from the parish Vicar's desk
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord… He is like a tree planted by
water”. Jeremiah 17:7–8
Summer is here and the month of June often comes with
a faster pace! School schedules change, church picnic,
Summer Fest, family calendars fill, travel begins, so many
things…even good things can start to feel heavy when
they stack up. In that kind of season, God gives us a
promise. “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord… He
is like a tree planted by water” (Jeremiah 17:7–8). June
reminds us that the “heat” is real, but so is the hidden
stream.
First, let June be a month of grounding. Jeremiah does
not pretend the heat will not come. He simply shows us
where strength comes from when it does. A tree stays
green because its roots are receiving what the surface
cannot provide. Many of us try to live from surface
strength, from adrenaline, deadlines, people’s
expectations, and constant problem solving. That works
for a while, but it eventually drains. This month, let us
place that weight, our burdens, on Christ again through
daily Scripture, honest prayer, and regular worship.
Secondly, let June be a month of healthy calm. From a
mental health perspective, constant pace keeps the
nervous system on alert. When the body lives in “go mode”
too long, even small problems can feel bigger, and our
tone can get sharper at home. One of the most spiritual
things you can do this month is to practice holy slowing.
Pause before you respond. Breathe before you speak.
Choose one small rhythm that brings you back to peace.
Jesus Christ speaks into anxious seasons with fatherly
tenderness. “Your heavenly Father knows” (St. Matthew
6:32). That truth removes the need to carry everything
alone. Calm is not laziness. Calm is stewardship of the
heart.
A simple picture may help. Two plants sit in the same
window, under the same sun. One looks impressive, but its
soil is shallow and dry. The other looks ordinary, but its
roots are deep and its soil is consistently watered. When
the heat rises, the impressive plant droops first. The
ordinary one remains steady. Many lives look strong until
the season gets intense. June is a gift from God to water
what is beneath the surface.
So let us choose two simple commitments this
month. Stay rooted in Christ and protect the peace
of the heart. If you need a starting point, make it
small and consistent. One Psalm a day. A short
prayer. One device free moment with your family.
One intentional act of gentleness in your home.
These are ways to live from God’s love.
May the Lord bless your homes, strengthen your
faith, and keep you close to His living
stream in this month of June and the days ahead!
a faster pace! School schedules change, church picnic,
Summer Fest, family calendars fill, travel begins, so many
things…even good things can start to feel heavy when
they stack up. In that kind of season, God gives us a
promise. “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord… He
is like a tree planted by water” (Jeremiah 17:7–8). June
reminds us that the “heat” is real, but so is the hidden
stream.
First, let June be a month of grounding. Jeremiah does
not pretend the heat will not come. He simply shows us
where strength comes from when it does. A tree stays
green because its roots are receiving what the surface
cannot provide. Many of us try to live from surface
strength, from adrenaline, deadlines, people’s
expectations, and constant problem solving. That works
for a while, but it eventually drains. This month, let us
place that weight, our burdens, on Christ again through
daily Scripture, honest prayer, and regular worship.
Secondly, let June be a month of healthy calm. From a
mental health perspective, constant pace keeps the
nervous system on alert. When the body lives in “go mode”
too long, even small problems can feel bigger, and our
tone can get sharper at home. One of the most spiritual
things you can do this month is to practice holy slowing.
Pause before you respond. Breathe before you speak.
Choose one small rhythm that brings you back to peace.
Jesus Christ speaks into anxious seasons with fatherly
tenderness. “Your heavenly Father knows” (St. Matthew
6:32). That truth removes the need to carry everything
alone. Calm is not laziness. Calm is stewardship of the
heart.
A simple picture may help. Two plants sit in the same
window, under the same sun. One looks impressive, but its
soil is shallow and dry. The other looks ordinary, but its
roots are deep and its soil is consistently watered. When
the heat rises, the impressive plant droops first. The
ordinary one remains steady. Many lives look strong until
the season gets intense. June is a gift from God to water
what is beneath the surface.
So let us choose two simple commitments this
month. Stay rooted in Christ and protect the peace
of the heart. If you need a starting point, make it
small and consistent. One Psalm a day. A short
prayer. One device free moment with your family.
One intentional act of gentleness in your home.
These are ways to live from God’s love.
May the Lord bless your homes, strengthen your
faith, and keep you close to His living
stream in this month of June and the days ahead!
Prayers and Love,
Your brother in Christ,
Jaisen Achen
Your brother in Christ,
Jaisen Achen