The theologian Karl Rahner wrote about “the torment of the insufficiency of everything attainable.”

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive for success, victory, expertise, accomplishment and achievement in this life.

It means that we should hold them lightly knowing that even the greatest of these will not satisfy.

This doesn’t suggest that we are neurotic.

It suggests that deep down, at the core of us, we know there is something more.

This doesn’t require us to decrease our desires for what we can attain, although at times acceptance of “what is” can be critical for our mental health.

It requires that we increase our desire for the Unattainable One, for God, understanding that the seed of eternity planted in our souls is ultimately what the yearning is for.

Here is Rahner’s full quote: 

“In the torment of the insufficiency of everything attainable we come to understand that here in this life all symphonies remain unfinished.”

The restlessness, the yearning, the torment, is not a problem in our lives to eliminate but a friend reminding us of what is to come.

—Rev. Will Burhans

Would you like to make the holiday season a little brighter for individuals and families in need? Please think about putting on your angel wings and jingle bells and joining the FCC “crew” at The Dwelling Place on Saturday, December 15. We could use 3-5 volunteers to prepare and serve a meal for about 25 people.

The Dwelling Place is a collaboration of area churches and organizations that prepare and serves meals at the United Methodist Church in Woburn for anyone who needs a good, hot meal.  Our faith community is responsible for preparing and serving the meal on the third Saturday of each month.

Can you and your family or friends help?

• Volunteers can be adults and children.
• Serving time is only 2 hours — from 5 – 7 PM
• The food is simple and easy to prepare.
• If you want to serve but are not sure you can prepare the food, we can help with that.
• We offer gift cards to help with food expense.
• The church office has membership cards to Restaurant Depot.

Interested in helping?  Contact your Co-Coordinators: Louise Ritenhouse, Cindy Mahoney, and Lisa Loughlin. 

Here is an opportunity for you and family or friends to share the bounty of Thanksgiving time with individuals and families in need.We have two volunteers already (Yay!), so we are looking for 3-4 more volunteers to prepare and serve a meal for about 25 people at the Dwelling Place on Saturday, November 18th, the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

The Dwelling Place is a collaboration of area churches and organizations that prepare and serves meals at the United Methodist Church in Woburn for anyone who needs a good, hot meal.  Our faith community is responsible for preparing and serving the meal on the third Saturday of each month.

Can you and your family or friends help?

• Volunteers can be adults and children.
• Serving time is only 2 hours — from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• The food is simple and easy to prepare.

If you want to serve but are not sure you can prepare the food, we can help with that. We also offer  gift cards to help with food expense.

To sign up, please contact your FCC Dwelling Place coordinators:

Lisa Loughlin (781.346.1241)

Linda Alexander (617.763.0650)