Weekly Message: Looking Ahead

Dear members, adherents, friends, and family of Knox / St. Giles;

I hope you’ve all been keeping warm this week as we start to move into a new season. As the snow comes and goes, I think about how much it reflects this season for all of us – some things settling down, others shifting, and a rhythm we’re still learning to navigate as we adjust.

This coming Sunday we gather for worship, and are reminded that we’re part of something that stretches far beyond any single building or year. In our scripture readings for this week, we see Jesus challenging the religious leaders of his day, who teach one thing and live another. It invites us to ask ourselves what that looks like for us, paying attention to whether our words match our actions. 

That kind of reflection means humility, patience, and the courage to sit with discomfort. God doesn’t ask us for perfection, only honesty. It’s easier to point at the failures of people two thousand years ago than to examine our own shortcomings, but our other readings this week allow us to see what it means to be filled with strength, justice, and integrity. That’s the sort of work we have in front of us.

Winter often feels like an odd time to be starting something. The gardens are gone, yard work is packed away, and things above ground look unremarkable. But under the surface there’s still movement – roots holding fast, seeds waiting for spring, grubs curled up in the soil. Not much visible growth, but plenty happening quietly. Maybe that feels familiar to us, too; glad for what’s ahead but still grieving what’s behind. The slow business of becoming what we’re meant to be. 

Please see the attached bulletin for this week’s announcements. There are plenty of things happening this season, new and old, so feel free to reach out with any questions. Worship is Sunday at 10AM, and we hope to see you all there!

Sincerely,

Kaiden