BE IT RESOLVED…

By Pastor Wes Poole

Genesis 1:31a

God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. – NRSV

So how are your New Year’s resolutions going? “Huh?!?” you’re likely thinking. “What in the world are you talking about?! We’re already past Valentine’s Day!! Aren’t times hard enough without your lifting up yet another of our failings?!” Point taken, and if you are still faithfully sticking to your resolution/s, good for you! If though, like many or most of us, you forgot about them two weeks into January, please relax…I am NOT here to beat you up over it! Besides, I’d be the worst kind of hypocrite if I did. I didn’t even bother with resolutions this year. I knew in advance I was not up for the challenge.

I actually started thinking about this a couple of weeks ago when I was in a rehearsal. We were talking about all of the COVID protocols and the need for staying safe when a friend of mine, who is also a doctor, said something that really resonated with me. He told the group that regardless of what else was going on, we must remember to be kind to ourselves. Now you guys know that I’m always reminding us to be kind and be safe, but my friend reminded me that means we are also personally a part of that equation. Jesus showed us once and for all how important it is to love our neighbor and show kindness to others. Yet all the way back in the opening chapters of Genesis, we are reminded that God first looked at us and His entire Creation and declared it “very good”. Attending to our physical and mental health is one way we honor and give thanks for God’s many gifts to us. Every morning, we wake to a new day lived in the assurance of the love and forgiveness of God in Christ Jesus. God doesn’t dwell on our shortcomings. Neither should we. We should face each day with the confidence that God will always be by our side, and with a new opportunity to offer God and neighbor a better version of ourselves.

In just a couple of weeks, the season of Lent will be upon us. Part of that journey will consist of striving to make that better version of ourselves a reality. It’s not always an easy prospect, but we know that Our Lord will walk the path with us. Along the way though, let’s do our best to be kind to each other and ourselves. We will emerge on the other side stronger as a community, and as individuals. Is that a “Lenten resolution”? I guess it is…but I’m OK with that!

Let us pray…

God of Creation, you have looked upon us all and declared that we are your children. Help us when we falter, and teach us to be good to everyone. Jesus showed us the way. Strengthen our resolve to follow the example he gave us, for it is in his name that we pray. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe.

Your partner in Christ,

Pastor Wes Poole †

NEW YEAR???

By Pastor Wes Poole

1 Corinthians 15:31

I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you—a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord. – NRSV

I am the New Year. I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.

I am your next chance at the art of living. I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned about life during the last twelve months.

All that you sought and didn’t find is hidden in me, waiting for you to search it but with more determination.

All the good that you tried for and didn’t achieve is mine to grant when you have fewer conflicting desires.

All that you dreamed but didn’t dare to do, all that you hoped but did not will, all the faith that you claimed but did not have—these slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened by the touch of a strong purpose.

I am your opportunity to renew your allegiance to Him who said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

author unknown

Happy New Year, my friends! I hope you will join me in raising prayers to the Most High God for a truly happy, and hopefully healthy year ahead. The new year is an appropriate time to express our hope and faith in God’s Promises, while recommitting to presenting a better version of ourselves to both God and neighbor. Still, for many of us, this new year may seem to be pretty much the “same ole” as the last two. I have been joking that we just rang in the 25th month of 2020! Thus, the question marks in the title. All dark humor aside though, as Christians we believe that God is constantly at work doing new things. In the verse above, Paul mentions dying daily. At first read, it may sound off-putting, but it is really a statement of joy and trust. Paul reminds us to take heart and believe that God is always there to see us through. In Jesus Christ, we have been shown the way to do the same for our sisters and brothers everywhere. In Christ, every day is a new opportunity to live the new life he has given us. 2022 will undoubtedly present its own set of challenges. As disciples of Jesus in this new year, trusting that in him all things are possible, we will work hard to make this New Year truly bright!

Let us pray…

God of Light and Hope, we give thanks that you walk with in the new year and all the days ahead. Help us to remember that each day brings a new gift of life and opportunity. Help us to cherish and share this gift always; for it is in the Name of Our Lord Jesus that we pray. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe!

