November 2025
The leaves continue to fall and pile up around the house making us all feel a bit melancholy. We are sad that the shade and colors of living leaves are gone, dried up to be blown by the changing winds of time. November is upon us and along with the changes to foliage, time has also changed, and the days are much shorter… nights are longer.

Such changes of the seasons need not cause us to linger in our reflective sadness. Scripture reminds us that God remains steadfast and present even when creation itself appears to be preparing for a “winter’s nap”. Our lessons on the First (of five) Sundays this month address the festival of All Saints. In the book of Ephesians 1:11-23 we celebrate the inheritance of life in heaven with the saints of God. Though we feel mournful and blue over the loss of life we can boldly be victorious to rise to the newness of living in God’s presence.

Our church calendar draws to a close this month as reflected in our scriptural lessons about the “Day of the Lord” fast approaching. God’s followers are instructed to fear not. God’s plan for God’s creation is unfolding. God is present and
in the “driver’s seat” with the changing of our surroundings. Second Thessalonians 3:16 “do not grow weary in doing what is right…” We should continue to preach, teach and baptize in the name of Jesus. As well as showing actions of love and kindness. How might we continue to do this throughout the month of November?

As the month winds down on November 23rd, we celebrate the Festival of Christ the King! Jesus is King over the living ones in Heaven! The reading from Colossians 1:11 we hear of our “inheritance to live with the saints in light”. An inheritance to live with Jesus when he comes into his eternal kingdom, a promise made to one thief on the cross. But, what about the other thief, the one who did not repent and recognize the “kingship” of Jesus? This lesson does not tell us of the second man, perhaps he was a goat…and not a sheep. Jesus came to separate the two…here he did separate the two thieves.

So, as November hibernation abounds in God’s created world, let us not also fall asleep in our practices to worship, read scripture and build up others in faith. Let us be ready when the Son of Man returns. I need to find some more oil for this lamp…how is your lamp oil holding up? Keep the faith and hold fast to what Christ taught his followers. Be the church.

See you on Sunday!
Pastor John


October 2025
Welcome October! Cooling temperatures, falling leaves, aromas of pumpkin spice and Stewardship campaigns. The time to reflect and plan ahead for next year’s budget. Budget at home, open season for health care plans, along with budgets and spending plans at church.
Stewardship is defined as, “The careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.” In other words, stewardship is managing and caring for things that belong to someone else. The person tasked with this management responsibility is called a “steward,” but they can also be referred to as a manager, agent, or overseer. Biblical stewardship is the practice of selflessly managing everything we have—our talents, time, money, relationships, health, etc.—for God’s glory. It’s been practiced for thousands of years, and its origins are captured in scripture verses about stewardship of money, time, and possessions. Which verse reflects your attitude towards giving and serving?

1. Principle of ownership
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it—the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1 Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. First Chronicles 29:14 Everything belongs to the Lord. These are foundational verses about stewardship. According to King David, everything belongs to the Lord. This is also backed up by God’s statement in Job 41:11b, “Everything under heaven belongs to me.”
In recognizing the principle of ownership, we understand that everything belongs to God. This realization impacts our daily lives by fostering humility and gratitude. As stewards, we must manage resources with the understanding that we
are caretakers, not owners. It should push us to align our decisions and actions with God's ownership, creating a lifestyle marked by generosity and responsible management.

2. Principle of humility
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
As believers, we are called to approach stewardship with a humble heart, recognizing our dependence on God. Humility extends to relationships with others. Philippians 2:3 (NIV) instructs, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." The principle of humility challenges us to prioritize the needs of others, promoting unity and cooperation in both our personal and community lives.

3. Principle of diligence
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. Proverbs 4:10
These scriptures on stewardship are much more personal. Stewards recognize that diligence is a means of honoring God and contributing to the well-being of others. How we manage our talents and spiritual gifts reflects our values. We can use them for selfish purposes or to help our neighbors.

4. Principle of multiplication
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." Genesis 1:28a That which is healthy normally grows and reproduces. Our stewardship as a congregation is our directive to gratefully
use the gifts the Lord has given us to increase and multiply those gifts for God’s glory.
A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9

5. Principle of planning
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 Strategic planning is a key aspect of responsible stewardship. If we follow God's instructions, we can develop wisdom that provides us with thoughtful foresight and strategic thinking in stewardship. It's important for us to set goals, make informed decisions, and consider the long-term consequences of our actions.
For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 Planning also extends to spiritual growth. God blesses us when we align our lives with God's overarching plan, seeking
His guidance and trusting in His providence for each of our individual journeys.

