Dear
Fellow Children of God,
In
the devotions I am currently using, the opening prayer for Thursday was written
by Lancelot Andrewes. Andrewes was a
bishop of the Church of England in the late 1500’s and early 1600’s under Queen
Elizabeth I and James I. He oversaw the
translation of the King James Bible.
Andrewes
prays,
“Let
us pray for the Churches throughout the world for their truth, unity, and
stability; that charity may flourish and truth may abound in them all; and for
our own Church, that what is unsound in it may be corrected, and what is
lacking may be supplied. Amen.”
As a
pastor of Christian congregations for the last 37 + years, and pastor of St.
John for the last 25 years, this prayer hit home. God’s church on earth always needs God’s help
for truth, unity, and charity, or love.
This
past Wednesday evening our worship focused on the assigned Epistle lesson from
Galatians 6. The first two verses of
this reading call God’s people to behavior of love and unity. “1
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore
him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this
way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
God calls his people
to faith and love, but this verse points to the sad truth that we can expect
our fellow Christians at time to fall in sin.
And, we also need to keep a watch on ourselves because we too are
tempted and prone to behavior that is not faith, and is not love.
For example, like
many Christian groups and denominations, our church body will have a convention
this summer. There are a number of hotly
debated issues that will be discussed and acted upon. I am sad to say that the behavior I see in
these meetings is often self-righteous and selfish, rather than behavior that
trusts God in faith, and rather than behavior that reaches out to others in
love. Paul wrote about the struggles of
the early Christians in the region of Galatia, what is now south-central
Turkey. The same struggles continue
today.
But, in spite of the
fact that people of God have struggled for thousands of years, there is
hope. In this Galatians reading Paul
points the Galatians to our only source of hope. “May I never boast except
in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been
crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14) The cross of Jesus shows
God’s love for His weak and flawed people.
The cross of Jesus brings forgiveness and new life to people who are not
always faithful or loving. We can’t
trust in our own righteousness. But, we
can trust the saving, sacrificial love of God for us in Jesus’ dying and His rising.
So, there is practical
hope for our Lord’s church in this world.
Because God forgives us in the cross, there is restoration for fallen
people. “1
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore
him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this
way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Restoration does not
come when I try harder. Restoration comes
when I am honest with myself about my failures and when I trust the forgiveness
of God in Jesus. Then, in humble faith
and living in God’s love, I can point to the truth – Jesus!
The
word “pastor” means, “shepherd.” A
pastor is called to shepherd the flock of our Lord Jesus, who is the Good
Shepherd. (John 10:11) So, the prayer of Andrewes touches my
heart. Yes Lord, [We] “pray
for the Churches throughout the world for their truth, unity, and stability;
that charity may flourish and truth may abound in them all; and for our own
Church, that what is unsound in it may be corrected, and what is lacking may be
supplied. Amen.”
A
Child of God, Praying for God’s Church,
Pastor
Jonathan
P.S. I have added some more pictures from this
year’s VBS. https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/6298887896733577281
P.P.S. Here is a picture of last week’s baptism of
Jocelyn Ruth Bower. https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/Baptisms2016#6301962136351497778
P.P.P.S. Here are pictures of the baptism of Alana
Whitehead on Fathers’ Day. https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/Baptisms2016#6301961750499191682
P. P.P.P.S. Here are baptism pictures of Taylor Manelick,
Elena and Everly Seibel on June 15.
These are children of August Manelick and Autumn Manelick Seibel. https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/Baptisms2016#6301960405902961586
****
ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE
PASTOR’ - I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to
all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have. (I am regularly
adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this
e-mail for the first time.) However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail,
please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this
message.
****
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