Compassion, from its Latin root, means to “suffer with.”  The Lord has compassion.

Hear the words of God’s compassion in Isaiah 49: 13-15

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
   break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people,
   and will have compassion on his suffering ones. 

¹⁴ But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me,
   my Lord has forgotten me.’ 
¹⁵ Can a woman forget her nursing-child,
   or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these may forget,
   yet I will not forget you. 

As God does not forget us, so we must not forget one another.  By joining with Jews around the world to commemorate the suffering that their people endured and the hope that we all share in a new creation, we participate in God’s compassion.  The Holocaust Remembrance Day has no other purpose than to stand in solidarity with those who have suffered.  “As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.¹¹Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” (James 5:10-11)

The Yom HaShoah service begins at 7pm on May 2.  Please join in this act of faith.

*Belonging with Purpose is a weekly news update of how our purpose is being reflected through the collective and individual lives of St. Stephen’s.  If you have a story or experience that you believe illustrates our Vision and Mission, please send it to Ginny Fitzpatrick, gfitzpatrick@ststephens-ridgefield.org  The staff works together to create a schedule for highlighting our ministry as St. Stephen’s Church.

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