Dear Friends,
If you attended any of our worship experiences during Rev. Graham Locking’s visit to the church in May, you likely left with a profound encounter with the Holy Spirit. That’s the word I have heard from so many of you. Rev. Locking’s charisma, sense of humor, and dynamic Christian presence made us laugh and touched us deeply with God’s presence.
Like the first disciples who heard Jesus’ call to take up his ministry of love and self-sacrifice, we were challenged to go out into the world around us and share in God’s mission to transform the lonely, the lost, the forlorn and forgotten. We were reminded that this is God’s world after all, loaned to us for a short time, and that we have a serious responsibility to care of it and all of God’s creatures on it. “If you love me,” Jesus said, “feed my sheep.” He charged Peter and all of us, “If you love me,” as you say, “take care of my lambs.” (from John 21)
We live in a hostile world, with dangers all around, with wars and rumors of wars. The killing in Iraq continues, campuses are under siege, jobs are threatened and livelihoods in jeopardy. Families are fractured and people alienated from one another. The world sometimes is a frightening place.
But it’s God’s world. You and I – if we love Jesus, as we proclaim – need to take care of our world and all God’s people. We need to place God above all else. That means committing ourselves to give time, prayer, attention, and money to be the best stewards we can be, going into our world to “make disciples” in Christ’s name and for his purposes.
Peace is possible through Christ our Lord! The future of our planet and the hope of our children can be bright if we take Jesus’ charges to us seriously.
We’ll have Graham Locking back at the earliest opportunity. What a boost for those of us who met him for the first time. And what a joy for Sue, Jessie and I to have an old friend back in our home, to share with all of you!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Ron |
Howland United Methodist Church