So many prayers right now as we prepare for yet another Hurricane…
Dearest Wintergarden Faith Community-
Peace of Christ be with you this day and in the days to come.
Friends, my heart has been heavy for the past week. The huge amount of rain that could come, the flooding that did and could happen…then the storm with lots of rain started to become a hurricane, and honestly, it feels like too much. I’m weary and not sure of what is the next best thing to do. The thing I know to do is pray and trust in God through this all and at the same time, I know we all need to prepare for this storm.
So, thank you to those of you who have let me know you are evacuating…I truly appreciate it. If you are and haven’t let me know, please call or text to let me know your plans. If it is safe to do so, we can have folks go by your homes after the storm to check on them from at least the outside and let you know how they have done.
If you are staying in town, please be very careful. The prediction is that this storm is going to be like nothing we have seen before. It won’t be like Ian, it won’t be like Charley…it will be like Milton and we won’t know what that is like until we live through it. Get your shutters up. Have extra water ready to go in your bathtub and sinks. Follow Charlotte County Emergency Services guidance and direction. For those of you staying, we have a phrase…hunker down…and hunker down well!
I know I keep saying this, but I will probably continue to say it. We have been here before. And we will be here again. It is the hard part of living in Florida. Yet, storms will come and they will go. The wind will be real and the trees could bend. The rain will come and a storm surge will happen. The ground is already saturated and flooding is a real possibility. And, then, things could be really minimal; the storm could turn further north, and that is when we pray for the rest of our state and see how we can support them as they have supported us. It is also my prayer that those who haven’t been able to protect their homes since Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Helene are able to do so with tarps or get to a safe place to “ride out the storm”.
Here are some updates to our schedule this week and important information:
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Office is closed now through Friday. We will gather for worship on Sunday.
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We are cancelling our gathering and bible study for The Chosen on 10/9/24.
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The Food pantry is CLOSED on Thursday. If we can, we most likely will run the food pantry on Friday.
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And if you want to receive text alert messages about storms, please sign up here: www.alertcharlotte.com.
Some other thoughts…do what you need to do for you and your family. Be kind to yourself and one another; everyone is handling this storm very uniquely to their personal situation. That Milton will bring up much trauma from Ian, Idalia, Debby, Helene, and just the ongoing rainstorms. Be patient with one another as well. As people grab “essentials” we all prepare for Milton’s impact to community, be patient in gas lines, at the grocery store, or while driving. Remember that you are loved and you are called to love one another through every storm of life. And prepare. Just get prepared! And I wanted to share these words of scripture, these are the ones that made me cry in worship yesterday, and is still a place where I find my hope and peace in during hard times. I hope they provide peace for you as well.
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
a help always near in times of great trouble.
That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart,
when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea,
when its waters roar and rage,
when the mountains shake because of its surging waves. Selah
There is a river whose streams gladden God’s city,
the holiest dwelling of the Most High.
God is in that city. It will never crumble.
God will help it when morning dawns.
Nations roar; kingdoms crumble.
God utters his voice; the earth melts.
The Lord of heavenly forces is with us!
The God of Jacob is our place of safety. Selah
Come, see the Lord’s deeds,
what devastation he has imposed on the earth—
bringing wars to an end in every corner of the world,
breaking the bow and shattering the spear,
burning chariots with fire.
“That’s enough! Now know that I am God!
I am exalted among all nations; I am exalted throughout the world!”
The Lord of heavenly forces is with us!
The God of Jacob is our place of safety. Selah
May we feel the Lord of heavenly forces is with us…every second, minute, hour, and day of the storms that come our way. Praying for you all.
In Christ and much love,
Pastor Devon
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