Whispering Pines – Community Sunday - Return to the Blessing

August 02, 2026

Pastor Nate Roschen

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” – Num. 6:24-26 This Community Sunday we are going to gather together to reflect on what was understood to be the greatest blessing known in the Old Testament. This blessing was given to Aaron, the priest, and his sons, to be used as a verbal blessing over the people of God. The blessing – was that God would see you, turn His face toward you, look at you. It’s interesting how much this thought has changed in our minds. How many children have been warned that “God is always watching you,” or that “He sees everything that you do!”? The gaze of God, intended to be a blessing, is now often used as a threat, a warning. How can we recover our understanding of God? How can we remember that His presence is a blessing? Join us this Community Sunday as we explore the deep human need that we have to know and be known by God – for God to see us as we are. -Pastor Nate Roschen