There is a proverb, “Joy shared is joy doubled; sorrow shared is sorrow halved.” While the recipe’s ratios might need some adjustment for individual situations, it feels emotionally true that joy increases when it is shared, and sorrow is easier to bear if we don’t feel we are alone. We practice this each week when we share Joys & Sorrows during the service – how else do we cultivate and share joy with one another and with the community around us?

We will be welcoming our new members at this service – a shared joy indeed!