Your Partner in Christ,

Pastor Wes Poole †

IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE OUR THANKS AND PRAISE

By Pastor Wes Poole

Psalm 57:8-10

Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn. I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the clouds. – NRSV

Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, “Certainly the preacher won’t think of anything for which to thank the Lord on a wretched day like this.” Much to his surprise, however, Whyte began by praying, “We thank Thee, O God, that it is not always like this.”

Such irrepressible positivity! Would that we all could strive to be more like the good Reverend Whyte! You know, there have been any number of persistent, purveyors of positivity over the years. We’ve probably all heard of Max Lucado’s “Attitude of Gratitude” or remember Norman Vincent Peale’s “Power of Positive Thinking”. While generally positive in their messages, sometimes theirs or similar philosophies are criticized, rightly so, for not recognizing that Christ comes to us first from the cross, to address our brokenness and to restore our relationship with God. This is a fair point, as we know that a life lived as a disciple of Jesus is not all sweetness and light, but that God has promised to support us through the good, the bad, and everything in between. Still, in difficult times, it’s easy to become cynical and dismissive of those who always seek to see the “half full glass”. Taking the time to acknowledge our blessings and to give thanks for them is not naïve or immature, but an appropriate response. For the believer, it is not only faithful living, but beneficial to our mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

November is the traditional time that we in our country devote to giving thanks. Even for those who have not yet come to believe or share our faith, we set aside time to ponder and appreciate the good things in our lives. This coming Sunday, we will come together for one worship service at 9:30, to be followed by an intergenerational Faith Formation program where we will focus on our gratitude to God for all He has done, is doing, and promises yet to do. I hope you will join us. Regardless, I would like to suggest that we all take a few extra moments, as we go about our days and our own journeys of faith, to give thanks to God for His loving and unrelenting care for all of us. God hears our prayers, and promises always to walk with us.

May a holy spirit of gratitude refresh and inspire us always to greater response to God and our neighbor.

Be well, be kind, be safe, and be thankful!

Blessings always,

Pastor Wes Poole †

BEARING, NOT BURYING ONES BURDENS

By Pastor Wes Poole

Matthew 11:28-30

“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.” – NRSV

Galatians 6:2

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. – NRSV

In 1835 a man visited a doctor in Florence, Italy. He was filled with anxiety and exhausted from lack of sleep. He couldn’t eat, and he avoided his friends. The doctor examined him and found that he was in prime physical condition. Concluding that his patient needed to have a good time, the physician told him about a circus in town and its star performer, a clown named Grimaldi. Night after night he had the people rolling in the aisles. “You must go and see him,” the doctor advised. “Grimaldi is the world’s funniest clown. He’ll make you laugh and cure your sadness.” “No,” replied the despairing man, “he can’t help me. you see, I am Grimaldi!”

A couple of weeks ago, I shared with you my thoughts and feelings after encountering part of the local homeless community in Kirby Park. Addiction and mental health issues can be rampant in that community, but certainly not limited to it. I referred to those folks in the park as “invisible people”…for they surely can be! It’s just too easy to pretend that the dark, uncomfortable parts of the world don’t exist. Yet as I pondered this all further in thought and prayer, I realized that we all can have invisible parts of our lives. Society encourages us to show our “happy face” to the world, like the clown in the story above. Yet we know that the façade we often present to the world is just that…a work of artifice; a veneer of “OK” covering the pain beneath. That in itself is a depressing thought, but we have tools in our spiritual belts to address and deal with such things. Jesus tells us in Matthew’s Gospel to bring our pain to him, and he will give us comfort. St. Paul takes it a step further when he tells us to bear one another’s burdens. In my opinion, one of the most powerful tools we have is simply…kindness. Yes, I know I talk about it all the time, but it really is the first step in truly being able to share each other’s burdens. There’s a saying that’s made its way around social media and the general discourse. “Be kind, you never know what someone is going through.” Another random blogger I ran across put it this way: “Kindness – all the time, always. It costs nothing. It hurts no one. It helps everyone. You never know, it might switch something in someone’s brain… and even save their life.”

