A Message from Rector Chris Girata After Sunday's Tornado
Monday, October 21
Many in our community experienced devastation from the tornadoes and storms on Sunday night. I’m sure I joined countless neighbors who watched the storm through windows and studied radar images, trying to see where the storm had been and where it was headed. As the winds whipped up and the sirens screamed, I prayed for the safety of those experiencing the worst. And then slowly, pictures of wrecked homes and upturned cars began to stream on social media.
I hope that you and your family came through the storm safely and without injury or damage. However, I know that some are not so lucky. Only hours after the tornadoes blew through, a friend of mine was standing in front of the shell of her home and said, “We were saved by the grace of God. We are safe. The house is destroyed but all of that’s replaceable.” Her clarity is born out of her faithfulness - her true, deep belief that what we see is not all there is. God’s reality, the sacred truth, is beyond what we can see with our eyes.
Whenever storms like these occur, it’s natural to wonder why. We know bad things happen and we are often powerless to prevent it. We know about bad diagnoses that scare us, accidents that do harm, and storms that devastate. And yet, I believe in a God of love, and love has power.
Over the next days and weeks, please help one another, reminding each other to keep hope even in dark times. Thankfully, Saint Michael did not sustain any damage. Our church home continues to be a sacred place of refuge and hope. You and your neighbors are encouraged to come pray at the church anytime, and especially to join us at one of our daily worship services (click here for our worship schedule).
Remember to love one another fiercely, because no matter what we experience in this life, by joining together, love wins.
The Reverend Dr. Christopher D. Girata, Rector
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