A Message from Our Pastor: November 2013

Dear Church Family:

The beautiful “Hymn of Promise” found in our United Methodist Hymnal has a way of opening us up whenever we sing it: opening our eyes to see the hidden promise un-veiled as seeds planted last Spring blossom during harvest time; opening our mouths to sing those uplifting harvest and thanksgiving hymns; opening our wallets to share and support ministries without fearing scarcity; opening our hands to reach out and help others; opening our minds, hearts and collective will to live into our future with-out fear, with confidence, because we have seen and felt and known the gracious providence of God.

There is one line in the “Hymn of Promise” that stands out as the great climax of our liturgical season: In the end is our beginning! Our liturgical year actually ends with the great harvest and thanksgiving festivals, culminating in the joyous celebration of the Reign of Christ Sunday. In essence, we end the year with the celebration of the triumph of good over evil, of life over death, and the assurance that the kingdoms of this world are bending and yielding, and will one day bow and peacefully surrender to the Kingdom of God, indeed, to the Reign of Christ and that beautiful promised peaceable kingdom.

In our end is our beginning! As the old order begins to slip away, and it feels as if we are losing grip, losing our control over the things happening around us, among us, within us . . . this is indeed the time to look up with faith, to take heart and courage, to see and celebrate the unbending promise of God: Behold, I am making everything new again!

Anona and I wish for all our church family a happy, and a hope-filled season of thanks-giving!

In trust, hope, and love,
Pastor Chuck