WORD FROM THE PASTOR - DECEMBER 2024

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
– Titus 3:4-7 

In the next months, we will be journeying through the Advent and Christmas seasons, celebrating Epiphany and moving into the weeks following the Epiphany. A journey means movement. We don’t stay at the same point when we journey. We move from where we are to somewhere else. On a journey, we can reflect on where we’ve been as we place one step in front of the other and go to the destination before us. 

Another analogy used for this kind of movement, as reflected in this passage from Titus, is rebirth and renewal. This reminds us that we must let go, we must move into a way of being that is different from what we currently experience. This isn’t something we do on our own, however. God creates this new movement. God is the one birthing something through us. We become the mid-wives of this rebirth and renewal. It is through God’s mercy and giving the Holy Spirit through Christ’s justification that we are given the hope of eternal life. This eternal life isn’t something we can earn or work for, it is God’s gift to us. It’s God’s joy to make us heirs with Jesus of the kingdom God has created. 

God did not give us Jesus or eternal life with the expectation that we must do something in order to receive it. It is a gift given in love. We are invited to receive, and respond. This is a wonderful reminder during this season of giving. Do we give gifts with the expectation of receiving a gift in return? We give for the joy of giving. We respond to the gifts given with gratitude and because we are grateful, we offer thanks and a willingness to be in relationship and do for those around us. 

During these season, may we reflect and the gifts we have been given by God; may we seek ways to respond those gifts; and may we ready ourselves for the journey into the new, eternal life that is our through ours Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. 

Serving with you in Christ, 
Pastor Beth