“We know that in all things God works for good…” (Romans 8:28)
We all know that there are more than enough Bible translations out there, many good, some not so good. And if you’ve ever thought that the little differences among those translations don’t matter much, hear what Oliver Thomas had to say in his column “America’s Tough Week,” written in the wake of the bombing in Boston:
Tell that to the Richard family who lost their 8-year-old son in the new Boston Massacre, or to the families of the half-dozen volunteer firefighters who, it increasingly appears, gave their lives trying to save the town of West.
Fortunately, the King James translators got it wrong. No surprise. They had only a dozen or so ancient manuscripts to work from. Today’s translators have more than 5,000. Examine St. Paul’s letter to the Romans in its original Greek, and you’ll discover something different. “God works in all things for good,” said St. Paul, even in the midst of tragedy. Especially in the midst of tragedy.
I saw it this week. Marathon runners crossing the finish line exhausted yet continuing to run miles to the nearest hospital to donate blood. Neighbors in West, Texas, taking in neighbors, sharing food, clothing, whatever. Just ordinary citizens acting like the heroes we all aspire to be.
America has had a jarring week. But the small acts of her people should give us hope. And the quiet assurance that better days lie ahead.
That little difference between “all things work together for good” and “in all things God works for good” actually makes all the difference. It makes the difference between a God who orchestrates every last action–a God who is somehow behind monstrous acts like what happened in Boston and West–and a God who remains beside people and works for good, even in the midst of tragedy that God would never create.
Our faith is in that second kind of God: not a God who acts like a divine puppeteer controlling the ropes that cause pain and sorrow and tragedy (and then demanding that we call those things good!), but a God who promises to be present, determines to be present, even in places that seem God-forsaken. That’s the kind of God we know in Jesus, crucified and risen, and that’s the kind of God we put our faith in still.
We pray together for the healing of the nations and for the courage to follow that one who promises to work in all things for good.
Good afternoon -Deadlines for our Critical Incident Response Training and Synod Educational Gatherings are approaching fast. Register today! We’d love to see you there!Blessings,StefanieThis is an excellent opportunity for members of the Southwestern Washington Synod! Registration deadline is Tuesday, May 12th, so sign up for this great hands-on training event!Register for TACOMA hereRegister for LONGVIEW hereSpread the word and don’t miss out! This year’s Educational Gatherings are all about Stewardship! Great workshops are available at both locations and we would love to see you there! Register today!!! Register for VANCOUVER hereVancouver deadline: May 22Register for LAKEWOOD hereLakewood deadline:June 5Southwestern Washington Synod […]
The Beacon Newsletter 04/30/2026St. Christopher’s Community Church <office@stchristopherolympia.org>Thu, Apr 30, 2026 at 11:05 PMReply-To: “St. Christopher’s Community Church” <office@stchristopherolympia.org>To: James Thibodeaux <james.thibodeaux@gmail.com> THE BEACON WEEKLYView this newsletter in your browser. Articles this issue….. SW WA Synod eNews – April 29, 2026The Beacon Newsletter 04/24/2026 This Week at St. Christopher’s…Week of April 27thMonday (04/27/2026) Mitford Reading Group Series – 1:30 pm Tuesday (04/28/2026) Faithful Living – 6:00 am Centering Prayer (Online) – 8:00 pmWednesday (04/29/2026) – Catherine of Siena, Teacher; died 1380 Fellowship Breakfast – 9:00 am Worship Band – 11:00 am Widows/Widowers Support Group – 1:30 pm Thursday (04/30/2026) AA Meeting – 6:00 pm Friday (05/01/2026 – St. […]
Southwestern WA Synod <stefanie.dezarn@swwasynod.org> Unsubscribe Wed, Apr 29, 4:30 PM (1 day ago) to me April 29, 2026 Synod ResourcesAdministration, Compensation Guidelines, Constitutions, Financial, Personnel Policies, Pulpit Supply, Immigration, TransitionBoundary Training Opportunities for Rostered MinistersOrdination Anniversaries(source: ELCA Office of the Secretary Rostered Leader Anniversary Report)April 2026Rev. Rachel Eskesen10 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – April 23, 2016Rev. Sheryl Biegert40 Years – Minister of Word and Sacrament – April 26, 1986Thank you for your faithful service to the people of God!Administration This and That2026 IRS Mileage Rate is 72.5 centsMarketplaceLooking for a good home:Acer X1261P digital projectorYamaha BT600 portable PA system with Bluetooth connectivity. […]
THE BEACON WEEKLYView this newsletter in your browser. Articles this issue….. SW WA Synod eNews – April 22, 2026 This Week at St. Christopher’s…Week of April 20thMonday (04/20/2026) Mitford Reading Group Series – 1:30 pm Brotherhood of St. Andrews Meeting – 6:30 pm Tuesday (04/21/2026) – Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher; died 1109 Faithful Living – 6:15 am Centering Prayer – 8:00 pm Wednesday (04/22/2026) Worship Band – 11:00 am Widows/Widowers Support Group – 1:30 pm Hot Meals Outreach – 4:00 pm Thursday (04/23/2026) – Toyohiko Kagawa, Renewer of Society; died 1960 AA Meeting – 6:00 pm […]
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