“God is our refuge and strength, 
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear, 
Though the earth should change,
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride…
Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, 
I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.”
    - Psalm 46:1-3 10 

Dear friends, 

We have certainly seen a time when it feels like the earth changed, the waters roared along with the winds, and the mountains quaked with swelling pride. The powerful forces of nature overwhelmed much of our many of our attempts to harness it, wreaking havoc and destruction of every kind. 

The Psalmist begins by reminding himself, and us, that God and God alone is our refuge, strength and hope in the midst of the storm – whether a physical hurricane or a personal crisis. The Psalmist concludes by reminding himself, and us, to cease from striving (or “be still) and to know the Lord is God. The two verbs – cease and know - actually rhyme in Hebrew. This made it easier for them to memorize and sing as our hymns and praise songs do for us. Ceasing or being still involves giving up trying to control the things we cannot control anyway. Knowing God means to trust His character, nature and power even in the midst of uncertainty about everything else. 

As we studied this past Sunday in worship, storms play a prominent role in God’s story of Redemption in Scripture. Creation, the Flood, the Exodus, Elijah, and in Jesus’ life. Jesus calmed the storm of the sea of Galilee. At the cross, Jesus experienced the “the full force of the storm of God’s fierce anger at sin…coming down. On His own Son. Instead of His people. It was the only way God could destroy sin, and not destroy His children whose hearts were filled with sin.” Jesus endured this storm in order to demonstrate God’s relentless and infinitely intense love for us. So we can know, in the midst of any storm of life, our God is with us and is our stronghold. He and He alone gets the last world – and it will be good. As we continue to recover from Helene and pray for those about to experience Milton, may we also remind ourselves and one another of this beautiful truth. 

Our Church has responded beautifully and faithfully to so many needs in our community and our region over the last few days - from loving on and physically helping neighbors to volunteering in outreach efforts in the city and beyond. I want you to know that we have been able to give financial assistance to some individuals locally. Additionally, our Mission & Ministry Commission of the Session approved $26,000 from surplus revenue from 2023-2024 to three different disaster relief funds in Western North Carolina. 

Finally, it was a joy to be able to gather in worship the past two Sundays and celebrate God’s goodness and love. I hope to see you this Sunday. 

Your friend, 

Steve Wise