A Community of Love and Compassion

 BEING SALT AND LIGHT

 Our statement of intent as a congregation is in front of us every Sunday. "We are a Community for Faith Formation, Spiritual Growth and Compassionate Caring."  We could have said we are a church or a congregation but the word community seems more appropriate, broader, more inclusive. Many who are a part of our community do not make it to worship every Sunday. Many in the community live here and somewhere else from time to time. Some who lived here at one point now live somewhere else but they are still a part of the community. Some people used to attend more often, but now, due to life circumstances or a change in the way they view the world, attend irregularly, on holidays, or even on line.  They are a part of the community.  The very concept of a community is that we share a set of guiding principles. For most of us those principles are grounded in the words and actions of the rabbi, teacher, Jesus.  The central guiding principle is love. The branches of the tree of love include kindness, generosity, forgiveness, mercy, care for the poor, healing for the sick, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and loving the enemy, to mention a few of the branches.  I thank you all for allowing me to be a member of this community. 

Along the way,

PN