From the Pastor's Pen

Dear friends,

I found myself thinking today about some of the people who have stepped up to help our church in these difficult times.  We have some truly amazing people who have been exceedingly generous with their time and their gifts and abilities.

We have loving elders and deacons who are calling around to their parishes.  They send me emails to keep me posted on how each person is doing, and it sure seems to me they enjoy their conversations with the members and friends of our church.  This week, I asked Tom and Sue LeFevre to join the production team and add voices to the Traditional to help people sing at home.  They were happy to do it.  In fact, it seemed to me that Tom relished the challenge of figuring out the technology to make the music better.  In the meantime I have been a little concerned about the burden Andy McCaskey has taken on in helping to produce our worship services.  Then last week, Andy said he appreciated this opportunity to serve.  The technical challenge keeps him busy and focused in ways that are good for him in this strange time.

There are others.  John Hutchins has recently become our Clerk of Session.  He is working so hard to get the minutes just right.  He even showed up at the Presbytery lunch gathering to learn more about what other churches are doing in this time.  Bill Burton recently put together a financial spreadsheet to help the session forecast potential financial concerns. He said it was a special joy to be able to do for the church what he often does for his business. Mary Rasp has taken over managing the prayer chain.  In this season of many prayer concerns, Mary is keeping us posted about who we want to hold in prayer.

There are others.  People are stepping up to help in large and small ways.  Some of these faithful servants I hear about.  Others are working quietly in secret.  What is consistent with all of those I know are serving, is they are happy to help in this uniquely challenging time.  They want to put their gifts to work for the Lord.  This is my experience as well.  It gives me a quiet joy to be helpful and to serve God in ways that matter.

Thank you all for the ways, both large and small, that you are giving to God in these days. 

Warmly,

Pr. Sally

¹⁰ God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. ¹¹ Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. I Pet 4: 10-11