WORD FROM THE PASTOR - MARCH 2024One of my favorite songs is, “Bless the Broken Road”. I first heard this song when it was made popular by the country group Rascal Flatts. It was also covered by a Christian Contemporary group called Selah. It happens to be one of the songs that was sung at my wedding. It is a wonderful song about the journey to seek a lasting, loving relationship. The original version is one of seeking a partner on earth, the Selah invites us to think about it as our relationship with Christ. It looks back on the challenges and heartbreaks experienced and how those very things were the learning opportunities needed to be open to the relationship that is present now.
Relationships are hard work, all relationships, including our relationship with God. We hit bumps on the road which could easily lead us astray or cause us to stumble. Just as it takes dedication and time to work with the ones we love to continue to develop our relationship, it is the same with God. Where we are in our relationships now is not where we were ten years ago, or even last year. Our faith relationship is the same way. If we are seeking to grow in our relationship with God, then we must dedicate time to spend with God, be willing to work with God through the challenges we face, even the challenge of doubt. During Lent, our midweek services will continue to focus on the Journey of Faith. We will continue to hear the Lebenslauf, life’s path or spiritual path, of different members of our church family. As we listen to these stories of faith, we can reflect upon our own. Where has God been present in our lives? In what ways has God provided what we’ve needed to get through the brokenness we have experienced? In what ways has God blessed the joys we have experienced? Lent is our journey of faith with Jesus as we recall his journey to Jerusalem where he will be arrested, tried and crucified. His journey held times of rejection and times of affirmation. It held times of sorrow and times of steadfastness. It was one he prayed not to have to finish, but ultimately chose to out of his love for us. His earthly journey ended at the cross, but his resurrection assured the journey with God didn’t end there, it was simply a broken road that led straight to the fulfillment of our eternal relationship with God. You are invited to join us in this journey. You are invited to use this month to continue to reflect upon your spiritual journey with our God. May the journey lead to a deeper relationship and the joy of new life assured to us through the resurrection. Serving with you in Christ, Pastor Beth |