“It might switch something in someone’s brain…” We all know how an unexpected kind word can turn a bad day around. It can literally flip a “neural switch” that even if just for a few moments, might make all the difference in ours or someone else’s life. The Gospels show us many occasions where Jesus demonstrated compassion and mercy without qualification. Invariably, the person’s situation was improved and their difficulty replaced with joy. This is still the calling of the Christian in this day and age. Can we look each other in the face and see the face of the Lord Jesus? Can we then do as he did, and try our best to bring a sister or brother from darkness to light? Can we help each other look our “invisible pain” head on, and help each other bear it together? These are questions we should never stop asking ourselves. The good we can do, in Jesus’ Name, has the power to transform lives, communities, relationships, and indeed the entire world. Remember, as Paul tells us in Philippians, “[We] can do all things through Christ who strengthens [us]. Thanks be to God!

Let us pray…

God of steadfast love and perfect peace, we ask you this day for open hearts and discerning minds. We know that many of us carry burdens we don’t easily share with others. Strengthen our resolve and fan the flames of compassion and love in us; that we may bear one another’s burdens, practice kindness in all things, and make your healing love known to the whole world. We ask these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Wes Poole †

THE INVISIBLE PEOPLE

By Pastor Wes Poole

Matthew 25:40

And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ – NRSV

This past Sunday, we celebrated Faith Formation and Congregational Renewal with a picnic at Kirby Park. It was a relaxing and enjoyable afternoon with good friends, good food, and for me…a personal epiphany. We talk a lot in the church about charity, good works, caring for the poor, etc. How often, though, do we regard the subject as anything more than an abstract. Yes, Christ commanded us to care for the poor, the orphan, the widow, the marginalized. Hardly anyone would argue with that…but how often is it truly real to us? Well this past Sunday, I experienced that “realness” first hand.

Jesus reminds us in Mark 14 that “the poor will be with you always”. That’s not meant to be a cop out, but a reminder that the need is always there and always great. So, back to Sunday. We’re all set up. The food was out and ready to serve. I’m at a table, tuning my guitar…and the first homeless person walks up. Julia leans into me and says, “Time to be the pastor, Papa!” I confess, I sighed a bit in resignation that the afternoon just got a bit more complicated than I was expecting. Still, I asked him to sit down, and he did. After talking to him for a few minutes, told me his name, and just started talking to me about any number of things. He never asked for anything. He just wanted to talk, and I guess he figured the pastor was a guaranteed “listening ear”. He wasn’t wrong. In that moment, he became quite real to me. Regardless of whatever else was going on in his life, he was just another child of God trying to connect with someone else. Who among us hasn’t ever felt that way before? Then one of his friends showed up. Shortly thereafter, a couple walked up. She was pregnant. I had to gently ask her significant other not to smoke under the pavilion, which he accepted without complaint. Of course, we shared our food with them, and I realized that they all had smart phones. At one point, one of them picked up his phone and said, “Pavilion #3”. More people started to show up. That’s when I learned that these folks had all banded together in a rather loose confederation to share resources and help each other out. They have regular meetings at the pavilion we had rented for the afternoon. We were basically displacing them, but no one complained. Julia boxed up some more sandwiches and I was able to pass them around to an unfailingly grateful gathering. Shortly thereafter, I met their titular leader, who though dealing with his own issues, proceeded to tell me about their community of the needy and marginalized, and how they were banded together to help each other survive. The “realness” was now in excruciatingly high relief. It was while talking with him that it really hit home for me how easy it is to pretend these people aren’t really there; to render them comfortably invisible. Or worse, to disregard them by blithely blaming them for the situation they’re in. Jesus’ words from above in Matthew’s Gospel have rarely meant more to me than they did in that moment. A little over an hour earlier, I had been presiding at the Eucharist, where we believe that Christ is truly present. Now, I was looking him in the face…several different faces in fact…several very poignantly visible faces! I couldn’t fix any of their problems, but I could listen, and share our food with them. In that moment, it was all I could do. I’d like to go back some Sunday soon and look in on their community again. I don’t know exactly what I can do for them personally, but I want to learn more, and I don’t want the “realness” to fade. 

