Many years ago, we began a mid-winter series to beat the winter blahs entitled “Rhythms of the Soul.” This year as we consider the theme and implementation of this series our worship planners decided that a spin off was necessary. Thus, “Comfort for the Soul” emerged as a good and necessary theme. Winter itself brings the desire for comfort in the form of food, warm blankets, cozy fires and fuzzy sweaters. Our souls yearn for restoration, renewal and a more dormant space that allows for growth and understanding. As we continue pandemic living, we hunger for our lives to be collective rather than separate. We desire health and well-being for all rather than sickness and death. We desire unity rather than divisiveness and we want to return to a comfort of life that is more predictable yet changed from our “normal” that did not benefit or compassionately consider the whole. The Psalmist tells us that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. It is a word of comfort, an image that can and will lead us from our distress and strengthen us as we live into this day that is still a gift. As we worship together in these next few weeks, immerse yourself in God’s comfort and share this comfort as you engage with your neighbors and this world.