South West Norfolk Pastoral Charge

     Come to  Coffee & Conversation:)  

Join Pastor:   Rev. Ted Smith   WEDNESDAY'S at 10:00am , bring your coffee for great conversations on ZOOM

Click on the ZOOM MEETING Link Above

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A WELCOME INVITATION TO ALL WOMEN OF THE CHURCH to U.C.W. Meetings

Meeting Dates for 2026:   Meeting the 1st Wednesday at 1:00pm at Courtland United Church

October 7, 2026

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                                                                  Consider the “Long Game” in a “Short Game” World

Greetings God’s beloved, as our lives continue to unfold It seems we don’t have to look too far to witness struggle, pain, and uncertainty in the world around us. As we are bombarded by the current stories that inform our lives in the present, I am reminded by the longer stories of humanity that these things shall pass and new days lie ahead that will be more promising. The wisdom words found in Ecclesiastes offer us images of a time for every season and for every matter under heaven. (see Ecclesiastes 3: I–15).

In the midst of our current times and experiences I invite us to consider something that has always been there for us and sometimes we forget, or struggle to see it and embrace it. Hope, yes hope, as Saint Paul wrote to the church at Corinth concluding his lesson on love offered this.

“Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love” (1st Corinthians 13:13)

Yes, we see Paul claims love to be the greatest, but clearly love is intimately connected to faith and hope. These are the stepping-stones of our faith journey together.  I want to focus on hope this week. Here is the Oxford Dictionary’s definition of hope,

“Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large. As a verb, its definitions include: "expect with confidence" and "to cherish a desire with anticipation."

“Hope plays the long-game and is not dependent on winning every skirmish in the battle. It reminds us that we are part of a whole that will continue long after our work is done” ( Joe Phelps, “Light in the Darkness” Courier Journal, April 16, 2013).

Thus, hope is not defeated by the many concrete instances of diminishment, dismay and discouragement. Hope rooted in God has a very long reach and huge staying power out beyond the troubles of any given day. Consider then the goals of Christian hope and the practices of Gospel hope.

The goal of our hope is the conviction that God’s will for the well-being, peace, and justice of the world is intense and durable, and will come to fruition. We pray that God’s Kin-dom will come on earth as it is in heaven. We dare to pray because we do not doubt that it will be the case, because God is relentless and tenacious about that outcome.

And the hopeful piece (peace?) is the witness of humanity in response to the current wars, famines and wildfires we are witnessing in the world today. I continue to lift up Fire-fighters from all nations who are rallying, risking and joining those most in need.

If we learn anything as a country, as a global community, I hope we learn our human plights are connected. In a small world, we are each other's keepers. We must take particular care of one another. Peace will only be achieved when we finally accept that has always been so.

I suppose this, too, is my hope. I hope the lesson we learn is that human life is sacred— Our leadership going forward must center human thriving and planetary sustainability. Otherwise, we continue to play power games of domination, intimidation, and control.

Hope will carry us through the long game as it always has and always will. God has destined the world for well-being. As Dr. King offered the world so many years ago:

The long arc of history is bent toward justice

The long arc of history is bent toward peace

The long arc of history is bent toward inclusiveness

So, there we have it. As we invest in our little patch of work where God has put us, bearing witness right amid the skirmishes, part of the whole, the bigger picture that will continue after our work is done.       As the psalmist offers the last word:

              Weeping may last for the night,but joy comes with the dawn.   (Ps. 30:5)

…and she comes riding on the infinite wave of hope.

 Summer Blessings to you.                                    PT.