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May 2024 Pastor’s Corner — The Unexpected
Blessed is the man…
whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
— Psalm 1:1-4
This is Fred the Tree. Fred is growing in the most unexpected and unlikely of places — right in the middle of the historic Old Seven Mile Bridge in Key West. Against all odds (and all the odds are against it), Fred not only sprouted but has thrived in a most inhospitable location. Fred provides a beautiful example of how, when we trust in the Lord, our faith can grow and flourish in the most unexpected places and ways.
Trusting in the Lord, and growing ever deeper in that trust, is everything that is meant by “faith,” particularly faith in Jesus Christ. In Galatians 5:6, Paul summarizes everything he believes about the Gospel when he writes, “For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith [trust] expressed in love.” (Gal. 5:6 MESSAGE) But “trusting in God” is a somewhat strange and abstract concept. It’s very easy to say we “Trust in the LORD with all our heart, and do not lean on our own understanding” (Prov. 3:5 ESV), but how do we know if we actually are trusting in the Lord as much as we think we are?
As March drew to a close, I came down with an unexpected stomach illness. The next day, we made an unexpected visit to the ER, which resulted in an unexpected hospital stay that included unexpected surgery to address a congenital issue that I learned about, unexpectedly, four years ago. When I fell ill, even when I was admitted to the hospital and learned I was going to have surgery, I never imagined I would end up being out of the pulpit for 4 weeks and facing a recovery process that will end up being a total of 6 weeks or more. Every step of the process, as my circumstances continued to become more concerning and severe than I first thought, could have been fraught with anxiety and worry. I’m not saying I didn’t have my moments, but in general (and other than feeling terribly sick), I felt a deep sense of peace and calm through it all. I knew, without a doubt, that everything was going to be fine, no matter what happened.
I have had, and continue to have, seasons of wrestling with the Lord. There have been many times when I have argued with God and struggled to understand the whats and the whys of what He has allowed me to go through, and sometimes things He has purposefully brought my way. I don’t like a lot of those things, and in many respects I still wish going through those seasons wasn’t necessary. And yet, in each and every case, the Lord has proved himself trustworthy and true. Through it all, even though I still don’t understand most of it, I have learned to trust Him a little bit more than I did before. It is because of those times that when this very unexpected, and frankly quite severe, situation occurred, I found that I wasn’t worried or afraid. The Lord had proven himself faithful in the big things and the small in the past, how could I expect anything other this time around?
It is in the unexpected moments and circumstances of life that we both learn to trust Him more and find out how much we already trust in Him. The “soil” that allows our faith to grow and mature is trusting in the Lord and His Word. When we trust in Him and learn to trust Him more each day, our faith is able to grow and even thrive in the midst of the most unexpected or even hostile circumstances. Place your trust in the Lord today, and continue to do so each and every day, so that when the times of trial and struggle, when the unexpected comes along, you will be able to hold fast and stand firm, to face whatever may come with peace and assurance, knowing in your heart of hearts that the Lord will once again be faithful and true.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” (Matt. 7:24-25)
Blessings,
Rev. David Garrison
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News & Announcements for April 28, 2024
JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL
If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we encourage you to join us Sunday mornings for a intergenerational Sunday school class, from 9:00-10:00. We look forward to seeing you!
UNRAVELING REVELATION – BEGINNING SUNDAY, MAY 12
If there’s one book of the Bible that people have questions about or don’t understand, it’s the very last book, the Book of Revelation. It many respects, it is one of the most unique books in the entire Bible, bringing together all sorts of unusual imagery and confusing language. It’s become quite popular to read it in such a way as to try to unlock the secrets to the future, but doing so actually robs the book of its true power and import. Revelation isn’t so much about the future as it is a field guide to dissident discipleship in the here and now. Join us for Sunday School beginning May 12th as we seek to Unravel Revelation.
MISSION FOCUS FOR APRIL: NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
Our mission focus for the month of April is Neighbors Helping Neighbors which assists individuals in Amherst County in overcoming food insecurity. They also help connect those in need to area resources that can help build self-sufficiency and quality of life. You may make a donation by specifying NHN on your check memo line.
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – MONDAY, May 6, 7PM
The Women’s Bible Study will meet on Monday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Barbara Baker will be our facilitator and hostess this month. We are using the book, The Love Stories of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream. This month, we will be studying David and Abigail – The Rebel and the Peacemaker. Ladies, read your book and complete your workbook! Bring a friend. As always, if you don’t get your homework done, come anyway!!
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News & Announcements for April 21, 2024
JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL
If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we encourage you to join us Sunday mornings for a intergenerational Sunday school class, from 9:00-10:00. We look forward to seeing you!
UNRAVELING REVELATION – COMING SOON
If there’s one book of the Bible that people have questions about or don’t understand, it’s the very last book, the Book of Revelation. It many respects, it is one of the most unique books in the entire Bible, bringing together all sorts of unusual imagery and confusing language. It’s become quite popular to read it in such a way as to try to unlock the secrets to the future, but doing so actually robs the book of its true power and import. Revelation isn’t so much about the future as it is a field guide to dissident discipleship in the here and now. Join us for Sunday School as we seek to Unravel Revelation.