Mahatma Gandhi said, “There are people in the world so hungry that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.” We spend a great deal of time in the church fretting and wringing our hands over money or property issues or dwindling church attendance. Experiences like this past Sunday remind me…not so gently…that the church finds its strongest expression not in buildings or worship services or even sacraments, but in one person connecting with another; meeting their needs just as Jesus modeled for us in his own ministry. For the modern day disciple of Jesus, there are no invisible people. May the Holy Spirit inspire us to keep our eyes and hearts open, so that we continue to see Jesus in the faces of our neighbors…all of them!

Let us pray…

God of all Creation, you formed us in your image and commanded us to love and care for one another. You regard all of your children equally. We ask that you help us do the same. When we look into the face of our neighbor, we see the face of Jesus. Make us ever more accepting and generous, even in the difficult spaces of life; that we may regard everyone with the love you have shown us in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe!

Your partner in Christ, 

Pastor Wes Poole †

FINDING POWER IN THE ORDINARY

ByPastor Wes Poole

Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents.

I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. – NRSV

September 1st…the beginning of another year! I’m sitting here at home, waiting on a plumber and listening to the rather relentless rain. Summer and vacation are pretty much over! And you know…that’s OK with me. It’s funny…the liturgical year begins with the First Sunday of Advent, and the calendar year with January 1st, but for me, the year always begins with September. The kids all go back to school, Christian Ed cranks up again at long last, the schedule starts to fill up, and HALLELUJAH, one can see an end to the oppressive heat!!! Fall is always my favorite time of year!

With the “New Year”, comes a series of new opportunities for ministry.  We have some exciting things lined up for the Fall;  some old, some new, and all in need of faithful folks like yourselves pitching in to help make them successful.  I’m particularly excited about our new Faith Formation direction. The final details are still being firmed up, but we’ll have an official unveiling at our September 12th Rally Day and Congregational Renewal Picnic.  I hope to see everyone there…it’s going to be awesome!  

Still,”this is a devotion, pastor…not a newsletter article…what gives?!” Indeed. Yet, that’s where my thoughts are today. There is a deep, profound spirituality in the ordinary routines of life. We’ve come through so much in the last 18 months or so. We’re not out of the woods yet to be sure, but the fact that we can gather together for worship and spiritual growth is a blessing made all the sweeter by its actually being possible.

An ancient Chinese legend tells of a group of elderly, cultured gentlemen who met often to exchange wisdom and drink tea. Each host tried to find the finest and most costly varieties, to create exotic blends that would arouse the admiration of his guests. When the most venerable and respected of the group entertained, he served his tea with unprecedented ceremony, measuring the leaves from a golden box. The assembled epicures praised this exquisite tea. The host smiled and said, “The tea you have found so delightful is the same tea our peasants drink. I hope it will be a reminder to all that the good things in life are not necessarily the rarest or the most costly.

Point taken. As the psalmist reminds us, The Lord is indeed our keeper, our shade at our right hand, and through all that life has in store for us; the highs, the lows, and the regular ole routines of life! Learning to appreciate the power of the ordinary can deepen our relationship with God and neighbor.

This is a time of renewal and revitalization.  Between now and Christmas there will be good things happening at GSLC. Come out and make yourselves an active part of Good Shepherd’s ministries.  With your help, and with the Holy Spirit continually inspiring us all to serve faithfully, our ministries will be meaningful…and the Good News of Jesus Christ will continue to be proclaimed in this community and beyond.

May the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless our church family as we walk the path of faith together.

Be well, be kind, and be safe…and if you haven’t yet, and are able…go get the shot!

Blessings always,

Pastor Wes †

Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents.

