I picked up the following story of hope when I was a chaplain resident at the Mayo Clinic. I’ve lost track of where it originated, but I share it with you anyway because of its powerful message.

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The school system in a large city had a program to help children keep up with their school work during stays in the city’s hospitals. One day a teacher who was assigned to the program received a routine call asking her to visit a particular child. She took the child’s name and room number and talked briefly with the child’s regular class teacher. “We’re studying nouns and adverbs in his class now,” the regular teacher said, “and I’d be grateful if you could help him understand them so he doesn’t fall too far behind.”

The hospital program teacher went to see the boy that afternoon. No one had mentioned to her that the boy had been badly burned and was in great pain. Upset at the sight of the boy, she stammered as she told him, “I’ve been sent by your school to help you with nouns and adverbs.” When she left she felt she hadn’t accomplished much.

But the next day, a nurse asked her, “What did you do to that boy?” The teacher felt she must have done something wrong and began to apologize. “No, no,” said the nurse. “You don’t know what I mean. We’ve been worried about that little boy, but ever since yesterday, his whole attitude has changed. He’s fighting back, responding to treatment. It’s as though he’s decided to live.”

Two weeks later the boy explained that he had completely given up hope until the teacher arrived. Everything changed when he came to a simple realization. He expressed it this way: “They wouldn’t send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a dying boy, would they?”

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In the same way, God wouldn’t have sent someone like Jesus to a hopeless world.

So search for hope. Grab onto hope. Cherish hope!

— Pastor Gage 

A spiritual practice or discipline is an action or activity, usually performed regularly, that helps one be in communication with God and feel stronger spiritually. A new Lenten program offers the opportunity to try out a variety of spiritual practices to see which ones might work best for you.

Each Wednesday of Lent, beginning Feb. 29, we will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the church, where Pastor Gage will lead a discussion about a particular spiritual practice – Taize, Lectio divina, mantras, personal prayer spaces, and harvesting memories. If there is another discipline you’d like to learn more about, let him know.

Each class will be followed by a short worship service at 7:15 p.m. in which we will put into practice the discipline we learned about that night.

All are welcome, and feel free to invite friends.

We will meet at the Rescue Mission, 2775 Wall Ave., at 6:30 p.m. From 3 to 15 people are needed, so please register in the Sign-up Book.

Those of you who participated in November know what a worthwhile experience it can be.

And a smile and kind words can make a difference in the lives of those we are serving.

As a coalition seeking to help low-income families, CORC hopes more money can be restored to safety-net programs such as dental and health care for these clients. We’ll also be watching any bills that threaten to increase sales tax on food.

CORC will hold Faith Days on the Hill on Tuesdays and Thursdays during February. The UCC day is Feb. 7, and the Episcopalian day is Feb. 14. Some of us from Ogden will probably go to the Legislature both those days.

If you’d like to join us for this informative experience and opportunity to meet your legislators, talk to Pastor Gage or Carolyn Somer.

• Shop Vac.
• Computer/DVD projector.
• Cushions or small pillows for the metal folding chairs.
• Curtains for the Cottage kitchen windows.
• Desktop computer for the office administrator.

• Men’s, women’s, and children’s warm winter coats, hats and gloves in all sizes
• Blankets
• Toiletries and paper goods

We have a bin in the back of the sanctuary to hold your donations. We have delivered several loads of goods already! Thank you to all who contributed.

— Dotty Steimke 

His work has appeared in many magazines, including Outside (where he is a longtime correspondent), Smithsonian, and The New Yorker. More information can be found at www.weberpathways.org.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Timbermine Restaurant, 1701 Park Blvd. in Ogden. Ticket prices are $60 per person.

Weber Pathways is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to plan, promote, construct, and protect nonmotorized trails and related open space in Weber County. Dan and I plan to attend and would love to have you join us in supporting this worthwhile organization. Please see me for tickets if you are interested in attending.

— Dotty Steimke