6. Principle of accountability
"For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them." Matthew 25:29 We will be held accountable for our stewardship. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the bags of gold. A wealthy man entrusted gold to his servants when he left home to travel. Upon his return, the master calls his servants to give account for what they did with his gold. Two of the servants doubled the gold they had received by making wise investments. The master commended them:
"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!" Matthew 25:23 One of the servants, however, was afraid of losing what he had been given, so he hid his gold instead of investing it. His master condemned him for not being a good steward:
"Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have receivedit back with interest. So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 25:27-30
Each of the servants was held accountable for how well they used what they had been given. Jesus told a similar parable in Luke 19:11-27, which shares the same message—we will be called to account for how we used the gifts God
has given us.

7. Principle of rewards
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24
Once we study stewardship in the Bible and learn to use what we have for God’s glory, God promises us an inheritance as a reward. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Selfishness leads to emptiness and more greed, but when we live a selfless life in service to God and others, God promises to meet all of our needs. In John 10:10, Jesus also promises to give us a life of abundance.

9. Principle of sacrifice
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34
The Bible is full of stories, illustrations, and parables regarding giving up something valuable for a higher purpose. Jesus exemplified this with his ultimate sacrifice on the cross. He demonstrated how we are called to prioritize God's kingdom over our own personal desires and comfort. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Ephesians 5:25
Sacrifice also extends to our personal relationships. The Bible clearly teaches that we must sacrificially love and serve others, recognizing that true stewardship involves selflessness and a willingness to invest time, energy, and resources
for the benefit of others.

10. Principle of generosity
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Second Corinthians 9:6-7
At the end of the day, stewardship is a “heart issue” that asks us to share what we God has given us—our resources such as time, energy, money, and love—with others. When we accept to be stewards, we should develop a lifestyle of open-handedness, compassion, and a reflection of God's generosity towards us.

Happy October Stewards! May we plan for tomorrow with God’s gifts from today.
See you in Church,
Pastor John


September 2025
September is here and so is back-to-school time. I am wondering if we are on board with aligning our lives to educational priorities. I am drawn to reflect on such matters for the children of God. May this serve as motivation for you…

I have not seen you in such a long time. I am right there at home with you. Some of you have me in your car, and I can always be found in a motel, hospital and even at the doctor’s office (but you will have to look for me). In days gone by, you and I used to be better acquainted. We touched each other more regularly before “life happened” and you grew away from me. I suppose I should have seen that coming.

We used to meet at night or at least weekly. You would hold me closer and be attentive to my offerings. Your eyes were bigger and sharper then, they have dimmed over the years, but I still recognize you and I know the depth of your
needs that I can address and comfort. Have you found a new source for comfort and forgotten the way life used to be? We had a past together and I thought we had a strong future ahead of us…but…things changed. You moved on to “family things” and I was put on a shelf. I am very much still here, with wisdom to guide and inspire you. To lift you up on dismal days and give you hopeful words to remember, treasure and share with others. Stop focusing so much on yourself and your ways of understanding…mine are much better. Oh, that is not just my opinion, that is the “wisdom of the ages” I long to share with you.

Yes, things have changed for you, but I am still the same. Same yesterday, today and tomorrow. You will find hope in that. I do not need to be rebranded or refreshed. And when the batteries run out in your computer, phone, kindle or
watch, I do not require electricity. I just need an open heart, to open me up and apply me to your face daily. I promise you to make things change, make them better and safer. I am a living word…The Word of God.

There is a copy of this in your home, on a table or on a shelf. Find it. Open it and share it with those around you. I am the Bible, God’s story about faith and relationship. Let us find the relationship once again. Seek me out…and finish the story of education.

