Gratitude and hope. When I finished defending my dissertation for my Doctorate of Ministry last month, someone asked me how it felt. I had two emotions: gratitude and hope. I felt immense gratitude for all that I had learned, but more importantly, I felt gratitude for our faith community. My doctoral work focused on intergenerational ministry, and specifically, with Baby Boomers and Millennials in our congregation. I had 14 participants from First on Fifth in my research study, and they came with hearts and souls open to the process. I was grateful for the many ways I learned from them and for how they helped shape a beautiful structure that we can use for years to come within our faith community.
I found hope in knowing that the future of First on Fifth is rooted firmly in our connections to each other and the ways we desire to love each other and be in community. As I write this newsletter article, I am sitting at the hospital with my wife who is about to undergo emergency gallbladder surgery. It has been a scary 24 hours, and yet, it has been our First on Fifth family (of all ages) who have reached out to me to express love, prayers, and support. It has sustained us as we are running on adrenaline and little sleep. It has calmed Karen’s stress as she has wondered what is happening to her body and as we soak in a lot of medical terminology and wait for the surgery. Connecting with church family brings me hope that God is still at work among us.
Gratitude and hope. It is more than enough to carry us through all situations. For those interested, my doctoral graduation is coming up soon and you are invited! And the next time you see Karen she will be a new woman without that pesky gallbladder!
You are loved!
-Pastor Amy
