Clergy from left, Deacon Amy Schmuck, The Rev. Lynn Finnegan, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Pastor Nicolé Raddu Ferry and Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div.
ELCA
Those of us who claim a Christ-centered faith know we have not lived up to the model of the godly life set for us by Jesus. But we know that grace abounds and that our God is a god of love and mercy. We know we will get through whatever awaits us this week, as we always have. We do not expect a life without challenges. God’s promise is that we are loved no matter what befalls us. Living in God’s love, we can face anything. Indeed, our gratitude for that love is in sharing God’s grace and love with others, especially with any in need.
In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 31 to 46, Jesus tells his followers how one might live out that life of gratitude and service. He encourages it in us with these words:
31 ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” 37 Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” 40 And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (NRSV) The passage then continues with the goats being surprised that they didn’t recognize their lord in their neighbor in need. They certainly would have served Jesus, but the needs of the neighbor they tended to ignore.
Such images encourage people of faith in this community each year to walk or run to raise money for food and relief. On Sunday Nov. 24 we will be doing just that. The 2024 Los Alamos CROP Hunger Walk and Turkey Trot asks for monetary donations, at least one quarter of which is donated to L.A. Cares for needs right here in our county. The balance is distributed through the hunger and world relief programs of Church World Service, an ecumenical relief agency working around the globe and in emergency relief situations here in the U.S.
You can join us in our hunger walk/trot. The 2 p.m. start is at one end of the Middle School parking lot. But come first to the LAMS Cafeteria at 1:30 p.m. to register and make your monetary donations, pick up a t-shirt, and “use the facilities”. You may choose to run or to walk either a longer or a shorter route downhill from LAMS, to or through the stables, and back up to LAMS. Early finishers will be timed. Once we get back, we head back to the cafeteria for snacks and for a random drawing for turkeys and pies.
Those who would prefer not to walk or run may donate money to hunger relief by going to www.crophungerwalk.org/losalamosnm. There you can donate directly to this event, or you can see who is walking and support your favorite participant. Participants can set up their profile on that website and advertise it via email or through Facebook, etc., to solicit online donations, or you may bring your own cash donations or checks made out to “CROP Walk”.
On Sunday the 24th you might see kids and Atomic City Runners running ahead on North Mesa. Then you will see a bunch of folks walking. A lot of those folks will be representing their churches. Now you know why. Christians have long had care and concern for others in need, motivated by the love and grace God has given to all. Matthew 25 shows how Jesus viewed the life of faith. By his example, caring for others, we are motivated to do the same.
Editor’s note: ‘All Shall Be Well’ is a column written by local women clergy including ELCA Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div., retired (czoebidd@gmail.com); Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (pastornicole@bethluth.com); The Rev. Lynn Finnegan, Associate Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith, Santa Fe (rev.lynn@holyfaithchurchsf.org); The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church (momaryannhill@gmail.com) and Deacon Amy Schmuck, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (deaconamy@bethluth.com).
