WINCHESTER CENTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
A Note from Your Pastor February 24, 2022
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see wrong-doing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous— therefore judgment comes forth perverted. Habakkuk 1:1a-4
Oh how I wish I had written this a couple of days ago. I was going to tell you about how our leaders have been meeting to discuss getting the church back up and running with the Quilt Show coming and so many opportunities to feed your mind and spirit during the Lenten Season.
But sadly, at this moment, from what the news tells me, Russia has attacked Ukraine and invaded the border on three sides. Paratroopers have surrounded the airport near the capital of Kiev and are moving towards the city as I write this. I know that I can really do nothing at this point but PRAY. I am always saddened by thought of innocent people caught up in war. We are so blessed that there has not been actual protracted war on our soil since the Civil War (and we were doing that to ourselves). Although some could argue that there are places in our cities that are like war zones because of gun violence. And I concur but (and I hate saying this because it sounds do callous) at least they are not having bombs dropped on them from the sky. Any unwanted and unwarranted acts of aggression make me sick to my stomach. I understand heated arguments but I don’t understand why “no” has to bring on violence. Putin wants Ukraine to be part of their economic system. Ukraine said, “No, we would rather be a part of the European Union.” It almost sounds like a domestic abuse situation. Yet all I can do is PRAY.
Times like these make me think of the prophet Habakkuk. He is watching the Babylonians come closer and closer to taking over his country and he cannot fathom why or how God could let this happen. God’s answers basically, ‘If I told you, you wouldn’t understand.’ And somehow I have to believe that “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”(Romans 8:28). So I will pray (and I hope you will too), that sanctions will work, that the Ukrainian people will be able to stay safe, and that the Russian army will go home. And like Habakkuk, I will have to trust God and “I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what God will say to me, and what God will answer concerning my complaint.” (Habakkuk 2:1)
Blessings
Jackie
PS. God answered him. Check it out.
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see wrong-doing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous— therefore judgment comes forth perverted. Habakkuk 1:1a-4
Oh how I wish I had written this a couple of days ago. I was going to tell you about how our leaders have been meeting to discuss getting the church back up and running with the Quilt Show coming and so many opportunities to feed your mind and spirit during the Lenten Season.
But sadly, at this moment, from what the news tells me, Russia has attacked Ukraine and invaded the border on three sides. Paratroopers have surrounded the airport near the capital of Kiev and are moving towards the city as I write this. I know that I can really do nothing at this point but PRAY. I am always saddened by thought of innocent people caught up in war. We are so blessed that there has not been actual protracted war on our soil since the Civil War (and we were doing that to ourselves). Although some could argue that there are places in our cities that are like war zones because of gun violence. And I concur but (and I hate saying this because it sounds do callous) at least they are not having bombs dropped on them from the sky. Any unwanted and unwarranted acts of aggression make me sick to my stomach. I understand heated arguments but I don’t understand why “no” has to bring on violence. Putin wants Ukraine to be part of their economic system. Ukraine said, “No, we would rather be a part of the European Union.” It almost sounds like a domestic abuse situation. Yet all I can do is PRAY.
Times like these make me think of the prophet Habakkuk. He is watching the Babylonians come closer and closer to taking over his country and he cannot fathom why or how God could let this happen. God’s answers basically, ‘If I told you, you wouldn’t understand.’ And somehow I have to believe that “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”(Romans 8:28). So I will pray (and I hope you will too), that sanctions will work, that the Ukrainian people will be able to stay safe, and that the Russian army will go home. And like Habakkuk, I will have to trust God and “I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what God will say to me, and what God will answer concerning my complaint.” (Habakkuk 2:1)
Blessings
Jackie
PS. God answered him. Check it out.
