Dear Parish Family, 
"Let us cross to the other side." Jesus speaks these words to His disciples as they prepare to cross the Sea of Galilee. We see in these words the Lord inviting us all on the journey of life, crossing over from what is old and sinful and becoming a new creation in Christ. This journey is called the Paschal Mystery. It is an adventure, a risk worth taking, a transformative journey of our entire nature to become a new creation in Christ.
 
As is always the case with life, a storm kicks up. The disciples make the typical mistake of trying to navigate the storm on their own without waking up Jesus. When they finally wake Him, they don't just ask for help, they assume that He "does not care that [they] are perishing." How many times do we try to get through the troubles of life on our own without asking for God's help, or, when we finally get angry or terrified enough to speak to God, complain that He doesn't care enough to help us!
 
The truth is that the Lord does care. With Him in our boat, we are never perishing in the storm, even if we suffer or die. He always brings us safely through life's storm to eternal life. He always calms the storm, but we need to have faith and trust Him to act. Sometimes the storm is a personal issue we are facing, a relational dilemma, a work problem, a health concern, or a spiritual battle. Do we know and trust Him who has power over the wind and sea? 
 
What is the big storm in your life right now? Take time this week to notice how you react in the midst of the storm. Are you terrified and believing the lie that God doesn't care and can't help you, or are you responding with trust knowing God is with you and asking for His help? 
 
Please pray for our children and volunteers who are participating in our Vacation Bible School this week. I'm excited for them to learn and grow in their faith in a lighthearted, fun, and communal way!
 
I am yours in Christ,
Fr. Scott Goodfellow