A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: LEARNING FROM THE PAST
Grace and peace to you,
What wonderful weather we are having! Huge thanks to our staff who make our virtual services possible when it is not safe to travel. As we did last Sunday, we will be “online only” for this Sunday.
You might ask what will happen to our Annual 
Meeting (scheduled to follow our Combined Worship Service at 10 a.m.)? We have postponed it until next Sunday, Feb. 1:
10 a.m.: Hearts N Minds adult ed
10:10 a.m.: Body N Soul intergenerational class
11:15 a.m.: Combined worship service (in person and livestreamed on Facebook/website)
12:15 p.m.: Annual meeting (in person and on Zoom)
12:45 p.m.: Boy Scout Pasta Fundraiser Luncheon
This Sunday we are exploring the story of Jesus calling his first four disciples, Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John. I have often focused on the “Follow me and they did!” aspect of this story asking the question – would we do the same?
But in a recent conversation, the concept of Sankofa came up. Sankofa is a concept derived from the Akan people of West Africa that highlights the importance of learning from the past to build the future. In Akan language, the African proverb expressing the concept is expressed as, “so wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenki,” which translates in the English language to, “it is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot.” In other words, what in our past that was good do we not want to forget – what do we want to take with us.
That led me to think of this “Follow me and they did!” in a different light. What in their past prepared them to say ‘yes’ to Jesus’ invitation? What skills and experiences as fishermen, as family men, as men who likely knew Scripture from their past led them to move forward in what was most certainly an uncertain future? Perhaps they remembered Psalm 27 and the first verse:
The Lord is my light and my salvation. Should I fear anyone? The Lord is a fortress protecting my life. Should I be frightened of anything? (Common English Bible).
Perhaps they did feel Jesus was the light that they needed to follow through the darkness of the days – it wasn’t easy being a fisherman under the thumb of the Roman Empire. What do we need to remember to move forward in the light of Jesus’ invitation to follow him? What do we need to remember and hold onto to become fishers of people – carrying the light of Jesus to every place we inhabit and people we encounter? What do we want to take with us as we follow Jesus? Can we remember that the Lord is our light and salvation and that we need not fear anyone or anything? Let’s explore together.
A special note: Please save the date of Sunday, Feb. 15 for a called congregational meeting and combined worship service to hear and act on a presentation from the Strategic Mission Steering Committee. Worship and the meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Lunch will be provided afterwards.
Blessings,
Pastor Karen