Happy September! See you in Church
Pastor John



August 2025
Welcome August! The Dog Days of Summer are upon us. The weather channel calls it a “heat dome” that is keeping us in heat advisories with soaring temperatures. I pray that you are keeping cool at home, in the AC. Should your AC go out, please contact me as I have a spare window unit to loan you until your AC can be repaired. It is so important to “keep your cool” these days when things are known for heating up. Likewise, our Gospel readings in August are from Luke chapters 12-14. Jesus’ ministry is heating up in the region of Galilee. Being confronted daily by the community and religious leaders, Jesus is called upon to defend his words and actions. He speaks the truth about God and God’s love, and begins to also talk about consequences for those who oppose God’s way. Lutheran theology understands God’s word in terms of grace, mercy and forgiveness being offered to all believers. Yet,
in these weekly gospel readings, Jesus words seem to be directed to the nature of the “heart” of his listeners. When the intent of our heart felt actions are focused on God—well and good, but if they are motivated by selfish gains, then the disciple is moving in the wrong direction.

I pray that we have learned these lessons from Luke’s Gospel readings and that our ministry together reflects their witness. Luke 12:13-21 “Life is not about possessions.”, Luke 12:32-40 “where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also…” One behavior that we are getting proficient with is hosting yard sales. We clean out our homes, closets and garages to get rid of possessions. And we turn the proceeds into a paint fund or building fund to take care of the church. Do you feel that this is a demonstration of our living into the gospel teachings? I believe that one of the most difficult teachings to grasp will come before us this month. Luke 12:49-56-how Jesus came to bring division. Mother against daughter, father against son and how the way of the cross brings hostility and rejection. Each of us and each of our children must chose for themselves to follow the Lord and make Him a priority. We can not make this choice for one another-we must chose the “Way of Christ” daily. Luke’s Gospel readings this month will keep us humble and connected to this community of believers. May the heat of August not get in the way of our hearing God’s Word and weekly worship. Let us be about ministry in His name! Let
us sing His Praises all of August!

Pastor John


July 2025
Welcome July with a Happy Fourth! How do you recognize and celebrate the fourth of July? In years gone by did you go to Faith, NC? Attend a symphony concert? Visit a ballpark and eat hot dogs while a game was played? Did you go to the lake and fish? Drive to the beach and get stuck in traffic? Or maybe you stayed home and grilled out in the backyard? What great memory do you have about celebrating the birthday of the country? Last Sunday during the announcements I was very concerned that the U.S. might be drawn into a war in the middle east. I offered to host a time for prayer that you could attend via your telephone. I am wondering if this is still needed since a cease fire agreement has been reached? If you like the idea and convenience of joining in from a telephone-let me know by calling me. I would be happy to set this up and open the prayer phone tree to everyone.
There have been many times over the years when the nation and its leaders needed prayer. I found a book that reveals prayers and scripture readings used by presidents and national leaders. For example: Franklin Roosevelt is said to have written these words-“So we pray to Him now for the vision to see our way clearly-to see the way that leads to a better life for ourselves and for our fellow men-to the achievement of His will to peace on earth.” George Washington concluded one lengthy prayer with these words…”And finally (I pray) that Thou wilt most
graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Ronald Regan offered this brief prayer; “Today, we utter no prayer more fervently that the ancient prayer for peace on Earth.”

Prayers have always been needed and offered on behalf of the United States. Both in times of peace and times of conflict-prayers were said and prayed to unify and guide America. What prayers of unity are we actively praying? Which direction for guidance are you lifting up to God? What does it mean to be living here in the United States of America? How might we pray to our Lord as we approach the birthday of the nation? Did you know that there was originally written a second verse in the poem that became the National Anthem? The second verse goes like this:

Oh, thus be it ever when freeman shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation:
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!” -Frances Scott Key

I cannot help but observe how the beliefs and patriotism held by these leaders were intertwined with their reliance upon God for direction, guidance and blessings. Franklin Roosevelt said, “As Americans, we go forward, in the service of our country, by the will of God.” Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote: “ May the turbulence of our age yield to a true time of peace, when men and nations shall share a life that honors the dignity of each, the brotherhood of all.” We move forward as a nation who has been blessed by God to bring freedom, peace and justice on behalf of a benevolent Creator and Divine Presence. Again I say Welcome July! Welcome with your patriotic colors, fireworks and celebrations of life we share in this place.

Pastor John




June 2025
Happy month of June! This year is flying by! Only 7 months to plan your New Year’s Eve gatherings for 2026. Time flies…

We have one last Sunday in the Easter Season on June 1 which we will celebrate with our Ecumenical neighbors worshiping in the park in China Grove. The service time MOVES TO 10:00 AM. We will be outdoors so bring a folding chair to rest your weary body as we sing and hear scripture in the Park. What a great witness to our neighbors in the community!

