From Pastor Pat: 'And miles to go before I sleep'
Walking with our community
(Posted December 4, 2015)
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep. ---R. Frost
As I sit here compiling my thoughts of the topic of peace that we’ve had planned for some time now for Sunday’s focus, yet again the world comes crashing in on us.
Reflecting on these last lines from Frost’s poem, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening:
- When it comes to peace in our culture, we have miles to go before we sleep.
- When it comes to our pledge to Christ to do our best to bring compassion and caring to this tired world, we have miles to go before we sleep.
- When it comes to turning our prayers into meaningful action that halts the hateful carnage in our midst, we still have miles to go, miles before we realize how we as individuals can realize our power to change the world. We have miles to go before we sleep.
Confirmation Students Sponsor Sock Drive for the Homeless
But I do have good and immediate news about our own Confirmation class, comprised of Christian DeCew, Conner Duhamel, Riley Duhamel, and Alex Orr. As their Christmas project, the Confirmation Class, starting this Sunday, starts a Sock Drive for the Homeless. They ask all of us to donate new cotton socks – and winter weight is especially appreciated – that we can bring to church and place in their sock donation box. The more socks the better, and they don’t have to be expensive to be good. The Confirmation Class and their families will give these socks out to our shelter guests on the evening of Tuesday, December 22, so that is our deadline date. If you know of merchants who might also contribute to this effort, please let us know at the church – 203-744-6177.
There are few more welcome gifts than socks to someone living on the streets. Keeping feet warm and dry is difficult and so important to overall health. I am proud to know that our confirmands will be walking with the homeless men and women in our community, as will all of you who contribute socks to the sock drive. After all, we all have miles to go before we sleep, together. Thank you in advance for supporting our youth who are studying to become full adult members of our church. - Pastor Pat Kriss