The past few weeks have been rough. I don’t really have to tell you that, and I’m sure I don’t have to inform you as to why. I’m in constant prayer for all of our members who have filtered in and out of the hospital for one reason or another, prayer for a difficult loss, and prayer for our church in gen-eral. In other words, I’m just trying to go by this from Philip-pians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

I know that it’s easy to be overwhelmed by things happening around us, but in every moment pray. In every moment give thanks. In every moment talk to God. Simple words of advice that have helped me get through awful circumstances be-fore, and words that will help me get through the next set of such circumstances. I urge you to talk to God when you’re hurting, talk to God when you’re lost or confused, talk to God when you just simply need to lay it all out there. God is in the midst of whatever you are going through, walking alongside you, all you have to do is reach out with your prayers.

Hopefully we are coming out on the other side of this struggle of a time, and I’m thankful for the strength that each of you have shared with each other and with me. I’m thankful for the love that abounds in this place even in the midst of such overwhelming awfulness. I’m thankful for all of you, Richfield, and pray that in every situation we can together praise God and seek God’s love!

Blessings,
Rev. Alec