I appreciated your turning over the soil anew in this field. Like most pastors, I have preached this more than once, and you heard a fresh word which you lovingly shared. My heart hurt for your friend, but was encouraged the church loved her well in her own time of need. That they did so also speaks to how well she has loved them, like Jesus, into really being the church. I felt sad, too, for the many who have found anything, but support and comfort from the church in their times of great shock and grief. I know too many who were churchy from the cradle, in way I’ll be… and yet they have given up on the church after the church didn't give damn or worse hurt them when they were hurting. Not surprisingly, I suppose, those I know are all women from conservative evangelical backgrounds. You and colleague give me hope that the church might still matter.
I appreciated your turning over the soil anew in this field. Like most pastors, I have preached this more than once, and you heard a fresh word which you lovingly shared. My heart hurt for your friend, but was encouraged the church loved her well in her own time of need. That they did so also speaks to how well she has loved them, like Jesus, into really being the church. I felt sad, too, for the many who have found anything, but support and comfort from the church in their times of great shock and grief. I know too many who were churchy from the cradle, in way I’ll be… and yet they have given up on the church after the church didn't give damn or worse hurt them when they were hurting. Not surprisingly, I suppose, those I know are all women from conservative evangelical backgrounds. You and colleague give me hope that the church might still matter.