I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. – NRSV

September 1st…the beginning of another year! I’m sitting here at home, waiting on a plumber and listening to the rather relentless rain. Summer and vacation are pretty much over! And you know…that’s OK with me. It’s funny…the liturgical year begins with the First Sunday of Advent, and the calendar year with January 1st, but for me, the year always begins with September. The kids all go back to school, Christian Ed cranks up again at long last, the schedule starts to fill up, and HALLELUJAH, one can see an end to the oppressive heat!!! Fall is always my favorite time of year!

With the “New Year”, comes a series of new opportunities for ministry.  We have some exciting things lined up for the Fall;  some old, some new, and all in need of faithful folks like yourselves pitching in to help make them successful.  I’m particularly excited about our new Faith Formation direction. The final details are still being firmed up, but we’ll have an official unveiling at our September 12th Rally Day and Congregational Renewal Picnic.  I hope to see everyone there…it’s going to be awesome!  

Still,”this is a devotion, pastor…not a newsletter article…what gives?!” Indeed. Yet, that’s where my thoughts are today. There is a deep, profound spirituality in the ordinary routines of life. We’ve come through so much in the last 18 months or so. We’re not out of the woods yet to be sure, but the fact that we can gather together for worship and spiritual growth is a blessing made all the sweeter by its actually being possible.

An ancient Chinese legend tells of a group of elderly, cultured gentlemen who met often to exchange wisdom and drink tea. Each host tried to find the finest and most costly varieties, to create exotic blends that would arouse the admiration of his guests. When the most venerable and respected of the group entertained, he served his tea with unprecedented ceremony, measuring the leaves from a golden box. The assembled epicures praised this exquisite tea. The host smiled and said, “The tea you have found so delightful is the same tea our peasants drink. I hope it will be a reminder to all that the good things in life are not necessarily the rarest or the most costly.

Point taken. As the psalmist reminds us, The Lord is indeed our keeper, our shade at our right hand, and through all that life has in store for us; the highs, the lows, and the regular ole routines of life! Learning to appreciate the power of the ordinary can deepen our relationship with God and neighbor.

This is a time of renewal and revitalization.  Between now and Christmas there will be good things happening at GSLC. Come out and make yourselves an active part of Good Shepherd’s ministries.  With your help, and with the Holy Spirit continually inspiring us all to serve faithfully, our ministries will be meaningful…and the Good News of Jesus Christ will continue to be proclaimed in this community and beyond.

May the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless our church family as we walk the path of faith together.

Be well, be kind, and be safe…and if you haven’t yet, and are able…go get the shot!

Blessings always,

Pastor Wes †

Faith vs Certainty

By Pastor Jim Parks, CLP

Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:1-5 (CEV) “If we believe that Jesus is truly Christ, we are God’s children. Everyone who loves the Father will also love his children.  If we love and obey God, we know that we will love his children.  We show our love for God by obeying his commandments, and they are not hard to follow.

Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory.  No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God.”

Are you certain about your faith? If you have answered that question with a “Heck, yes!”, then perhaps you may not want to read any further. You see, I am generally wary of people who seem too certain in their faith. Some have even said that if I had more faith, I would be certain. But, certainty of my faith has never really been my experience. My faith has been more a journey of questions, searching, and wrestling than one of absolute answers

That is not to say that I have no belief system. Does God exist? Is Jesus Christ the Son of God? Does God love us? Does God work through us? I could say “Yes” to all those and more.

My wariness is with another kind of certainty. And that is the kind of certainty that establishes moral superiority, labels and exclusions. The certainty that “we” are right and that “they” are wrong. I believe that statements and thinking that reflect “’we’ are good and ‘they’ are bad” is what often threatens to divide the Church and separate us from each other.

I sometimes wonder if certainty, rather than doubt, might be the opposite of faith. Christ doesn’t ask us to be certain. He calls us to be faithful, to be trusting. When I am certain, I have placed myself “at the center of my universe and others revolve around me.” In other words, I become the focus. Trust, however, asks me to look beyond myself. It allows relationships. Trust places God at the center.

