June 6th, 2021: Pentecost 2
A Congregational Letter to Morgan’s Point and Forks Road East United Churches
Happy 167th Anniversary Forks Road East! This is a joyous day of remembering who we are as a faith community, where we have come from, and where we will be travelling over the next 167 years. This truly is a time to celebrate, and to reflect on God’s goodness and faithfulness to us. We are a people of God who seek to strengthen our relationship with God each and every day.
I want to thank Liz Pigeon and Bruce Harry for offering us God’s Word during the two weeks that I was away. It was a joy to sit back and listen to these thoughtful, wise, and discerning servants bring to us God’s Word and presence during their Sunday morning worship. This Pastoral Charge is truly gifted with the leadership God has raised up among us to serve, to encourage, and to bring blessings to each of us.
The scripture reading that I have chosen to speak on this Sunday, comes from Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians. It is found in 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1. In this particular passage, Paul emphasis that it is no wonder we, as Christians, do not lose heart! This is because, even though, on the outside, it sometimes looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside God is creating new life within us. We have eternal glory when we keep our eyes fixed, not on the things that are seen, but on the things that are unseen. For what is seen is transient, but what is unseen is eternal.
We, as Christians, live by faith. We live according to the will of God. We are people who live rightly, and well, only so long as we stay conscious of God’s reality in our lives, and seriously seek to strengthen our relationship with God. We are to live lives of order, and purpose, and power, both individually and collectively.
Jesus, tells us, “The greatest commandment, the one supreme requirement for real life is to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and minds.” We can only function as servants of God if we keep a deep sense of dependency upon God who is our ultimate power. Jesus tells us in scripture that “Apart from my Father I can do nothing.” Later, the Apostle Paul writes “There is no question of our having sufficient power in ourselves. The power we have comes from God.” So, daily, we must stay sensitive to the reality of God in our lives, not only as our law-giver and guide, but, also as our moral clarity, and our sense of direction. We need God’s hope, and staying power in our daily walk. Indeed, we do not live by the things that are seen, but by the things that are unseen. No wonder we do not lose heart!
I would invite you, as always, to continue to pray for one another every morning at 10:30, remembering that God grants us wisdom, love, and peace as we hold each other in God’s tender keeping. Much love and care to you all. Keep well and safe.
God’s Blessings,
Pastor Laura