Interim Grace Notes: Bishop Daniel's December 12 email

Dear Friends in Christ,

“Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day and shall be my people, and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling” (Zechariah 2:10-13).

Mosaic art by members of Christ City Church, Memphis, TN

Many of us have spent the last year reading through Poetry (Book of Psalms) and Prophecy (the Major Old Testament Prophets and the Book of Revelation). Many of these readings have been unsettling and challenging, but also inspiring and hopeful.

In Zechariah chapter two, the prophet shares an image of inspiration and hope. The Lord will come and dwell in our midst. God will be with us. And as we await God’s coming, we are called to a simple task, “Be silent!” Well, maybe that’s not quite such a simple task after all. Seeking silence in a noisy world can be a difficult endeavor. Silence takes intention, thoughtfulness, and practice.

A few simple practices in the pursuit of silence may include:

Setting aside intentional times of quiet, in which you don’t speak
Commuting without the news, music, or a podcast
Exercising (running) without ear buds or headphones
Taking a social media Sabbath
Scheduling a silent retreat at a retreat center.

During this reflective season of Advent, I have disengaged from social media, in order to more fully engage in personal devotion, prayer, and silence. My soul has felt the difference. I find that my mind is less cluttered, and my prayers are more focused.

I invite you to take a quiet moment this day to ponder what simple practice in the pursuit of silence may be good for your soul.

A Few Comings and Goings

On Sunday morning, I was blessed to gather with Synod Authorized Minister, Bob Fett, and the people of God at English, Bluffton to celebrate 150 years of mission and ministry.

On Monday evening, December 12, Synod Staff members and I will be meeting with the leaders of Bethlehem, Pemberville.

On Tuesday morning, December 13 at 9:00 a.m. I will be participating in a “Care of Souls Retreat” at the Lial Retreat Center in Whitehouse.

On Wednesday and Thursday, December 14-15, the Northwestern Ohio Synod Staff will be gathering for a Planning Retreat at Our Lady of the Pines in Fremont.

On Sunday, December 18, I will be gathering with Pastor Bob Cochran, and the people of God at First, Findlay to give thanks to God for Pastor Bob’s upon his retirement.