Friends in Christ,

This past week, I read a report on a new study that was just published surrounding the current levels and sources of stress that Americans are experiencing right now. (I know! What a fun and stimulating topic!) As you might imagine, stress over politics and the state of the 2024 election showed up prominently in that report. Of course, you probably didn’t need a fancy research study to tell you that. Still, according to the American Psychological Association, a large majority of Republicans (80%), Democrats (79%), and independents (73%) all name stress over politics as having a major impact on their current everyday lives.

Think about that for just a moment! Even though we all have different reasons for feeling this way, we are all having very similar experiences of this season that we are living in. Stress abounds and many of us cannot wait until the days after November 5th.

This is why, as I write this letter to you in the waning weeks of October, it is very clear to me that we could all be in very different places when you receive this letter in November. For some people, that stress will turn to relief, and you will be celebrating. For others, it might only deepen, and those feelings of grief and loss will take center stage. Whether we admit it or not, our emotions certainly have an impact on us, but they also tend to impact our families, our friends, and even the wider community.

As we all navigate these next few weeks together, I hope that we can be reminded that God’s love and presence goes with us, no matter how we are feeling and regardless of what might be going on in our public life. In moments of joy and in moments of sorrow, God is there. As Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I love this passage, and I might even add “nor an election” to that list above!

The truth is, regardless of our political differences, we are all united together as one in God’s family. I hope and pray that we can be gentle with one another in these strange times and that we can give thanks (as is the custom every November) for the presence of God in our lives. Wherever you are
and however you feel as you read this letter today, know that God’s love goes with you. We hope to see you in church soon!

God’s peace be with you
Pastor Heath Queen