Sunday, January 20

Dear Faith Des Peres Community,

I have been listening with interest to the NPR Morning Edition Series titled "Losing Our Religion".  The series covers the rise of the "nones", the growing demographic that sights no religion as their religion of preference.  I've been particularly struck by the words from people who used to believe in God but no longer do because the old religious answers do not satisfy them.  Many of these people lost their faith when tragedy struck them.  They asked "Where is God", and surmised that God is no where to be found. And yet, many of them said they really want to believe in God.  

Their words and thoughts are powerful, and they are worth our time to engage, especially if we want to remain relevant with a younger generation.  So this week we will engage their questions and strugglesand explore different answers to the age-old question, "Where is God when tragedy strikes?"

In order to prepare for Sunday, I encourage you to listen to the NPR series (click the link above) and read John 2:1-11, the gospel reading for Sunday.  It is the story of the wedding at Cana.  In this story we find a number of different responses to the question of where is God when tragedy strikes.  Some of those responses may surprise you and some of them may trouble you.  But, we must engage the responses even if we struggle with them.  It is a sign of faith to struggle with these deep questions and to struggle with God.  It is also a hopeful sign, for in new interpretations, we may engage new people . . .perhaps some of the "nones", who desperately want to believe in God but who cannot believe in old answers that no longer satisfy their spiritual yearnings.

I hope you will join us on Sunday.  Bring your thinking cap, bring a friend, and say a prayer for everyone who wants to believe but cannot.

Blessings,

Annie