What Really Matters?

June 2, 2026

Beloved:

To be missed by someone else in our absence seems to me the essence of human connection. To be remembered fondly when and where we are not present. I really can’t wish or hope for more from the ones I call friends or family.

My closest neighbor has been in post surgery rehab for a couple of months now, so I’ve kept an eye on her house and swept her driveway a time or two. We always have sticks to pick up out back as well. I miss our small talk chats as we come and go, analyzing the weather and why the mail comes at no certain time. She asks after my little grandchildren and I after her grown ones. Everyone in our little patch of the neighborhood looks forward to her being home.

The time I spend watching tiny humans grow, bursting toward tomorrow as the song goes, has me thinking about the absolute gift it is to be present with people we love, and the gift it is to have loved them and been loved by them.  These little ones will be grown and gone in the blink of an eye, and I’ll live on the memories we are making now. I don’t regret a minute I spend with them.  Or my children. Or my friends.

People matter most. In any given conversation, the people matter more than the topic of discussion. If they don’t feel safe, if they are not respected, the conversation will stall and either fail in the moment or be meaningless in the end.

They matter more than the relationship itself - being someone’s mother is less important than the person being mothered. To be in a partnership is less important than the partner. That can be a hard notion to wrap one’s head around sometimes, that a child (or partner or friend) is someone apart and free from our identity in relation to them.

Letting go of others is hard and I struggle at it, both in my actions and my heart. But the reward is great when I am able simply to receive what connection comes my way, and enjoy the memories of time together. Besides, we are surrounded by others, people with whom new memories are waiting to be made.

I pray this day is gentle and kind to us all.

~peace & prayers,
pastor annette
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Other Notes

Seriously - will I ever get too old for fun office supplies. Here’s my new favorite - ZipNotes - sticky notes on a spool of paper I can rip off in any size I want - even a long banner to practice making letters with my 4 year old grandgirl.                                                                ​

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​Some people asked for the recipe for the rolls I made at Wednesday Night Supper last week. In that case I doubled the recipe. Here is the original from Taste of Home Cooking.
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​Oat Pan Rolls
Ingredients 

• 2 cups quick-cooking oats
• ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
• ¼ cup butter, cubed
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 2 ½ cups boiling water
• 2 packages (or 2 Tbsp) active dry yeast
• ½ cup warm water (110-115ºF)
• 5 ½ - 6 cups all-purpose flour
• additional butter, melted 

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, butter and salt; stir in boiling water. Cool to 110-115º. In a different large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water and a teaspoon of the brown sugar.  Let stand for 5 minutes to activate.  Add oat mixture and 2 cups of flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough.
2. Turn onto a floured surface and knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning to grease all sides of the dough. Cover and set in a warm place until doubled in size – about an hour.
3. Preheat the oven to 350º. 
4. Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and divide with a floured bread knife into about 20 same-size pieces. Place them in a greased 13x9 baking pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.  
5. Bake at 350º for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown on top.  Remove pan from oven and brush rolls with melted butter. Remove rolls from pan to a wire rack to cool.