June 8 is the Festival of Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit arrived like the rush of a might wind and tongues of fire that danced over the heads of the disciples. The story is told in its fullness in the Book of Acts, chapter 2. We will be worshiping in the sanctuary and our gathering time returns to the 9 am regular time.

June 15 will find us marking Holy Trinity Sunday as we know the one God in three distinct ways as Father, Son and Holy Ghost!

For the remainder of June, we begin counting Sundays on Pentecost. Our lessons will give us insight how the Holy Spirit worked through Jesus and the disciples; and through our ministries in the year 2025. God is continuing to create disciples and do “New” things through their efforts. What “new” things do you see happening around your life? Is this not the Holy Spirit at work?

How will the Holy Spirit be present this month as we prepare for Farmers Day in July? Where will the Holy Spirit lead the synod as we elect a new Bishop of the NC Synod? Will there be any changes on the horizon for the synod or the ELCA we also elect a new leader for the national Lutheran Church?

Change is not something many of us like, but changes provide new opportunities to plan and celebrate life in new ways. Change is what God is all about. Changing sinners into disciples, haters change into lovers, death changes into life-life with Christ, through the Holy Spirit that carries us all to God the Father. These are changes we look forward to experiencing!

Remember-June 1-“WORSHIP IN THE PARK at 10:00 AM. Pentecost and Holy Trinity Sundays follow and our counting the “Sunday’s after Pentecost begins in the church. I look forward to seeing you often and listening to your plans for summer vacations. I look forward to praising God with you each week as June arrives.

See you in church…
Pastor John


May 2025
According to world standards when one thinks of “catching a vision” it usually implies the activity of seeing with our eyes. “Did you see that”, “I can’t believe my eyes”, “the new color looks beautiful and changes the atmosphere.” Seeing things for ourselves such as spring tulips, daffodils, azaleas, and dog woods fills us with anticipation of new growth.

Reflecting upon the scriptural lessons for May, new visions abound for the disciples and the blooming church. Paul has visions of what to do. John has visions of what will be. Jesus’ ascension directs our vision to things above. Pentecost empowers us to vision about the Spirit of God which is here in our midst. These visions for the church are not experienced the eyes, but felt in our heart. A heart that is actively searching and listening for the voice of God.

In May of 1926 a young seminarian named Dietrich Bonhoeffer was invited to speak to a gathering of clergy prior to world war two. He based his thoughts on Psalm 127 to redirect the vision of his hearers from a limited focus on the thoughts of society … to consider what God is doing in their midst. The Psalm reads, “unless the Lord
builds…the builders labor in vain.”

Bonhoeffer’s thoughts ask us: “Why do we begin to rebuild what has been destroyed (in WW1) instead of waiting for God to build? Why do we continue to work to establish the church where once it belonged? Why do we struggle for the moral and religious education of our children, if all we do is in vain? Certainly, all our doing is in vain if we do only what we want to do. Then we hope for nothing more. But when we are most careful to do what God wants and not what we want , the it is as though the Lord himself builds. For how can the Lord build except through us? It is only when we build other than in the spirit of the Lord that our very best work is in
vain.”

Where might God be calling us to be active in outreach and love to our neighbors? How has our calling changed following the Easter resurrection of Jesus? Do we not have a great story to tell? A great love to share? Not radical changes by any means, but a vision that draws on more invitations for our members to engage in the work of the Kindgom. New directions for the N.C. Synod with the election of a new Bishop.
May is the month for visions. Let us lend our hearts for visioning the work of the Holy Spirit. We should take our cues for God’s creation, His Holy Word, and the work we do together in His name. Here is to our catching God’s vision together.

See you in Church!
Pastor John


April 2025
April has arrived and the Lenten season is drawing to a close. We have been sharing Wednesday meals and conversation about our need to repent and return to the Lord. There have been times to share questions and see how our worship service prepares us to encounter and celebrate God’s gift of forgiveness. I hope you have been enjoying the time to gather and share conversations. We have two Wednesdays left to complete our work and fellowship. I hope you will join us.

