April 2, 2025 Midweeks News
Two weeks ago, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to earth after a planned one-week journey to the International Space Station lasted an unexpected 9 months. Due to issues with multiple space craft, the pair were not able to return as originally planned. Other technical issues continued, but their stuck in space saga finally ended with splash down on March 18.
Their first media appearance this week really caught my attention. What do you do when life throws you a curve ball, especially when you are stuck in space!? Apparently, Astronaut Butch kept going to church. Butch shared that each week he attended church via livestream. Sometimes, he attended multiple church services. In addition to the quote above in the graphic, Butch said, “The Word of God—I need it,” Wilmore said. “My pastors are the finest pastors on or off, in this case, the planet. And to tie in and to worship with my church family was vital. I mean, it’s part of what makes me go.”
Butch’s comments remind me that church is a FAITH community and a faith COMMUNITY. It is a sacred time and place to grow in faith AND be connected and encouraged by community. Even with livestream, Butch felt that sacred connection to God and others, and it supported and encouraged him throughout his unplanned time stuck in space. I know our congregation who participates via livestream each way feels the same.
In our worship series “Signs and Wonders” author Amy-Jill Levine keeps reminding us that so many of the miracles of Jesus involved supportive and loving community. The boy who brought fish and loaves to Jesus to be shared, the friends who lowered the paralyzed man through the roof, the father who came and advocated for his daughter – all reflect the power of community. This Sunday we’ll see more community in action as friends bring a blind man to Jesus and beg him to touch the man and heal him.
Join us in person or online this week at 11:00am as we continue our series “Signs and Wonders” on the journey toward Easter. And check out this longer article and video of Astronaut Butch’s reflections. https://relevantmagazine.com/current/buzzworthy/stranded-nasa-astronaut-butch-wilmore-still-attended-church-online-every-week/
Lenten blessings,
Pastor Jared