Do you like to read stories about people, biographies? John’s gospel is full of mini-biographies, stories about people’s encounters with Jesus. Some of those encounters involve healing, others theological conversation – faith talk. Can you see yourself in these stories?

Every Sunday in Lent will highlight one of these stories from John’s gospel and invite us to consider putting ourselves into the story to engage with Jesus. The first Sunday of Lent provided us with a cast of characters at the Wedding at Cana in which those at worship were literally in the story, attending the reception.

We are moved and transformed by people’s stories. No doubt this is why we continue to be captivated by the stories from Japan. We can see ourselves in their story and sense a portion of their immense sadness and despair. Feelings of compassion move us to action, to do something to relieve the pain and suffering. While we can send financial support and prayers, we can also act to alleviate the pain and suffering in our own communities as a response, an offering in honor of those who have lost so much in Japan.

To that end, I encourage you to check out on Facebook “Don’t Trash Pomona”, our OneLA effort to address the dire concerns in the Environmental Impact Report regarding the opening of an additional waste transfer station in the City of Pomona. The EIR even warns that this project is “an environmental justice concern”, according to guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Copies of the letter from Pomona Valley Cluster of OneLA to Pomona’s Planning Commission are available at the church. I urge you to read the letter so you know the reasons our institutions (St. Madeline, First Presbyterian Church of Pomona, Association of Pomona Teachers, FCC Pomona, La Verne Heights Presbyterian, Temple Beth Israel) are opposing the establishment of an additional waste transfer station.

We are the authors of our own stories. Allowing encounters with Jesus to edit our story can and will take us among people who require from us compassion and justice.