Rev. Wendy Komori Stager-
In the bulb there is a flower, in a seed an apple tree,
In cocoons a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see
–Hymn of Promise by Natalie Sleeth
Have you ever forced a hyacinth bulb? Even though I have done it several years, it never ceases to amaze me. An unremarkable purple, blackish oblong starts to put white roots down into the water. Over time, the leaves shoot up and the bulb transforms into a plant with fragrant purple blooms. For the bloom to be the most beautiful, hyacinths need a period of cold and dormancy of below 40 degrees for twelve to fourteen weeks.
As I reflect upon St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and the long interim season we are in. The verses from the Hymn of Promise have helped me keep faithful. God has a plan, even in this in-between-time that has felt cold, uncomfortable and dark. Yet, I am now starting to see the signs of green. This week, Winter Nights is in the Celebration Center and we are helping to shelter and feed families who need our assistance. The Pastor Nominating Committee is sharing their progress with the congregation. The session members and treasurer working on the Long Range Budget have affirmed that the church is on solid footing financially and now we are starting to look ahead with excitement to how we can live out our mission and purpose with the resources God has given us. Christ’s resurrection hope is alive among us this spring!