Getting Started

This is my first blog post as pastor of the Pine Island Presbyterian Church.  I'm calling it Pine Island Pastor Musings.  I plan to write regularly and post each Wednesday.  The purpose is to help us connect.  I'll summarize the past Sunday's message, look forward to what's coming up, and reflect on what's going in our lives.  The blog format provides a means for church members to easily forward or share with friends.  In the future, I will provide a link to the sermon text, which I expect to have posted on our website.     

This summer I've been reading Eugene Peterson's memoir, "The Pastor."  It has been an excellent read as I transition from Middle Council work with the Presbytery back to parish ministry.  One of the chapters is entitled "Invisible Six Days a Week, Incomprehensible the Seventh."  The big pastor joke is that pastors work just one day a week.  So much of what a pastor does is invisible:  studying, praying, visiting, getting ready for worship when pastors are seen.  Eugene practiced writing a letter to the congregation every Tuesday and sent it out on Wednesday to help keep his church members informed.

My sermon "The Aroma of Christ" last Sunday, explored Paul's words of encouragement to the church in Corinth.  “Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him, for we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved” (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). I love this text!  Here Paul uses the imagery of returning Roman legions parading through the Senate Forum in Rome with their conquests, to remind us that Christ has won for us the victory of good over evil, life over death, God's reign of blessing for all including and especially the poor, the outcast, the stranger, triumphs in the end!  Paul gives the church in Corinth and us an identity.  “We are the aroma of Christ of God.”  And gives us a mission. “Through us spreads in every place, the fragrance that comes from knowing him, Jesus.” 

Some questions to ponder.  What aroma, what fragrance do we spread for our knowing Jesus?  As the gospel readings for last week and this coming week is Jesus saying, "I am the bread of life?" (John 6:35), I fired up the oven at church Sunday morning and baked a loaf of bread.  I did this to fill our worship space with the aroma of bread.  Such aroma has a way of filling the room.  How is our fragrance spreading in Texas Corners, and wherever we spend our week when we are dispersed, invisible to each other?  

Looking ahead, the scripture texts for this coming Sunday, are 1 Kings 19:4-8, John 6:35,41-51, and Ephesians 4:1-16.  I will focus on Building Up the Body/the Church.  We will also celebrate Holy Communion.

I visited Mary Vanderbeek Powell this afternoon at her home.  She is 100 years 6 months old, and is in amazing health.  She introduced me to her cat, Lucy, and her large extended family.  She grieves the death of her son, Larry, who died suddenly several weeks ago.  I spoke with Deb Weurding.  Tomorrow, Thursday, August 8th, is Deb and Steve's wedding anniversary.  It will be a hard day as she grieves Steve's death this past winter. I spoke with Edith Rasmussen and set up a visit.  Bob's birthday is this Sunday, August 12th.  The family is gathering for a celebration on Sunday.  Sometimes love hurts with a deep ache!  Scripture tells us that God is love.  If that is so, God is present and abides in that ache.  Lift these members up in prayer!  

I will be visiting Oliver and Grace Takuh Sunday afternoon.  Their wedding anniversary is coming next Wednesday, August 15th, along with Grabriel and Betty Takuh, Wenda and Ron Dissinger on Friday, August 10, and Eileen and me on Tuesday, August 14 (42 years)!  Other birthdays this week:  Beth Dyer and Grace Takuh (August 6), Bob Klimp and Abigail (Nkwewoh) Atemandeh (August 10th).  Hold these people in your prayers of thanksgiving.
My work days are normally Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday.  My office hours at the church office are Wednesdays 9:30 - 12:30.  I look forward to visiting and getting acquainted with you as time and schedules allow.  Next week, I'll be working Monday instead of Tuesday.

  Hope Garden is a ministry of our church.  Work days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.


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