Pastor's Page -- September 2019 |
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
(2 Corinthians 5:16-17)
Are you starting to see it? Can you see that there are new things happening?
September is a time when things get started again. Our kids are back at school, teachers are back to teaching, parents are able to get back on a regular routine. We will celebrate with our community at Cheese Fest in Blair (you’re invited to community worship at the High School, Sept. 15 at 9:30am). At church, we will soon have Rally Day (September 22) when the children get a fresh start in learning about our God of love; our confirmation class begins again for the year (September 25 at 4:30 – parents invited!); and we get other programs ready to start.
While the fun, busy times of summer begin to come to an end, September is a time of coming back together in community and regular routines.
This September is a particularly joyful time for me as I begin my first year of ministry with and among you. We will celebrate on Rally Day, at a baptism, and a wedding. We will welcome the little children and we will teach them what it is to live lives of faith.
As we begin this year, I pray that we can together live into the promise of new life that Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians. When we gather to learn about God’s word, to worship God, and experience the love of Christ, we are participating in that new life in Christ. We are made new to live out faithful lives in service to God and our neighbors. We can continue to live that life of faith as we go to work, visit friends and families, care for loved ones who are ill, and enjoy our days.
This month in our readings on Sundays we will have some challenging words from Jesus as to how we live a life following his way. As we navigate together what that challenge means for each of us in our own daily lives, may we remember that we are free to live lives of service to one another, because Christ has set us free from all that which weighs us down. We are free to live lives of faith because of the love of God found in Jesus. And let’s remember that we do not do this alone. Our God is with us, and so are our siblings in faith: that great cloud of witnesses, and those we see in worship on Sunday.
Through God’s love, may we live together our new lives in Christ.
Peace + Grace,
Pastor Adam Arends
(2 Corinthians 5:16-17)
Are you starting to see it? Can you see that there are new things happening?
September is a time when things get started again. Our kids are back at school, teachers are back to teaching, parents are able to get back on a regular routine. We will celebrate with our community at Cheese Fest in Blair (you’re invited to community worship at the High School, Sept. 15 at 9:30am). At church, we will soon have Rally Day (September 22) when the children get a fresh start in learning about our God of love; our confirmation class begins again for the year (September 25 at 4:30 – parents invited!); and we get other programs ready to start.
While the fun, busy times of summer begin to come to an end, September is a time of coming back together in community and regular routines.
This September is a particularly joyful time for me as I begin my first year of ministry with and among you. We will celebrate on Rally Day, at a baptism, and a wedding. We will welcome the little children and we will teach them what it is to live lives of faith.
As we begin this year, I pray that we can together live into the promise of new life that Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians. When we gather to learn about God’s word, to worship God, and experience the love of Christ, we are participating in that new life in Christ. We are made new to live out faithful lives in service to God and our neighbors. We can continue to live that life of faith as we go to work, visit friends and families, care for loved ones who are ill, and enjoy our days.
This month in our readings on Sundays we will have some challenging words from Jesus as to how we live a life following his way. As we navigate together what that challenge means for each of us in our own daily lives, may we remember that we are free to live lives of service to one another, because Christ has set us free from all that which weighs us down. We are free to live lives of faith because of the love of God found in Jesus. And let’s remember that we do not do this alone. Our God is with us, and so are our siblings in faith: that great cloud of witnesses, and those we see in worship on Sunday.
Through God’s love, may we live together our new lives in Christ.
Peace + Grace,
Pastor Adam Arends
W10767 County Road C, Ettrick, WI 54627
608-525-2406
608-525-2406
