“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
Matthew 13:31-32
Dear friends,
It’s easy for me to get discouraged when there’s so much news of natural disaster, violence and injustice in our world. And then, as the garden fades and the leaves begin to fall, I spy a perfect bird’s nest in the holly bush beside my kitchen door.
Look carefully…notice the colorful strips of paper woven so beautifully into this sweet little home? They came from the nesting balls we made together and hung in my garden last spring. What a lovely reminder of the ways we can touch the lives of others, sometimes in ways that we will never know.
In the same way, our Christian Explorers led the congregation in a September service project to assemble hygiene kits for Church World Service. They will go to those in need in Haiti and other places around the globe.
A wash cloth and hand towel, soap, a tooth brush, a comb, ten band-aids. Imagine how it feels to be able to wash your face and hands for the first time in days, to clean and dress a wound, or to comb your hair. It may not seem like much, but it is a gift of health and dignity to so many who need these simple items. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped to put the kits together.
Take heart, dear ones. When things feel overwhelming remember that one small kindness has the power to make a difference. In the midst of the chaos of our world, have faith that God’s love is at work in each one of us, sometimes in small acts and in ways that we will never know.
Blessings for October,
Karen Nell