APRIL MISSION FOCUS: NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
Our mission focus for the month of April is Neighbors Helping Neighbors which assists individuals in Amherst County in overcoming food insecurity. They also help connect those in need to area resources that can help build self-sufficiency and quality of life. You may make a donation by specifying NHN on your check memo line.
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – MONDAY, May 6, 7PM
The Women’s Bible Study will meet on Monday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the church. June Hedrick will be our facilitator and hostess this month. We are using the book, The Love Stories of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream. This month, we will be studying David and Abigail – The Rebel and the Peacemaker. Ladies, read your book and complete your workbook! Bring a friend. As always, if you don’t get your homework done, come anyway!!
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April 2024 Pastor’s Corner — Refuge
Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. — Psalm. 28:2
As I come to a half-century of walking this earth, I find that the frenetic nature of our culture is wearing on me more often than not. Everything seems to operate at a “hurry up and wait” pace that leaves me stressed and exhausted, and there are few places to go to find a respite from it. Social media stirs up my anxiety and my discontent. The news stirs up my fears and worries. The pleasure of eating out is often tainted by slow service due to understaffed restaurants and higher prices due to supply chain issues. The advancements of technology that were meant to improve the quality of our lives (and in many ways it has) seems to have had the opposite effect more often than not. It’s not just our youth and children whose faces are plastered to their phones, but all generations. Instead of having more time to rest and relax, we are constantly pushed to do more in less time. We need sanctuary. Sanctuary from the frenetic pace of our culture, our lives, and our selves.
“Sanctuary” is defined as “a place of refuge or safety.” For thousands of years, the spaces we set aside for encountering God have been called a sanctuary. Even still today, we refer to these spaces as a sanctuary, and in those spaces we experience and do things that are different than any other place to which we go. A sanctuary is an inherently counter-cultural space, it is intrinsically different from anywhere else in our lives. Everywhere else we go is designed to meet some need or want in our lives. We want to go to those places because we expect them to do something for us. A sanctuary, though, is different. We do things in a sanctuary that is unlike anything else we do, anywhere else. The sanctuary provides refuge and safety because it enables us to look beyond ourselves, to see and experience God.
The fundamental flaw with the typical rhythms of our lives is that it all revolves around us. I structure my life in order to meet my wants and needs. “I” am the center of my life. While that’s somewhat obvious, it is also the primary problem, because “I” can not satisfy myself. “I” can not meet the deepest longings of my soul, as hard as I might try. And trying is exhausting. What we do in a sanctuary is designed and intended to move our eyes off our navels and onto the cross. Away from myself, and onto the Lord. In the sanctuary, we move from the familiar to the unfamiliar. From what we know to what we don’t. From what we want to Who we need. In the sanctuary, we are reminded that we are not the center of the universe, or even our lives. That it’s not always all about me, or you, but rather about Him.
Ultimately, sanctuary isn’t a particular place but rather a Person, Jesus Christ. And technically we can find sanctuary wherever we find Him, which is anywhere. But practically we need particular places of sanctuary, spaces intended for refuge and safety for our souls. Places where we do things differently than anywhere else in our lives, where we worship our God, confess our sins, receive His word, practice His sacraments. Come to the sanctuary, and find refuge and safety from the frenetic world in which we live.
But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. — Psalm 59:16
Blessings,
Rev. David Garrison
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News & Announcements for April 14, 2024
JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL
If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we encourage you to join us Sunday mornings for a intergenerational Sunday school class, from 9:00-10:00. We look forward to seeing you!
GLEANING FOR THE WORLD – WEDNESDAY, APRIL. 17, 8:30AM
Please join us in the parking lot of the church for carpooling. We will return to the church around 11:30 am.
WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB – THURSDAY, April 18, 10AM
The Women’s Book Club will meet on Thursday, April 18th at 10:00 am at June Hedrick’s home. Our book this month is Wish You Were Here, by Jodi Picoult.
UNRAVELING REVELATION – COMING SOON
If there’s one book of the Bible that people have questions about or don’t understand, it’s the very last book, the Book of Revelation. It many respects, it is one of the most unique books in the entire Bible, bringing together all sorts of unusual imagery and confusing language. It’s become quite popular to read it in such a way as to try to unlock the secrets to the future, but doing so actually robs the book of its true power and import. Revelation isn’t so much about the future as it is a field guide to dissident discipleship in the here and now. Join us for Sunday School as we seek to Unravel Revelation.
APRIL MISSION FOCUS: NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
Our mission focus for the month of April is Neighbors Helping Neighbors which assists individuals in Amherst County in overcoming food insecurity. They also help connect those in need to area resources that can help build self-sufficiency and quality of life. You may make a donation by specifying NHN on your check memo line.
Read more...
