“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken.” Isaiah 54:10 |
Dear friends, As all of us continue to struggle with the unknown of the future and the very real challenges of today. I will do my best to keep sharing words of inspiration and hope. Here are some resources to support you this week: ![]() Another Way: I was on a Clergy Coaching Call with one of my mentors Monday night. She recommended this book to me. Here are some highlights of our conversation that I believe could serve us well as the Body of Christ during this time of uncertainty: Strengthen your capacity to embrace mystery by thinking about, playing with, and adapting to uncertainty, because it, like death, is inevitable. Sing, dance, move, take a meditative walk, and engage other embodied practices. Integrating these ways of knowing moves us past the places where we get stuck. In the face of uncertainty and destabilization, give yourself permission to prioritize experimentation and prototyping. Pay attention to history, power, justice, and equity or you will merely make change without making a difference. The wisdom of our ancestors is always present and available to us, so remember to welcome them as we face the most difficult tasks of our lives. Cultivate new possibilities that emerge by resisting the tyranny of either or. Hold the paradoxes that shape our communal life with patience and curiosity. The Coronavirus Prayer: I found this prayer so real, raw, and touching. https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/04/prayer-time-covid-19/610033/?fbclid=IwAR0f9u-pr-CfD3tdb6M70Qkm6hl_9qr4Iy38ua_N3ODIMkl_bkl5Xshm0bM. Little Blue Bottle: I’m constantly being asked for recommendations to help children with grief, and this book about a child losing her beloved neighbor and friend, will soon be at the top of my list. I’ve already preordered from Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/1640652892/?fbclid=IwAR2B_FALIxmchSVh3HjSklr8HWM0PBC0NrP8nF6Ye5bQPn-ZNyQgtGcMEmM. Best Brain Break of the Week: I can’t recommend this episode of The Chef’s Table highly enough. So meditative and wonderful to watch. I didn’t know anything about “temple food” before watching – I was captivated! https://www.eater.com/2017/2/18/14653382/jeong-kwan-buddhist-nun-chefs-table. How to Stay Six Feet Apart: I found this information while looking for practical tips to help my own kids, but honestly I found it helpful for myself as well. https://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2020/05/how-to-teach-children-to-stay-6-feet-apart.html?fbclid=IwAR1S3tOgbmTPAzaziOM1Sy59mYp19lJJnqSC0FXHbApvSum9a_T3QLODzCE. If you wish to talk with me at any time, do not hesitate to reach out. I hold the entire Bethel Church family in my heart and prayers, and ask the same of you. We walk together. “Fortify us, Lord. Show us how. What would your saints be doing now?” Pastor Julie Belman (803) 319-6169 |
0 Comments