October 2007

Greetings,

I know this is the October Tiding but I am having difficulty wrapping my mind around the fact that summer is over. I don’t want to attribute it to my advancing age. I also don’t want to sound like my grandparents and parents who say, time goes by faster the older you get, BUT where did the summer go?

Summer 2007 was an amazing summer.

It was a summer of worship, education, mission and service. Summer 2007 makes me so grateful to be your pastor.

I am grateful to God for the dedication of so many people who offer their time, talent and treasure to God’s ministry.

I am indebted to everyone who made our worship service an expression of our love for God and each other. Thank you greeters, ushers, praise team, choir, worshippers, multimedia people and teams of money counters.

I am very appreciative of everyone who carried the great commission to teach. Thank you adults and youth who made our Vacation Bible School the biggest and best ever. Thank you adults and youth for teaching the love of Christ through word and deed while on the mission trip to Bluefield, WV. Thank you adults and youth for volunteering to be a Sunday School teacher so that we started the school year fully staffed.

I am thankful to everyone who cared for our facilities and grounds by mowing our lawns, planting gardens and flowers, painting a classroom. Thank you Women’s Guild for purchasing new window shades for the chapel and confirmation room.

As I reflect on the summer of 07 I am reminded of the hymn, O God Our Help in Ages Past, Our Hope for Years to Come. God’s help is indeed evident in the faithful stewardship of time, talent and treasure all for the glory of God and building up in each other.

As I reflect on the summer of 07 I see the hope of God. I am certain: that whatever Fall brings; whatever challenges the new church year will cause God will be right there. God will be present in Word and Sacrament. God will be present in the Holy Spirit empowering and enabling us to run the race that is set before us looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith. God will raise up stewards to share their gifts to do the work of God.

God has done it here at St. Paul’s for the past 135 years. I have absolute faith He will continue to do so forever.

In Christ's Service