Pastor’s Email Devotion, November 8, 2015

Pastor’s Email Devotion

The Week of Pentecost 24

November 8, 2015

 

And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.  (2 Corinthians 9:8, NRSV)

 

Admittedly, I am easily humbled.  All sorts of experiences in life, remind me of the ways that my life is blessed and enriched by others.  Sometimes the events are big ones – surprise gifts … unexpected offerings of praise … acts of kindness that are above and beyond the call of duty.  Sometimes, the events are small ones – a smile in an elevator … an email conveying thanks … a piece of candy left on my desk or in my mailbox “just because.”  When I hear someone suggest to me that the world is “going to hell in a handbag”, I wonder if they are living in the same world I am living in.  Because my experiences aren’t unique.  I know that.

Today, I found myself humbled again as I attended our Annual Meeting.  I was humbled by the number of church leaders who helped in a variety of ways to insure that our meeting time would be well used, and that it would be a helpful window into an examination of where we are at the moment in our congregational life, and what awaits us in the coming year.  I was humbled by those of you willing and able to stay for the meeting and listen critically, ask thoughtful and honest questions, and exchange fellowship with each other.  I was humbled as I looked around the room, and saw church members, Council members, committee leaders, church officers, rostered leaders and staff members, and even a few visitors.  It reminded me that we are always at our best when we are bound together in a moment of shared challenges and opportunities.  And I gave thanks to God for that momentary vision of community here.

I don’t know what humbles you  … what brings you joy … what elicits thanksgiving within you.  But as you pray and reflect on life this week, try thinking about those places where you are confronted with the grace of God.  God is alive in the world, so trust that you are surrounded with moments like these all the time.  Let your eyes be Spirit-filled, so that you may see them.

 

 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

praise him, all creatures here below;

praise him above, ye heavenly host:

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

~~ Hymn – words by Thomas Ken

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Rev. Craig Ross

Senior Pastor

The vibrancy of life here at St. Peter’s makes my service on our staff a joy and privilege. Visitation, teaching and preaching are the ministries that feed my pastoral identity, as together our staff and lay members share in our missional calling … Building a community of faith by God’s grace.