July 2026

I attended a friend’s retirement party last week. She had worked 20 years for the American Jewish Committee in Cleveland. Roughly 300 of us gathered to hear about developments in Iran and Israel and India and the work of AJC in these regions to build bridges and foster peace. As we learned about global efforts, we also recognized that the one whom we were recognizing had somehow built and fortified countless bridges to bring such a diverse group together. Lee C. Shapiro has modeled for us what servant leadership and resilient advocacy looks like. She greeted nearly every one of us with a hug and a sincere expression of gratitude.

This year at John Knox, we are being challenged to Reach Wide and Grow Deep. To get there we are giving attention to a variety of spiritual practices. In June we focused on getting out in nature and taking into consideration the seeds of hope we are planting and tending to. This month we are focusing on Service and Solidarity. By serving others, we claim that fullness is discovered in the giving and not in the taking; that abundance is found in loving rather than fearing, that joy comes in opening ourselves rather than closing ourselves off. As our life with God becomes more vibrant, dynamic and real, we discover that we can choose to stand in a place of love, of hope, and of risk with an outward-focused servant posture; or we can stand in a place of fear, defensiveness, protection and self-absorption. Let’s join Jesus in moving toward the world with grace, mercy, and joy to share.  

Lee C. concluded her wise, caring and grateful remarks with a 2000-year-old quote from Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers 2:16).

“It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.”

Let us know if you are searching for a place to serve or how Susanne and I can accompany and support you in your place of service. Propelled by God’s love for all, we celebrate and lean into every chance we have to serve and share God’s love.

Tom

Galatians 6:9-10 

II Peter 1:3-11