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Newsletter
May 2020 Pastor's Page
When we started The Story back in September, journeying through
scripture chronologically, who could have predicted when we got to
Revelation, we would be in an "apocalyptic" type pandemic?
We didn't observe Holy Week or celebrate Easter in the manner I would
have wanted. We are not finishing The Story in the manner l
hadplanned. We were going to have a potluck celebration together as
we shared what God has done through this series in us and through us.
Instead, we are not sure what May will look like. May brings us to
our last two weeks in The Story. Paul's ministry will end with his
death at the hands of Nero, who is also responsible for executing
James, the brother of Jesus, and Peter. Paul's ministry will continue
through his letters to the various churches shaping Christianity. We
will have a revelation of Jesus. ls the book of Revelation a glimpse
into the end times, a message of hope for a persecuted community, or
both? Unfortunately, time will not allow a deep and long discussion
on the book of Revelation. Perhaps in the future a small group study
of the book will be a journey we can embark on. Then we will begin
our summer series. We will journey through the Book of Romans beginning May 17 and
ending in August. May 31 is Pentecost, so we will revisit the birth
of the Church and the coming of the Spirit once again.
The disciples
after Jesus rose from the dead are in a time of uncertainty. Will
Jesus bring the Kingdom now and throw out Rome from their occupation
of Israel? How does the resurrection of Jesus affect their faith, how
they live, the world? We don't have many stories from between Jesus’
resurrection and Pentecost. When Jesus ascends to heaven, he tells
the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the Spirit comes. Wait. Wait
in the uncertainty. The uncertainty of what it looks like for the
Spirit to come. The uncertainty of what life looks like now after
Jesus has risen from the dead and returns to heaven without
them...Wait in this uncertainty. We wait in the uncertainty between
the Resurrection of Jesus and the fullness of the Kingdom of God
coming t heal and restore all of Creation. We wait in the uncertainty
of a world with a virus among us. We wait in the uncertainty of lives
put on hold to protect our neighbors. We wait in uncertainty and it
is uncomfortable. The Spirit first came in that uncomfortable
uncertainty the disciples were waiting in and suddenly the disciples
were bold in
proclaiming Jesus to
all. The message of Revelation to the early church experiencing the
uncertainty and pain of persecution is that Jesus has won the victory
and in the end, those who endure will join in Christ's victory. That
message in Revelation about enduring and persevering struck me. it
seems to be exactly what we need right now to endure and persevere in
love for our neighbor, trusting that when we love like Christ, love
will win.
As we wait in
uncertainty with all the love God has poured into us, we are looking
to be the body of Christ. Do you know anyone in need? Please let us
know so we can gather resources to help them. You can leave a message
at the church 776-3434.
We continue to
use FaceBook and Youtube to post sermons and devotions (Facebook). If
you need help getting on FaceBook or Youtube or Zoom for our live
service, contact the church and we will help you get you set up if we can.
We are also
starting to pass the peace amongst ourselves and others in two ways.
We invite you to write a card or two and send them to people in the
church or neighbors offering God's peace to them. We are also passing
the peace through a lawn ornament. One might end up in your yard and
we invite you to pass it along to someone else by placing it in their
yard where they will notice it or to call the church and have the
church pass it on to someone.
Our last
request is for anyone you may know who is not connected to the
internet or have access to a computer. As we don't know when we will
be back together, we want to make sure we are in touch with everyone
in some way. Please call the church and let us know if you or anyone
you know does not have internet access.
Our prayer
chain still is doing their great ministry. We believe God hears our
prayers. We believe God answers prayers. Call the church or anyone on
the prayer chain to tap into the power of this ministry.
Let us continue to
wait on God in this uncertainty. God's Spirit is still working in us
and calling us to be witnesses for Christ in our world.
Let us persevere in love.
Blessings,
Pastor Leanne