Faith is alive, dynamic, and growing. Faith opens us to possibilities beyond what we can presently see and understand. Certainty is more narrow. It naturally defines how we can think and act. It establishes limitations and restrictions on God, each other, and ourselves. Certainty creates boundaries. We all need boundaries to survive. But we must also recognize that the same wall that protects “us” from “them” can easily become the wall that imprisons us.

I know and understand that it is often much easier and less risky to be certain than it is to be faithful and trusting. Trust is hard work. It is more than simply believing. It is an action. Trust does not mean that we do not think for ourselves, that we do not get involved, or that we just sit back and let happen whatever will happen. Que sera, sera. Trust means that we must wrestle with the difficult questions. But we do so with possibilities, risk, and openness—with the possibility that our own opinion could be wrong, with the risk that we might be changed, and with openness to God’s ever-present love and grace for “us” and for “them.”

My hope and prayer is that I will be more faithful than certain, that I will not fear new truths, that I will not settle for half-truths, and that I will not presume to have all the truth. That’s faith, not certainty.

Prayer: O God, I don’t just want to be certain that you love me. I want to believe it. I don’t just want to be certain that all are your children and that there is no “we” and “they”. I want to believe it. I don’t just want to be certain that Jesus is working in and through me. I want to believe it. O God, strengthen my faith and help me to work on my trust level. Through Jesus the Christ. Amen.

GOD’S TRUTH

By Pastor Wes Poole

From the Creation accounts in GENESIS 1

26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. – NRSV

I read a story this week about a pastor stepping into the pulpit for the first time. He was scared, as is typical, and he froze on the spot. His mouth dried out and his brain was filled with fog. He had studied, prepared accordingly, and spent much time in prayer. At that moment, however, all of the words of discouragement that he had unfortunately endured over the years came crashing down. He had been told by family and so-called friends that he was not up to or worthy of the task of ministry. He struggled for years with feelings of worthlessness before starting the journey to ordination and serving a congregation. Now at the culmination of all he had worked for, it seemed those cruel naysayers were right. Then, in a moment of truly Divine Clarity, he remembered the words of the sage in the Book of Proverbs where he reminds the reader that God’s Words are always true; that He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. A sense of peace came over him as he remembered that he was a loved and valued Child of God, and he was able to bring the Good News to everyone who had come to hear it from him.

We’ve all experienced that sort of paralysis that stems from a lack of confidence. Maybe those doubts were caused by the cruel words of others. Maybe it’s just our own insecurities getting the better of us. When I have those feelings, the words from the first chapter of Genesis always provide comfort and clarity. God looked at Creation, and called it good!! To be sure, we don’t always live into that goodness, but Scripture is full of instances where God reminds us that those first words we read of in Genesis are still true. God speaks the truth, and we are still part of that Good Creation. Countless times in the Bible we read of God reaching out to His children, providing strength and inspiration. May we also strive in our personal journeys of faith to be the ones who speak God’s Truth; choosing words of positivity and love over those of discouragement or cynicism. God’s love is for everyone, and His grace is always enough. That truth should always be on our lips and in our actions.

Let us pray…

God of Truth, Author of Goodness, help us to remember that we are all a part of that wonderful Creation you called good. When we fall short, you reach out to us with renewed strength and conviction. May we always reflect that encouragement and empowerment you provide to people everywhere; that your truth may continue to be proclaimed in this world. We ask these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe! 

Blessings always,

Pastor Wes †

CONNECTION, COMMUNITY, AND COOPERATION

By Pastor Wes Poole

Romans 12:4-8

For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. – NRSV

Charles Osgood once told the story of two ladies who lived in a convalescent center. Each had suffered an incapacitating stroke. Margaret’s stroke left her left side restricted, while Ruth’s stroke damaged her right side. Both of these ladies were accomplished pianists but had given up hope of ever playing again. The director of the center sat them down at a piano and encouraged them to play solo pieces together. They did, and a beautiful friendship developed. What a picture of the church’s need to work together! What one member cannot do alone, perhaps two or more could do together…in harmony. 

