August 19 Update from Eliana Maxim

“I lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth....the Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.” (Psalm 121: 1-2, 7-8)

Dear friends, 

This has been an exceptionally difficult week of heartbreak as we witnessed the desperation of people around the world: the anguish of our Haitian siblings already reeling from poverty and political strife, now finding themselves in a post 7.1 earthquake that struck at the most vulnerable in the country and devastated communities leaving thousands upon thousands without home, water, and/or food; the desperation of our Afghan siblings as the Taliban regime takes control of the country with its oppressive rule particularly over women, girls, and religious/ethnic minorities; the exhaustion of medical caregivers around the US, particularly the south and southwest as COVID (Delta variant) infection rates rise alarmingly, rending most hospitals in these areas unable to take in anymore critical cases. Meanwhile, fires continue to rage throughout the western US and parts of Europe and Australia. Sometimes it just seems too much. 

This Sunday’s lectionary Gospel from John provides us an additional assurance from the words Peter says to Jesus when many followers, finding Jesus’ teachings too difficult, fall away from Christ, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” 

Indeed, when the brokenness of this world seems insurmountable and too painful to hold, where we cast our eyes can determine how we will endure. Our gaze needs to fall on Jesus, as he has the final word; he is both bread of life and cup of salvation and the difficulties of this life on earth can be borne with compassion and justice with his help. It is through Christ that we can share the fullness of His grace and love with a hurting world. 

Locally for our churches, especially in King County, we are dealing with yet another spike in COVID infections equal to the one we experienced in late 2020 and significantly higher than the one recorded in May of this year. The governor’s statewide mask mandate beginning Monday should give us all pause in our plans for the fall. Many of our churches are once again making masks mandatory even in outdoor services and still others are reconsidering their return to in person worship. The Stated Clerk of the PC(USA) Rev. Dr. J Herbert Nelson shared this recent message with the church about the topic.  

Let us be of strong and faithful hearts. Let us boldly reflect Christ’s message of hope and healing. Let us be united in our commitment to one another and the broader community of our siblings in all places. 

Praying for each of you and our world, 

Rev. Eliana Maxim
Co-Executive Presbyter

P.S. Some ways to support both Haiti and Afghanistan during this time:

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/after-a-massive-earthquake-and-a-tropical-storm-haiti-continues-to-face-serious-challenges/ 

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/pda-blog/2021/08/18/afghanistan-evacuations-and-refugees/ 

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/heres-how-to-help-new-local-arrivals-fleeing-afghanistan/