In December of 2016 we asked those in worship: Where are you seeing hope?
Here is what we came up with that Sunday.
In our granddaughters
I see hope in nature, where I instantly think of God and God is my ultimate hope
Sunrises
Christmas
Grandchildren’s faces & eyes
Beauty of nature
Hope comes in and goes out of my life. What is life or to experience joy if we don’t have hope?
Loving relationships
Fresh fallen snow
Hope is like the snow that covers our dirty world as God’s forgiveness takes away, washes away our sin. Eventually the snow will melt and the cycle will repeat over and over again.
In children & young people
Daily devotion time
Children’s excitement
Hope is looking to the day when God chooses us to be with him, no more heartache, pain, struggle or disappointment
Small random acts of kindness
First snowfalls
Sunday worship
In family seeking help for family issues
In my wife’s firm beliefs
The uptick in volunteerism since the election
In each new sunrise, each new day
When children cheerfully lead
In amazing relationships with my adult children
When walking with my dog
In our congregation’s response to our own needs and the needs beyond our doors.
In new perspectives
My hope is found in God’s love
Unexpected/unsolicited acts of kindness
Our precious child cancer survivor
I hear hope in music
In the word of the Lord
In people/young adults/babies
In the hardy beauty of spring wildflowers
In my brave, courageous students who stand in the face of fear and stereo types every single day
In our youth
In the stars when I walk at night. After thousands of years they still point the direction to go
Experiencing the promise of new beginnings as people sit down to talk and listen to someone who does not share their values or perspectives
In a 600 voice choir of young people
In the seeds of a sequoia and the pines that sprout following a fire
In Christmas lights. If people work that hard to beautify their homes it must mean part of their spirit still shines. Where there is light and life there is hope
Through the eyes of my kids
In my husband and daughter
In God’s word
In knowledge and understanding I find hope
When snow is melting and spring is coming
Hope comes in many forms. It can change from day to day. Thank God for hope! For me right now I find hope in the people around me.
In the eyes of a child celebrating an 8th birthday when at birth they weren’t expected to live more than a few moments
Music can fill me with hope
In volunteerism
Grace brings me to hope
The innocent faces of grandkid and their enthusiasm for life
In my baptism
In the smiles of a 2nd grader battling cancer. They could curl up and hold a pity party but instead they are choosing to live life to the fullest and relish moments
In receiving Jesus body and blood
Through two knowledgeable and wonderful pastors
In my daily reading of God’s word
In babies which is God’s way of saying the world should go on
In my best friends and family
In our new president
In Holy Communion
Knowing that the world is full of kind, sharing and good people
In being generous
In the Holy Spirit working in my son’s life as he opens his heart for God’s purpose for him
In positive attitudes
I hear hope in pastors’ sermons
In church
In student’s eyes when they finally “get it”
In the new president
In the words of the pastor
In the love of family
In the health of our congregation
In my grandmother
When I see the star on the hill
In my heart (one must always look within)
Spending time in God’s word each day
In meeting new people
Looking out over the river valley with trees covered in snow
Running into people at the store or a restaurant unexpectedly.
In the generosity in Tri-state region
Going to church with kids
The gifts of seeing and hearing give my heart the lift of a living hope
That God is answering prayers for the healing of my grandnephew and that family can celebrate healing and Christmas together
In the promise of better tomorrows