work of anti-racism and declaring that #BlackLivesMatter does not take a break in quarantine. Join members and friends of Hot Metal in a Facebook group where we engage in discussion and learning about how to be better white allies in the journey toward an anti-racist society. Request to join the group here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/391536268196657/ , and be sure to stay tuned for future book groups discussions, events, and advocacy opportunities.
