Loneliness and the Church

James 1:2 says, “Count it all joy, my sisters and brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” Loneliness is a trial that many people face. However, we learned yesterday from Robin Johnson (CLPC’s Director of Mental Health Ministry and Adult 55+ Ministry) that while loneliness is a common emotion, “it is not normal.” As ones created by God for connected relationship, we’re not designed to endure loneliness. Robin encouraged us to “pay attention to the quality of our [existing] connections” and to foster new connections. Robin invited us to join her very own Project UnLonely by being “Illuminators” to those we meet. Illuminators pay attention to others with healthy, loving curiosity. Illuminators meet others with a friendly smile, a verbal greeting, or compliment.

If you missed yesterday’s message, or would like to learn more about Project UnLonely, you can listen to the podcast here or watch the entire worship service on our YouTube channel.

Yours for Christ, 

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org 

Contentment

The Tenth Commandment is God’s invitation to contentment. A contented life frees us from wanting everything we like. It also frees us from an “if only” mindset – those thoughts like, “If only my life, job, spouse, partner, kids, etc., were more like that person’s…” However, a contented life is not one without ambition, goals, and dreams. Instead, it’s a life that entrusts all our deepest longings to God’s faithful care. Like all the commandments, the Tenth Commandment invites us to trust God. 

A pathway toward contentment is gratitude. For the next thirty days, take five minutes each day to write ten things you can be thankful to God for. These “ten things” don’t have to be deep or profound and it’s okay if they repeat from day to day. Just make sure you list at least ten things – and stick with it for thirty days. You may be surprised at how your sense of contentment grows as you do.

Listen to the full message here or watch the entire worship service on our YouTube channel.

Yours for Christ, 

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org