Pastor's Note | Monday, June 24th

Ah, summer!

For me the season brings memories of my earlier years; of long, warm days spent at the neighbor's pool, trips to the beach to lounge in the hot sun and swim and surf for hours in the cool waves, to be bare-footed for ten weeks, family vacation trips, and much more. Summer was a delightful season.

One summer - I was 15 at the time - wasn't so delightful. My parents were separated and life became marked by stress, pain, uncertainty, and fear of the unknown. No usual family vacations. No opportunity to enjoy the beach. The former lightness and frivolity of summer just wasn't to be.

When the Apostle John (the likely candidate to be the author) penned the words of the letter of 1 John, he was in this kind of summer - there was division in the faith community, some had separated from the body having taken on beliefs that were not consistent with the understanding of the Apostles, there was stress, pain, and uncertainty.

As we continue to deal with the question of denominational affiliation we will experience some of these realities. It is painful. There is uncertainty. We can't just ignore the issues.

Because of this I would offer the following words of encouragement.

First, remember that Jesus is the Head of the Church and our Season of Discernment must be carried out in submission to his leadership. Please continue to pray for the clear direction our Lord will give and for us to be obedient to his will.

Second, as followers of Jesus we must take seriously his command - let me repeat - his command, to love one another. We will have differing perspectives for a number of reasons, but we must not allow differences of opinion to become barriers to loving one another, respecting others' points of view, and treating one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Third, let's not forget why we exist. Our Mission Statement is clear - we exist to make disciples of Jesus who connect with God, grow in faith, and serve in love. Mission Statements are nice to have, but they are utterly meaningless if we don't live into them! We can't lose sight of our call to help our friends, family, and neighbors discover the loving kindness of Jesus Christ and experience the blessed life he gives. We can be people who are theologically orthodox and morally pure, yet still fail to love others. That would be a travesty. Let's be people of grace, welcome, hospitality, and heralding the good news of what we have seen, heard, and experienced in Jesus Christ.

Finally, as we continue in a Season of Discernment and even beyond, you have a significant role to play. We are a body made up of many parts and every part is needed in order for the body to function properly. Please help us function well by understanding what this Season of Discernment is all about (see the information at our web site: www.gspc.org/discernment), by participating in the Town Hall meeting on June 26th at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary, and by completing and returning the Poll Response Form that all members received, and by praying as we continue in this season.

God bless you and all who are dear to you. And, have a great Summer!
Jim