Horizons: January/February 2021

When the Horizons Editorial Committee met in March 2020, we weren’t certain of much. It was the second week that most of the U.S. was taking precautions to slow the spread of the coronavirus. As a country, we were trying to understand who was an “essential worker,” how to rearrange our lives and days to stay safe, and wondering if it might be as much as three months before we could resume with life as we knew it. As a committee, we were trying to predict what ideas would feel relevant almost a year in the future. With all these questions swirling, the committee thought that a January/February 2021 exploration of how we had dealt with so much unknown would be heartening. Surely we’d be speaking in the past tense and with the gift of hindsight by that point!

Spoiler—we’re not speaking in past tense yet. And you’ve probably seen or heard someone reference how the expression “hindsight is 2020” must be an ironic message from a time traveler.

Although not a welcome lesson, the last year has given us the opportunity to, at least, accept how much we don’t know. We’ve learned how to keep moving forward and (re)learned what gives us strength. As people of faith, our strength is from God, Emmanuel, who is always with us, always listening to our prayers—our prayers for healing, relief, justice, reform, wisdom and strength. Or in the words of Isaiah, “do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (49:10).

While we aren’t yet speaking in the past tense, the contributors to this issue offer insights they have gained about living in uncertain times. You’ll hear from people who created or adapted ministries to meet needs in physically distant ways. You’ll hear from individuals whose passion for justice and wholeness was ignited by uncertain times. You’ll see the amazing projects chosen for the 2021 Birthday Offering and the creative determination of the recipients. You’ll find ideas, inspiration and tools for living faithfully.

Most importantly, the writers and artists in this issue show that even when the way forward is unclear, even when we feel the most unprepared, we are never alone. God watches over us and has put us in community. And building community, which is one of commitments in our PW Purpose, is the focus of a new department by Micah Rose Emerson! She’ll be exploring the power of community and ways we can orient ourselves toward a life rich in relationships with all of God’s people. Or in additional words from Isaiah, living where “Each one helps the other, saying to one another ‘Take courage!” (41:6).

In the following pages and in the following year, we pray you take courage, knowing you are a beloved part of the community of Presbyterian Women and of God’s good creation.