April brings showers, flowers, pollen and Easter. Are you looking forward to greeting each one? I must confess, I do not look forward to the pollen unless it is the time just after an April shower. How about you? As we anticipate Holy week and Easter we look forward to hearing again how God will never allow death to be the final
word. God is the God of Life and he promises Life to all of His children. Every other Sunday in the year is but a small celebration of the joy that is ours on Easter Sunday. Our hearts have been silent since the darkness of Good Friday,
Saturday was a blur of emotions and then came "Sonrise" on Easter morning. What a joy. What a celebration! What a glorious day to behold!

This is what we are looking forward to hearing. But, we must walk the journey of Palm Sunday and Holy Week before the celebration can happen. On Maundy Thursday, our scripture text is from John’s Gospel and recounts the time
Jesus washed ghe feet of the disciples. Some churches celebrate this text with a foot washing element to the service. Many of us are not wanting to participate in a foot washing to we will parallel this account with a time to have your hands washed by someone else. Each of us will come forward and simply hold out our hands so that they might be cleansed for us. If you have a ring that you do not want to get wet, put it in your pocket during the washing and then return it to your finger as you return to your seat.

It will feel a bit strange, there will be an aroma of spices, an anointing, a reminder that this is a ”holy washing” -a cleansing that we can perform by ourselves. Made new and smelling new our hands will be dried and we will feel humbled, grace filled and full of wonderment. God in Jesus did this for me? Yes. Jesus even washed the feet of Judas in our text. God’s grace is for everyone.

We look forward to receiving each of the many gifts that God offers. This gift is no different. No different that a Seder Meal or bread and wine or absolution which declares that our sins are forgiven and we should go in peace. This April there is so much to look forward to as God prepares to bless his church with the unthinkable. Let us be present, alert and awake to be prepared for his arrival. Happy Lent as we look forward to the glory of God’s Easter news.

Pastor John



March 2025
Welcome March! Springtime is near. This cold and snow is taking a toll on our activities and life events. When it is this cold outside (18 degrees this morning), we all prefer to simply stay indoors.

But as the new month arrives, so does our opportunity to gather more frequently for Lenten traditions. Shrove Tuesday’s pancake supper will be our first Tuesday of the month. Ash Wednesday is the next evening and checks our calendar for Wednesday Lenten Meals.

Following the meals we will consider our “Journey in Faith” and what you are doing to practice faith in daily life and weekly worship. I invite each of you to write down one question you over an issue or topic with which you struggle.
Perhaps this topic keeps you awake some nights. Maybe it is a nagging question you have about faith, God, Jesus or God’s living Spirit. Whatever the question, write it down and bring it along. We will share our struggles, pray about them and offer them to the Lord at a closing time of prayer.

Lent is the church season where Christians engage their faith as a 40 Day Journey. Along the journey we will reflect on faith, find hope in the community gathered and our unity as God’s baptized children. We struggle daily with issues of living in our baptismal identity, and we can be supported by our relationships with God’s Word and God’s family. Have you felt as if you needed your faith to grow? To feel closer to God? To ask God a burning question that has captured your focus? If so, Lent is the season to put our cards on the table. Lent is the season where all believers are
invited to “Return to the Lord your God…” Join us on this journey of sharing, praying, searching and hearing the Word…that is already in our midst.

Sunday Worship Themes also will address the Journey of Faith. March 2-Jesus is displayed as Light; March 9-Divine Light vs. my night light in the dark; March 16-Did I leave the closet door open or closed? ; March 23-Warning, Look out!; March 30-Mystery and Ministry revealed; April 6-God makes all things NEW (including you.)
As wintertime draws to a close (7 weeks said the groundhog) our commitment and faith Journey is warming up. I invite you to get intentional about gathering on Wednesdays, bring your struggle narrative about what is troubling you, place it in the Lenten Box at the door (so that our issues remain anonymous) and let us grow closer to the Lord on this Lutheran Chapel Journey of Faith.

I hope to see you in church!
Pastor John


February 2025
HAPPY FEBRUARY TO YOU! A month where we celebrate our love for one another, and we continue to count the Sundays of Epiphany. Epiphany, the Ah Ha! Moment when we realize the truth and reality of something. Epiphany – the truth of Jesus, Messiah’s birth and witnessed and proclaimed by the Wise Men. How do you as a child of God proclaim your faith and live as His disciple? This is a question for each of us to ponder daily. How will I live each day as God’s child?