What a difference just a little connection can make! Lord knows we’ve all had our fill of disconnect over the last year and a half. Now that we’re moving into a post-COVID world, I find myself especially grateful for the return of the human interaction that heretofore we’ve taken for granted. Monday evening I was at an actual choral rehearsal…singing…with no mask! Oh, the rapture! There were lots of tears of joy and spontaneous hugging going on! Connection…community…cooperation…these things have never seemed sweeter. Here in our Good Shepherd family, we’re also reestablishing the connections in our congregation that we’ve missed so badly. Any number of people have commented to me on how nice it is, especially with one service on Sunday, to see folks we may not have seen since way before the pandemic even blipped our radar screens! It is remarkable just how powerful a hug or a handshake can be after being denied them for so long! It serves to remind us of one undeniable truth. Our faith, the Christianity we hold so dear; these things, by definition, exist in community! Like the story above, when we connect with others, celebrating our individual gifts, real communication is the result, we get much more done, and our quality of life is immeasurably better. Thanks be to God for all of the good people who have helped us transition back to a time where we can be together once more as a family. May we never take such things for granted again! 

Let us pray…

God of family and community, we give you thanks for the gift of human interaction. As we return to a time of interconnectedness, help us renew our zeal for ministry and our appreciation of each others’ gifts.
Strengthen our sense of belonging to each other, so that we may continue serving our neighbors as Jesus commanded us. For it is in his name that we pray. Amen.

Be well, be kind, and be safe. See you in church!

Your partner in Christ,

Pastor Wes †

A POCKET FULL OF MINISTRY

By Pastor Wes Poole

Proverbs 11:25

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. – ESV

Aubrey bought a fleece-lined coat for her aging father, but he died before he could wear it. So she tucked a note of encouragement with a $20 bill into the pocket and donated the jacket to charity.

Ninety miles away, unable to endure his family’s dysfunction any longer, nineteen-year-old Kelly left his house without grabbing a coat. He knew of only one place to turn—the home of his grandmother who prayed for him. Hours later he stepped off a bus and into his grandma’s arms. Shielding him from the winter wind, she said, “We’ve got to get you a coat!” At the mission store, Kelly tried on a coat he liked. Slipping his hands into the pockets he found an envelope—with a $20 bill and Aubrey’s note.

The above story was in my inbox this morning as a part of a daily devotional that I read every day. It really resonated with me, and so I share it with you. It reminded me, once again, of how ministry is not usually a series of grand gestures or public displays. Sure, Jesus could feed 5000+ people with a bit of bread and fish, but when we manage to feed one person, the act is no less significant. I would imagine Kelly never forgot that thrift store coat with its unexpected treasure. Likewise, the person on the receiving end of any good work we can do will remember that personal act of kindness, and may even be inspired to “pay it forward”, as it were. No doubt, many of us have heard or seen the saying “practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty”. This powerful bit of wisdom was first penned by journalist Anne Herbert on a placemat in Sausalito, California in 1982. I don’t know anything about Ms. Herbert’s faith or beliefs, but if you needed to boil down the essence of ministry into a sentence, you could do a lot worse! Jesus’ own ministry was itself a series of often random encounters that left everyone involved changed for the better. It’s no different for we 21st century disciples of Jesus. A co-worker, the person next to us in line at the grocery, the fellow parishioner, the stranger you encounter; all of these interactions are opportunities to put this philosophy into practice. As we go about our everyday lives, let us all commit ourselves to following Jesus’ example, and be ready to grasp the moment. You might just make someone smile, or make their day…or even change a life! 

Let us pray…

God of all goodness and beauty, help us to recognize the opportunities for ministry that present themselves in the smallest things. When we choose to make kindness, mercy, generosity, and love the operative forces in our lives, we are embracing the life into which you have called us, and modeled for us in the person of you son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Be well, be kind, be safe…and be watchful!

Your Partner in Christ,

Pastor Wes Poole †