Kindred in Christ,

During this season of thanksgiving, I give thanks for each of you and the ways you share your authentic selves with our community at University Gathering UMC. And I give thanks for the ways you contribute your time, talent, and finances for the sake of creating an inclusive church, a larger table, and greater justice in our city. This coming Sunday, we conclude our series, Running into the Future. We will reflect together on what it means to be part of something bigger than ourselves and how the act of giving can expand our vision and spiritual lives.

And in the meantime, I share with you a quote from Henri Nouwen:

“The more I think about human suffering in our world and my desire to offer a healing response, the more I realize how crucial it is not to allow myself to become paralyzed by feelings of impotence and guilt. More important than ever is to be very faithful to my vocation to do well the few things I am called to do and hold on to the joy and peace they bring me. I must resist the temptation to let the forces of darkness pull me into despair and make me one more of their many victims. I have to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and on those who followed him and trust that I will know how to live out my mission to be a sign of hope in this world.”

– Henri Nouwen     From “Here and Now: Living in the Spirit”

Alongside you,

Rev. Paul Ortiz