Sunrise, Sunset

I decided to treat you to a photograph I took standing on my parent’s deck in Idaho, looking out over the Spokane Valley in Washington. Mother Nature treated us to a spectacular sunset---one of many I had the chance to witness in my recent travels to Idaho. What a stressful two months this has been for my family—but like everything in life, it’s all a mix. My folks have suffered terribly following their automobile accident, but there have been blessings as well. Expressions of care sent by friends and church families, prayers extending across the miles—we have felt so much love and support.

Life is always a mix, isn’t it? On November 1 we will observe All Saint’s Sunday, remembering twelve people who have meant so much to the VCC family over the years. While we grieve their absence among us, we will celebrate their lives and give thanks that they now share in the Resurrection of our Lord. At this same time of year we are preparing for a new year of leadership in the church. We are welcoming a slate of new leaders and I’m so very pleased that so many new people are "stepping up to the plate". Some of our faithful leaders are ready to pass the mantel, and it will be exciting to see how the story unfolds.

In the midst of change, there is one thing we know for certain; God is with us. The only sure thing in life is the eternal love of God. It carries us through struggle and celebration, and with every sunrise and sunset we give thanks for God's love and grace.

May we find the courage to trust in God in the face of each challenge, and may we take the time to offer thanks for the goodness of God which surrounds us, often coming to us through the kindness of others.

Blest Be the Tie that Binds,

Amy