3/17 Goode Thoughts

March 17th, 2026
by Edward Goode

Gratitudes and Blessings

Good afteroon RJC Friends - on Monday, Diana Butler Bass shared a beautiful gift in her email newsletter that was all about the gift of blessing ohters. She included the video linked above from one of the leading voices about the power of gratitude, Brother David Steindl-Rast. Take 6 minutes and soak in the words and visuals of the above video. (If you are unable to see the video, you can also click here.)

That video got me thinking about how we can bless others because that came in conjuction with two other gifts of blessing that I received over the last few days - one in a beautiful note from a person at RJC and another from someone in the Presbytery. Those three blessings really were a beautiful gift to my spirit yesterday and still into today. So I wanted to simply offer some gratitudes and blessings about what I have seen an experienced at RJC since last July.

I am grateful for (in no particular order of importance):

Your courage in jumping into this new endeavor
For the difficult sacrifice made by our people from Greenhills and Pleasant Run to leave their buildings (and all their personal histories with them) to come to a new physical place for worship and ministry.
For the Northwest people who made different sacrifices in welcoming the other two congregations
For welcoming this Star Wars loving, dog-obsessed, geeky pastor into your lives and your ministries
For patience in the ongoing process of coming together as a new community of faith
For the generosity of the Presbytery of Cincinnati in providing for our new sign
For those who serve in behind-the-scenes roles to care for the building and the property
For the wonderful staff team that has come together both locally and remote and for the gifts that each brings
For those who agreed to serve on the initial Session and Board of Deacons and for their energy, intelligence, imagination, and love with which they have served
For the easiest-to-recruit nominating committee ever and for the early yes's they have been receiving as they have begun to make their contacts for the the first "full" Board of Deacons and Session of RJC
For those who faithfully serve in mission and outreach ministries - often doing things that few others see
For all of the outreach ministries we have and support - Practical Grace, King's Closet, SON Ministries, Matthew 25, Side-by-Side, HelpSquad, E-Life School Ministries, and so much more!
For embracing new ways to do our ministries together
For new friendships and relationships being formed
For forgiveness and grace when figurative toes have been stepped on
For the beautiful spirit that is present each time we gather for worship
For welcoming the Presbytery of Cincinnati's gathering on possibly the craziest single day we have had together
For people digging into the Bible and listening for how God is still speaking
For prayer blankets that have been lovingly crafted and prayed over and shared with people in difficult seasons of life
For generosity of giving in energy, finances, and time
For the Spirit of God at work
For people praying regularly for the needs of the world
For the high school students who sing with the choir and the unique energy they bring
For each member of the choir who shares their gift of music each week
For our music staff and the incredible gifts they share and their openness and creativity in creating worship each week

I could probably come up with more but I'll go with it there.

Practical Grace Non-Food Pantry Distribution
Our next non-food pantry distirbution day is this Saturday! The forecast looks like it will be a beautiful morning (unlike the silly cold that we have today) so show up to help whether you've served before or whether this will be your first time!

One Great Hour of Sharing Special Offering
Over the next two Sundays, RJC will be collecting a special offering for One Great Hour of Sharing - one of the three special offerings that the PCUSA collects. The OGHS offering focuses on helping around the world to help to help provide access to sustainable food sources, clean water, sanitation, education, and opportunity. The work done in support of the causes supported by One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) — disaster, hunger, poverty, climate change, and immigration/migration and refugees — serves individuals and communities in need. This work provides people with safety, sustenance, and hope.

You can donate to this special offering using the special envelopes we will have in the sanctuary the next two Sundays or giving online to the OGHS Fund at the form below - just select the OGHS fund.

Holy Week at RJC and Easter Egg Hunt Outreach
Holy Week, the last week of Lent, begins on Sunday, March 29 with our Palm Sunday service. When you come for worship that day, you will hear something in worship that you have maybe not heard before in our sanctuary...I'm excited!

BUT, before we get to Palm Sunday, we will be hosting an Easter Egg hunt for kids up to 5th grade on Saturday, March 28 beginning at 2pm! This is a great event to invite families in your neighborhood!

We will also gather for worship on Thursday, April 2 for our Maundy Thursday communion service. We'll be in the sanctuary for that service at 7pm.

The next night, we will be joining together with other Colerain-area churches for a Good Friday service that will be hosted at Grosebeck Church at 7pm.

And then on Easter Sunday we will have our normal service at 10:30am but it will be far from normal as we celebrate the central story of our faith together - the resurrection of Jesus. This will be a great Sunday to invite someone to join you. Begin thinking and praying about who you can invite (and bring).

This Week's Presbytery Sampler
Some of you may also know that I serve as the email newsletter editor for the Presbytery of Cincinnati. Beginning this week, I am going to be sharing the link to the news of the Presbytery as a part of our connectional life together! Here's the Sampler for March 16!
This Week's Presbytery Sampler

Happy St Patrick's Day from Scout the Church Dog
Scout is definitely not an Irish wolfhound and was not too thrilled to be celebrating today but she wishes you a Happy St Patrick's Day nonetheless!