Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, August 30

Dear Beloved,

I am so very grateful for each of you!!!  It brings me great joy to be part of your community of faith seeking to follow and love in the ways of Jesus.  This summer I have been grateful for Pastor Marc’s pastor’s notes in these e-news messages about rest.  I am looking forward to his new series on encouragement from the words of the Bible.  There are many passages that offer me both rest and encouragement.  One of those passages came to mind as I prepared to share this photo of surprise lilies with you.  Spending time with God in awe of God’s creation or in God’s Word often gives me rest and hope.  I often find strength in the joy that comes from praising God.  And in those times when I am feeling so overwhelmed by sadness or grief that it is hard to praise in the ways I would like or sometimes even rest, I know God is with us – constant and faithful through you who continue to pray and praise and through God’s creation and God’s Word which continue to offer reminders of God’s unceasing unbounded love.  May you know this love and peace, and may we share it by the grace of God’s Spirit.

With gratitude,

Sarah

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
    break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
    with the lyre and the sound of melody.
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
    make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.

7 Let the sea roar and all that fills it,
    the world and those who live in it.
8 Let the floods clap their hands;
    let the hills sing together for joy
9 at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
    to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness
    and the peoples with equity.

Psalm 98:4-9