This week sees a lot of different activity going on in the lives of our people. That doesn?t come as much of a shock, I know, because our folks at 1^st Presbyterian are so diverse that each week brings myriad activities. Maybe what is unique about this week is that the events that are unfolding around us have a thread that weaves them into one tapestry.

On Wednesday morning, we will have a celebration of the resurrection as we gather to worship God for the life of Peggy Partridge. Since I have been at 1^st Presbyterian, Peggy has been sick. She has, even in ? and maybe especially because of ? sickness and struggle with physical health, been to many people a continued vision of the power of God at work in people?s lives. Her joys have been ours and her pain has been ours. We are connected.

On Thursday evening, my friend Dr. Jay Earhart - Brown will come into town and spend a couple of days in our home. Jay is the newly called president of Memphis Theological Seminary and a seminary contemporary of myself, Earl, and Tom. Work, education, and family have separated us from each other?s presence for many years, but has never erased our bonds. We are connected.

Jay?s trip to the Alabaster area is for the purpose of visiting with both Grace Presbytery

( which meets on Friday ) and Robert Donnell Presbytery ( which we will host on Saturday ). It is always an important time for the church when presbytery meets.We get the chance to renew friendships and create new ones. That is certainly true in our case, as we continue to be brought into the fellowship of a new presbytery. Jay?s presence is important, too. The seminary belongs to the church and the more familiar the church is with those who work there, the more productive the relationship between the church and the seminary can be. We are connected.

During our worship at the meeting of presbytery, we will be gathering at the Lord?s Table for communion. That?s always important. We will hear words that remind us about God?s unfailing love for us, Jesus? death , resurrection, and return, of how people who have never met each other will mysteriously, spiritually be united at the table, how the saints who have died before us celebrate with us, too. We will also hear that it is our duty as Christians to take the love and grace of God into the world. We give to the world as God has given freely to us. We are connected.

Author and poet Nancy Mairs writes these words, " I am ? we are all ? the Body of Christ. Nourished by God, we must bear God into the world and give God away with ourselves. " These words are true. And good. And we will celebrate them in many ways this week alone. Hopefully, we?ll celebrate them always. We are connected.

Grace and peace,