Welcome!
I welcome your comments regarding our shared ministry at St. Paul.
If you would rather comment privately please, email me at Prshepherd@westriv.com
"Two are better than one," says Ecclesiastes,
"because if one falls down, his friend can help him up."
I deeply desire to bring Christian comfort and the power of prayer to those who are challenged with sickness or circumstances in life. However, in this time of restricted visitation call me and I will attempt to contact them.
Please, assume that if you don’t tell us, we do not know.
Call me at 301-4956 if surgery or hospital stay is imminent or if a visit could be helpful.
Pastor Dennis
from my perspective…
Breaking News, or Headline News, is updated by the hour and minute. The programs are designed to get our attention and to sell advertising. (Big surprise!) On the other hand, the Good News of Jesus Christ was proclaimed and is proclaimed today for an entirely different purpose.
Mark begins his gospel with “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mk 1:1, ESV) It sounds like Mark is reporting, “Breaking news! Pay attention! Something important has happened!”
Matthew begins his gospel, “The book of genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David.” (Mt. 1:1) It sounds like Matthew is introducing a history lesson whereby we might learn something. Don’t get me wrong – I love history because I believe with George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
John begins his gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.” (Jn. 1:1) This is something totally different. John invites us to lay aside our daily concerns and ponder life’s Big Questions concerning God and “The Word of God.”
Each year, we might take a measure of our life on Tax Day, an anniversary, or any number of other milestones. Regardless of the circumstances, we go through a process of reflection, evaluation, and decision-making. We might reflect on the Big Questions of Life, like “Who are we? And “How do I fit in with family and society?” or “What positive difference am I making?”
I will grant that the most common daily question is, “Am I happy.” But I believe the Bible teaches us that happiness results from how we think of ourselves and our relationship with others. Therefore, John invites us to ponder anew our relationship with the One God of the Holy Scriptures, as opposed to mental or emotional gods of pleasure, wealth or self-importance.
In the church year, Lent is the season that encourages us to ponder our relationship with the one and only eternal God and one another or who we desire to become.
Join us as we explore Jesus’ great encounters with religious rulers, a disrespected woman from a disrespected people and His disciples. In John, Jesus, the Word of God, invites people to question who we are in God’s eyes and who He desires us to become to live a fulfilling life. (e.g. John 10:10)
As John informs us, Jesus, the true Word of God, comes into the world to save us from ourselves and the destructive temptations brought on by the evil lies of the great Satan. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17, ESV)
Please join us in our encounter with the Living Word of God, your pastor, Dennis.
For all the Saints
by Pastor Dennis on 11/04/13
King Hezekiah prays for deliverance from his enemies that
surround him. The Psalmist praises the LORD for a faithful king and victory
over Israel’s enemies. Jesus prays blessings for those the poor, the hungry,
the mourning, and the oppressed. For all the saints of all time the prayers are
the same, the challenges and joys are the same.
Today we remember the saints. The Greek word (hagios) is translated as saints 62 times
in the New Testament; it is also translated as ‘holy’ or ‘holy one’ 165 times.
The humble have difficulty in seeing themselves as saints but that is what
faithful Christians are referred to in Paul’s letters and John’s Revelation.
Today we thank God for all the saints of the past and pray
that we may be faithful like them; following in their walk with Christ. Such a
day reminds us especially of important truths. 1. The saints of the past have
given us examples of Christ-like living. 2. The saints have given us
confessions, psalms, prayers and creedal statements and hymns. 3. We are on a journey
through this life to a greater life with Christ. 4. Humankind’s relationship
with God and one another is the same yesterday, today and in the future. 5. No
oppression, situation or circumstance can overcome the love of God in Christ
Jesus. 6. No philosophy or political initiative will overcome the light of
Christ or overcome the LORD on His throne.
So, with all the saints we take courage from the words of
Jesus, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke
is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, NRSV)
