Dear Church family, 
               The weather has kept us talking this summer: record temperatures, smoke in the atmosphere, oppressive humidity, tornados, torrential rains, and flooding.  But how did it happen that the weather forecasters start warning us about the weather with words like “40 million people at risk today,” or “75 million are in danger today.”  I admit this daily litany of danger bothers me.  It adds to the perception, already too widespread, that we live in a very dangerous world and have much to fear.  It increases our tendency to live with constant anxiety.  To be sure, the weather may cause us concern and there are there are always reasons to reflect on the world in which we live.  But Jesus does not want us to live with a constant sense of worry, but to find ways to live hopefully even in a world in which there are legitimate reasons to worry.  
               We continue the series on family faith stories from the book of Genesis.  This week we get introduced to Jacob’s wives Leah and Rachel and their numerous children.  It is quite a story.  The sermon is “So You Think Your Family is Tough.” The texts are Genesis 29:31-30:34 and Matthew 13:24-30.
See you in church,
Rich