From the Pastor’s Desk

I am writing this on the day before Halloween. The one day a year we try to scare each other and ask others to try to scare us.

The other 364 days a year that we would rather not deal with fear. Yet there seems no way to escape it. Many people and organizations make or raise money off increasing fear. Commercials try to sell us products for home or personal security, telling us that there is a threat around every corner. Then the threat of aging, or (gasp) wrinkles in our clothes. Social media companies know that if they can scare people with news or opinions it gains them more clicks and profit. Of course, our political and public spheres are rife with scare tactics that are as prevalent as skeletons and witch’s hats on Halloween.

These use fear because it works – it plays on our instincts that seek to protect us from threats. The problem is we don’t need to be protected from bears and wooly mammoths each day, we need protection from manufactured fear itself. Which is not to say that there aren’t real concerns or problems. And fear can be good, such as telling us not to put our hand into the fire. But when everyone is an “enemy” to “all we hold dear” or “our way of life” (pick a way of life- someone is being proclaimed as the enemy to it.) No side, party or ideology is exempt from either being labeled a threat or as the one being threatened. It’s profitable financially and effective in consolidating “power” in many places.

So what do we do? As Christians, we remember the call throughout Scripture of “Fear Not”. “Fear not” isn’t whistling in the dark, ignoring the reality around us. It’s not even saying everything will be fixed or okay. It’s a reminder of the One we follow, the One who is with us in the darkest valley or on the highest mountain.

We can trust in God’s presence and promises to never leave us. “Fear not” is knowing that doing the right thing is always the right thing. Even when -especially when-it seems there are few who care or benefit. Because it’s the loving action, the loving thought, that takes up space fear is trying to occupy. When our fears are “right sized” we can respond to what is really happening around us and not some imagined future possibility.

At the heart of Christianity (and other religions) is God’s command to love our neighbor as we would be loved ourselves. Not fear them, not hate them, not wish for their destruction. Love. Just as we see God do through Jesus. No matter what geographical or ideological border we imagine.

For it is love that casts out fear. God’s perfect love. Go ahead and be petrified on Halloween or at the scary movie. Just remember, even then, you are never, ever alone.


God's grace and peace.
Pastor Deb Kunkel


P.S. As I finish this Jamaica has just been hit by a devastating hurricane. The gridlock in D.C. is threatening to leave SNAP and WIC recipients without needed food assistance, that can be the difference between having enough to eat and going without meals. These are just some of the places that God is already at work and inviting us to join in to love our neighbor. Please prayerfully consider supporting Rescue and Relief efforts through organizations such as our wider UCC Disaster relief, and Food Shelves such as our own with donations. Let these neighbors in God’s community hear with our actions God’s assurance to “fear not,” They are not left on their own. God and their siblings in Christ stand with them in these times of need and crisis.