During our Council Check-in meeting this week one of the ideas that was shared is for Council and members of the congregation to share their thoughts, devotions, and prayers with the congregation during this time and so here is our first submission courtesy of Stephanie Freidly.
I recently moved to a new house this past fall. Over the
past couple months I’ve met a few neighbors here and there. There’s a neighbor
a few doors down from mine that is a family with three children about the same
ages as Natalie and Luke. We’ve met one or two times but our schedules have made
it difficult to get together and get to know each other.
This past week, that all changed. After a day of sitting at
my desk with my work computer at home, I went outside with Natalie and Luke and
found a bunch our neighbors sitting in lawn chairs (6 feet apart of course)
chatting, having a good time with kids riding bikes and coloring with side-walk
chalk. They invited us over right away. So Natalie grabbed her tricycle, Luke
grabbed some “colors” (what he calls sidewalk chalk) and I grabbed my folding
chair and we joined our neighbors. We talked about which grocery stores had
what in stock, what we were doing for our jobs or if we still have a job, we
joked about video conferences and just adjusting to this new normal of life
right now – there was such a great feeling of community!
Since then, every time I go outside, if I see the girls a
few doors down from me, they ask if Natalie and Luke can come out and play.
When I was out weeding my garden over the weekend, they got their little
gardening sets and came and helped me weed! They stopped by my house on Sunday
with their mom just to check in and see if I needed anything. Their mom and I
are planning playdate adventures for when things are open again (we’re also
planning ladies nights for ourselves!)
In these uncertain times, it’s important to have good
friends and neighbors both near and far. It’s important to check in with one
another and make sure we’re all ok. Most of all, it’s important to remember
Jesus is our most faithful friend who will always be with us through whatever
we’re facing. We’ll all get through this together! Our St. Peter’s council is
planning to reach out to everyone in our congregation to check in and see if
there is anything we can do for you. I encourage you all to reach out to a
neighbor or friend, near or far and just see how they’re doing, see if there is
anything you can do for them and let them know you care about them and are
thinking about them!
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I
have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
John 15:15
-Stephanie Freidly
