Jamey's Newsletter: Sunday, November 5, 2023
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 13: 1 - 2).
How long? If you are human, you have asked that question. If you have any lived experience, you have struggled with feeling ignored by God. If you have tried to make sense of pain, you have wanted to say to God, “This is long enough.” How long?
The biblical word for the anguish that leads to the question, “How long?” is called lament. “Lament,” said South African theologian Denise Ackermann, “is the sound suffering makes when it recovers its voice.” Lament only makes sense when we believe God is faithful. If you believe God is indifferent to suffering, lament has no purpose.
Unbelief shakes its fist at God or dismisses God in the face of life’s questions. Faith wrestles with God because suffering is an anomaly in a world ruled by a good God. In a world where the Creator of the universe is defined as steadfast in love, things like injustice, sickness, and tragedy don’t belong.
But injustice, sickness, and tragedy are part of our world, so the bible has gifted us with the practice of lament. Laments are words spoken by persons who hold out faith in God.
Toward the end of World War 2, during the liberation of Europe, Allied troops found a written inscription on the walls of a basement in Koln, Germany, by someone who was hiding from the Nazi Gestapo. It read: “I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when feeling it not. I believe in God even when God is silent.”
True faith is trusting through suffering, not in its absence.
Jamey
(Together, What If is a conversation between Michelle Alexander, Ginnie Highsmith, and Jamey Prickett from Gainesville First UMC, Gainesville, Georgia.)
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Prayer of the Week
Gracious God, who comforts and guides, inspire us daily to build bridges, not walls. In a world where many feel estranged and isolated, help us to be vessels of Your love, proclaiming the message of 'welcome home' to all who yearn for belonging. Amen.
Meme of the Week
Dad Jokes
Why was the turkey asked to join a band? He could bring his own drumsticks!
What do sweet potatoes wear to bed? Yammies!
Wisdom Nugget: People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
A Question to Consider: Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest? Why?
Photo Taken By Me
Book I am reading this week
Articles worth reading, videos worth watching, and/or podcasts worth listening to
Why potluck and Wednesday night dinners are important
American Secularization Hasn’t Followed the Script That Secularization Theory Would Predict
The 23 Most Terrifying Places on Earth
Best Sandwich in Every U.S. State
Video on Twitter: Wisdom from Nick Saban
Video: The American Buffalo
If you read, listen, or watch something that you find interesting, I would love to know about it. Send me an email at jamey.prickett@ngumc.net.
What’s Cooking
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
On behalf of the Kawa's church community, we are sharing SOME of her/their story over the past month.
We share so that YOU can rally around this energetic and quirky family swiftly and wholeheartedly.
Would you GIVE to them with your resources to reach our $5,000 goal?
In the past month, Blair has had her life turned upside down. If you have ever experienced a life-changing diagnosis, then you know PRAYERS, SUPPORT, and SHOWING UP through financial donations doesn't "fix" the situation, but it does alleviate the stress of unforeseen bills, extra help needed with their three wonderful kiddos, and allowing Blair and David the support they need.
Blair has been diagnosed with FND, or Functional Neurological Disorder. This is an umbrella term that is used when the nervous system and brain can't communicate correctly with the body. This has impacted Blair's speech, vision, gait, aka walking, and her energy, and honestly, it seems to fluctuate on a daily basis.
Best case scenario: experiences remission
Medium case scenario: has flare-ups and relapses
Stays the same scenario: no change with current symptoms
Worst case scenario: it gets more progressive in how it impacts her nervous system
Her personal prayer points:
-I want to be able to drive
-I want insurance to cover our bills moving forward
-I don't want to lose my speech
-I want my hands to stay tremor-free so I can paint
-I need wisdom in how to approach life as a mom, wife, daughter, and friend moving forward
Happening at Gainesville First United Methodist Church
Saturday, November 11 / 7 pm / Sanctuary of Gainesville First United Methodist Church
The Believers Concert Band is excited to present a special Veterans Day tribute concert on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 7 p.m. – Sanctuary at Gainesville First United Methodist Church, 2780 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA.
We want to pay tribute to our veterans and their families and give thanks for the sacrifices they make in service to our country. The 50-piece band will present a selection of patriotic music that includes familiar favorites as well as a few new pieces we are sure you will enjoy. There will be something for everyone.
Happening in North Georgia
November 18th, 2023, at Jingle Mingle for the lighting of the chicken (the 25-foot metal chicken sculpture on top of Main Street Market) on the Downtown Gainesville Square!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW EVENT DETAILS
Weekly Blessing and/or Quotes
"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." – William Arthur Ward