To direct our days and ways, we turn to God’s word each week and pray that the revelation will shape our love. Our Gospel readings are sequential and come from the Book of Luke. Luke Chapter 4 opens the month with the presentation of Jesus in the temple. Simeon tells us that this is the Chosen one from God and after blessing the child, Simeon’s ministry is complete. He is ready to depart life and be with the Lord.

Luke, Chapter 5 follows with Jesus preaching to a crowd while He sits in a fishing boat. This is Luke’s rendition of the Sermon on the Mount and the focus shifts from the actual sermon to the conversation and teaching Jesus has with Simon, James and John. The story begins with each of them listed as simply men until Simon sees with his heart that Jesus is much more than a man. Simon Calls him LORD…and things change.

Life should be this way for us. When we recognize Jesus as the Lord of our lives, we too should change. The change should find us allowing Him to shape our hearts, our lives and our families. Our priority should shift from being focused on self…to focusing on others. When we give Jesus the rightful title of LORD…He changes us. Jesus says to Simon…and to us, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” Life is no longer about US, now, in Jesus… life is about others. Sharing and witnessing to others becomes our task and calling. How can we as CHURCH be a witness to others this month?

From here our Gospel reading jumps to chapter 6, four teachings about blessings for those who believe contrasted with 3 woes to those who fail to see Jesus as Lord. Luke has called his Gospel an “orderly account…so that you might know the truth”. So the question remains, Do we who are the church…get it? Are we blessed or defined by Woes? Do we (church) feel blessed?

The month wraps up with God’s word teaching us to “do unto others…” I’m sure you can finish the quote. Again, this presents a new reality for those who might be followers of Christ. We are told to “love your enemies”. Who then are you and I to love? Who is your enemy?

The last Sunday in Epiphany presents our last “Ah Ha! Moment when Jesus is transfigured and made to shine in the presence of Moses and Elijah. That is to say, If you did not know who Jesus is? Now, you do. He is the Son of God, Blessed with divinity, radiating light, standingalone as God Speaks, “This is my Son; my Chosen; listen to Him!”

This wisdom from God’s Word builds faith in His community and empowers them to step out in ministry. No longer just fishing from the banks to catch dinner; but fishing in Jesus Name to bring His word of change to all who will listen. Grab your fishing pole and net as we have work to do. Let each of us be about God’s work together in the month of February.

I hope to see you in church!
Pastor John


January 2025
Advent’s season of anticipation is complete. The way was prepared, hearts were prepared, and God came to be among us. How did you experience God’s presence among us? Where did you encounter the love, peace and surprise of God’s holy light this Christmas?
        
Welcome January and the 12 days of Christmas which conclude on the day of Epiphany, January 6. Epiphany is when the church recognizes the message and witness of the wise men who witnessed his natal star and followed it to Bethlehem. Scripture tells us that as they greeted the holy child, God’s son in the flesh. They presented their gifts which were fit for a king and then they departed by a different way…so that king Herod would not find them, or the child. Their encounter was to witness God in human form and to treat him like royalty.

Along with the wise men, there were shepherds watching their flocks by night. They too saw a star but they heard the proclamation from angels that God was appearing in Bethlehem. They too were told to follow the star to find this miraculous divine presence in a newborn baby.

So, the shepherds left their flocks. They left the sheep in search of the one. They must find the one…so they left the 99 in the field and went searching.

In similar fashion, we too must leave our worldly place and get to the place where God is making an appearance, after all, this is the divine encounter the world has anticipated.
We must search for the one who came to save the lost.
We must open our hearts to the one who came to cleanse all hearts from the effects of sin.
We must recognize and worship the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Covenant, Messiah, Light of the World…worship Him who came to save us all.

-What 99 things must you and I leave behind so that we can be in the presence of the God made      flesh who dwelt among us?
-What gets in the way of your weekly worship attendance?
-What prevents your voice from being heard when the congregation sings it’s weekly hymn of praise?

If not your voice and heartfelt praise, what will you give to him? Let us all look up to see the signs. Let us all follow the message of the angels. Let us be bold in our proclamation that God is here, still to lead and guide us all into a greater relationship of discipleship.
Oh Lord, open our eyes and our hearts to the calling you proclaim. May there be an “Epiphany!” in your walk of faith as we begin the year 2025 together. Welcome January-
The season of Ahah! I found the light! I have seen the Lord!

Peace, Pastor John