"Hunger" - John 6:24-35

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry and whoever believes in my will never be thirsty.” - John 6:35

Watching the Olympic this week, I was moved when US swimmer, Caleb Dressel, after winning the gold medal failed to give a coherent interview because he couldn’t control his weeping.  Through his tears, he said, “It’s just been a really hard year” and broke down again.  He had reached the pinnacle of success in his sport and it was not enough to overshadow the very real grief he was carrying.

It has been an exciting time for many of us as the world has opened this summer.  Slowly we are creeping to a new normal and though it is exciting, we are all grieving what was been lost.  Many of us haven’t had the opportunity to process and grieve the chaos we went through, so we find ourselves carrying contradicting emotions while simultaneously trying to start life again.  Dressel was right, it’s just been a really hard year.

Which is why I am honored to invite you to join us for Holy Communion this Sunday.  At the Communion table, all are invited to encounter Jesus and to be fed.  Our bodies are provided calories to energize us and move in the world and our spirits are nourished by the presence of the Holy.  We all have hungers in the depths of our souls -- things we are searching for, for comfort and respite -- and it is at the Communion table where those hungers are nourished.  No matter if you join us in person, or live streaming, or watching on Tuesday morning, God meets us when we join together at the Table.  Let us gather and be nourished during this difficult year.

Peace, Pastor Shannon Smith