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The theme for our 2025 Reunion in CHOOSE HOPE. Day one, August 13th, was Story of Hope. We looked at the Pentecost story in Acts 2, as well as Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope." What stories give you hope these days? While over a hundred of us are gathered, many were not able. How may we bring hope to those who those who were unable to? How can we share it with those outside of our faith communities? In our neighborhoods, schools, etc? What do these scriptures call us to do?
Thursday's theme was Breathe in Hope. Our morning worship included a children's moment using the book Alphabreaths,which taught intentional breathing techniques that were fun for the children but also reminded us adults to take a moment to just breathe. During a small group discussion, we were asked to consider what is making us lose hope. The news seems to be a common thing causing us to lose hope. One member stated that it is especially hard when you are priesthood and are unsure how you can even make use of it due to "just" being that office, especially when you are doubting God. Our Prophet-President, and guest speaker, stated to this group that we need to remove "just" out of our vocabulary when used in that context. We are not "just" anything. You are not JUST a Priest, or JUST a nurse, etc. You are a Priest. You are a nurse. You are a teacher. How do we get stuck on being JUST______? How can we turn it around to something more like "I AM A PRIEST!" "I AM A NURSE!" "I AM A TEACHER!" Who we are does make a difference, we do provide hope to others and help them eliminate "just" from their vocabularies? Breathe in Hope. Breathe out hope and encouragement.
On Friday, we turned towards hope. The Holy Spirit is sometimes described as an "invisible wind you cannot see but whose effect you can see." In the story of Pentecost, people could not see the Holy Spirit, but could definitely see and feel its effect. When have you seen and/or felt its effects? Many Christian traditions use a Trinitarian view, separating God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit into three different entities. We refer to theme separately but see them as different forms of one entity. Some have explained it in terms of different states of matter. Take water, for instance. It can be a liquid, water. It can be a solid, ice. It can also be steam. All of these are different states of the same substance. We feel them differently and they have different uses. How do you experience God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit differently? What does it look like when you respond to each? Do you respond to each or do you choose to hold one closer? How can we use this relationship to help us turn towards hope?
On Saturday, Day 4 of our Reunion was the Spirit of Hope. The idea is that the Holy Spirit is within as a flame that heals beyond language differences. Think of a time when there was a language barrier that kept you from communicating with someone or that the barrier made you begin to lose hope in the situation. How did you feel? In the children's class in particular, the was a book called "How Do you Say Peace?" In it, many different characters, from many places around the world told their names and how they say peace in their languages. Each culture has its own world for peace, but it is also something that can be understood without words. It can be felt and seen and experienced. It is something a great majority of the world craves and is something that the world sorely needs. How can simple acts bring about a Spirit of Hope? A famous quote, often attributed to the Dalai Lama, states "Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects." How might we cause ripples that lead to peace? Think on how you can do that this week and onward.
As our 2025 Reunion drew to a close on Sunday, we heard a challenge from our Prophet-President, Stassi Cramm. We said thanks to the kitchen staff who kept us few this week. We said our "see ya laters" to friends, new and not-so-new. We hugged, our eyes teared. We loaded into our cars to drive home, some going to their respective airports for longer journeys home. How can we bring hope with us? In Community of Christ, we believe in the Enduring Principle of All Are Called. It states “God graciously gives [all] people gifts and opportunities to do good and to share in God’s purposes. …We respond. How will you respond with your gifts and go onward in hope? In a seemingly hopeless world, we need to peacemakers, the comforters, the caregivers, etc. We can respond in the ways we feel called, we just need to be ready to listen to that sometimes still, small voice and be ready to say yes.

July brought us many great scriptures to guide us through the trials that our world is facing currently. We were told not to grow weary, but to trust in God's plan.
In a time when many of us are feeling helpless and maybe as if God just might be a little quiet at the moment, it is easy to just admit defeat. Although the scriptures were written by man, their inspired words offer us a path towards strength. This does not mean that we should not be sensitive to the world around us. Quite the opposite. We SHOULD still be, but we should also allow ourselves to be open to being a light in that world, no matter how small that light may be.
After baptism and confirmation, we are called to live a new life. We are often called to do difficult things in this new life. While we might have chosen to keep to ourselves before, we are called to follow a path that will have a new set of trials, but with a promise of a greater reward at the end. We are called to put Christ at the center, above all else. This means keeping his teachings above other beliefs that we might hold. This is increasingly hard in today's world.
Much like a tree, that is burdening with too much fruit, we make bend or break. But under the right conditions, we flourish.
In a world where there is so many unknowns and so many of us question how we can possibly be doing the right thing if so many actively fight against us, this passage can be a source of comfort. God weeps at our planet being constantly harmed by overdevelopment and other environmental destruction. He weeps when child are intentionally harmed. He weeps we entire populations are intentionally starved. He also weeps when don't do anything against it. We must work to the fullest of our ability to fight against these harms. This can be by something as simple as hosting beach clean-ups, visiting a shut-in neighbor, or offering to come sit with the children of a widow/widower or single parent when they just need some extra support. It can be as extravagant as writing to our local and national government representations to speak out, running for an office ourselves, or hosting a special gathering to support or speak out.
Many things about God are not known to us. Sometimes that makes us feel alone, but it should do the opposite. Take it as a challenge. Many of us played mystery games as children. Go back to that part of childhood. Take little tidbits as these as use them to lead you to the answers you seek. Perhaps when God feels silent, He may just be silently listening and giving us the time to work through our questions.
When we receive Jesus through the waters of baptism, we should continue to live our lives rooted in him. We are to seek him continually, turning away from traditions and practices that cause us to stray. We are not to let anyone judge us for how we practice, as long as we keep Him as the focus. What practices do we find that bring us closer to Jesus? There are many Christians who also find comfort in Buddhism (as Buddhism is more based on practices of peaceful and intentional living, versus worshipping a certain deity). Many regularly attend yoga and practice Eastern methods of meditation. A hike to a waterfall and reveling in the stillness of nature shows us the beauty that He has created, without the interference of creations of man. Certainly a game of pickleball can also offer that stillness.
How do you combat the things that take you away from Jesus? In today's world, we are often pulled in every way but towards him, especially as we begin to feel hopeless with all of the cruelty and pain happening around us. I challenge you to find something new, maybe even a little unconventional to bring you back to him or to a place where you can commune with him in that stillness.

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