Fall is upon us with the excitement of a new school year with Advent and Christmas just down the road. Yet, it is hard to find the comfort and pleasure of years past. The comfort of what we considered normal life has slipped away in the uncertainty of the times. We forget that normal is always changing, always has and always will. But not this fast! We look for ways to find security, something to hang on to and ride out the storm. We need an anchor, often unseen beneath the waves holding us fast, even in the tempest. A safe place to find peace and assurance in troubled waters. Jesus is such an anchor.

In Christ, we have one who is well versed in holding life together even in the darkest times. It is often in the hardest days that we find the peace that surpasses all understanding. Though we want our world and our life fixed, just as it was before, we find life continues even without our approval. The one constant of life, the anchor unseen, is the love of God for each of us.

The church is called by God to be an active expression of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. When we join in Christ and share the love of God, we become the church, a safe place for our neighbors, our family, and ourselves. In working with Jesus for the healing of our world, we find that the broken pieces of our lives are mended together. Life is not the same and neither are we. But we can find purpose and peace in sharing the love of Christ our Lord. We are mended, different, a new creation, but beautiful, strong, and part of God’s work in the healing of the world.

Our worship continues, live and in person and together on Facebook, we share the love of God. Our children’s and Youth programs continue to offer a place for our young ones to learn and grow in Christ. We are looking for ways to share the community of Sunday Schools and Bible study. Our ministries continue to care for the physical needs of our community in the food pantry and loaves and fishes. Our prayer and care team reaches out to us in our times of need. Some things may look a little different, but the love of God is still plentiful at FUMC Bridgeport.

Come and let us continue to share God’s love, and life together, to be an anchor for one another.

May the Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

Pastor Rick