We feel a special kinship with Peace in a variety of ways. As you began worshipping in a Firehouse, we began in a fitness center. We were fortunate through God’s grace to grow and serve our respective communities. Both of our congregations have been served in their formative years by Pastor Stewart. Most importantly, our congregations share a common message – the Gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ and salvation.
As our congregations develop strategies to determine how we can most effectively bring that message to our communities, we struggle with questions to be answered and decisions to be made. We are faced with an increasingly diverse audience – young, old, a variety of races and ethnic groups, some with Lutheran background, others with non-Lutheran or no church background at all. All have needs, and we reach out as members of Christ’s body to meet those needs through the message of God’s grace.
In this regard, it is a positive sign to note the cooperative efforts among the three churches – St. Mark, Peace and Grace and Glory – to find ways in which we can join together in worship and ministry. The Easter Vigil service was an initial effort in that direction. Your participation, with the baptism of 4 new members of your congregation was certainly one of the high points of the service.
Your mission trips to Honduras and Togo have shown your strong faith in the Lord.
There are are also special situations in each of our congregations that present unique challenges to our members. Peace congregation is exploring the development of a new ministry in the in the Ruckersville area, and expanding facilities at the present location.
Grace and Glory has begun the process leading to the construction of its first church home. This is a major undertaking as we seek to balance needs with resources, hopes with realities.
Coming to grips with these issues can be a daunting task. At times doubts and uncertainties can erode confidence. But again, Peace and Grace and Glory have something in common with which to face the future – FAITH.
To put some clarity in what faith is, the Webster’s dictionary defines “faith” as the complete trust, confidence, or reliance in someone.
“Trust”, on the other hand, is a firm belief or confidence in the honesty, integrity, reliability, and justice of another person or thing. The words are not interchangeable, but can be considered so when describing different situations or relationships that we encounter in our lives.
The lessons today, coincidently, offer us some powerful examples of people of FAITH. In Romans, St. Paul speaking about faith, cites the example of the Old Testament patriarch Abraham who in spite of his advanced age, believed in God’s promises. To quote Romans, “He grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.
In Matthew, a tax collector, who, when called by Jesus to “follow me” simply got up and did just that. Later in the same reading, we hear the examples of the ruler whose daughter had died and the woman who suffered for years with a hemorrhage. They too had faith that Jesus could and would use his healing power.
Psalm 50 says “call on me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you and you shall glorify me.”
In the world of the 21st century nothing seems to stay the same for very long. Change is the order of the day. Our congregations too, must adjust or adapt to meet the realities presented by their mission fields. But while the methods or forms of our ministry may change, the message remains constant – God’s grace for all – buoyed by our own faith in God’s word, and by our example, we can boldly proclaim that message whatever the future holds.
Your congregation has been a blessing to this community for many years, and we share your faith in God’s plan to share the good news.
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