Today we lift up a story of a flame that persisted through oppression, allowing a people of faith to persevere.  This is a story of freedom, faith, and hope, as demonstrated through a miracle.  While others sought to break the Jewish people down, their faith and their sacred prevailed. This Sunday, we explore the wisdom this story offers us in these turbulent…

Each year, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, we join together for our annual Bread Communion service. In this special tradition, you are all invited to bring a bread or grain-based dish that is meaningful to you. This Sunday, we share our stories behind this bread – perhaps our bread comes from a religious, ethnic, or cultural background. Perhaps it’s a family favorite! Each dish has a unique history all of its own. As we share our stories, we ground ourselves in the tales of our ancestors, reflecting on those generations that shaped and formed who we are today – influencing even the food that touches our lips.

Our memories leave us with stories of overcoming and failures, heroism and defeats that shape and mold who we are. Yet, memories are not set in stone but acts of creation. Science shows us that we change our memories slightly every time we engage with them. If we actively engage, we can choose what memories tell us our truth, and re-create memories to be a source of strength. This is not “how” we remember, but “what” we remember, re-framing and crafting our own history to build strength, wisdom, and kindness today.

What shapes us, guides us, and provides us valuable wisdom, and what serves to break us down? We each hold close our personal histories, shaped and molded by death, illness, regrets, mistakes, love, and lessons learned. This Sunday, we are invited to engage with the experiences we hold within us, grappling with those questions of what to hold close and what to release.