This week as we begin to move into the summer months here in the Maritimes we will be starting a new series in the book of Psalms.  Most people—even unchurched people—are familiar with this book in some form or fashion.  And there’s a reason for that: the Psalms are the language of the soul and they provide for us the full expression and experience of a real life relationship with the living God.

During our current series, Neighbours and Nations, we introduced a couple of partnerships that we are beginning to engage with over the next year.  As a church we believe deeply in the picture that we get from Revelation 7:9-10, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

What do an empty fridge, an empty pantry, and the piercing screams of hungry, crying children have in common? They all evoke stress, panic, and gut-wrenching pain—experiences that are simply traumatic.

Sadly, this is the harsh reality for some of our fellow Haligonians—a state of food insecurity. You may have heard about the rising costs of living on the news but may be unaware of what it looks like day to day for the vulnerable segment of our population. As Christians in the community, it's crucial to understand and address this pressing issue together.

One of the most prolific themes throughout Scripture is God’s care for the vulnerable.  In the Old Testament God commands the Israelites to, “not mistreat any widow or fatherless child” (Exodus 22:22).  In Job 34:28 God is described as a God who hears the cries of the poor and the afflicted.  And in Psalm 68:5 it says that God is the, “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows.”

This past weekend we dove into 1 Samuel 18 and looked at an often unappreciated and certainly under-talked-about topic: friendship.  As I sat in and prayed through this passage of Scripture all week - I was overwhelmed at the significance and vital importance of godly friendships.  I was struck at how much of a gift they are from God to his children.