From your Pastor's Pen...

      
      
      One of the most joyful responsibilities a minister of the gospel has, is to be the bearer of Good News! Even though I try to do that every Sunday morning in the adult Bible study and worship, and in every other occasion that I am allowed to share the Word, I am aware that I cannot share the Good News with the entire church family. This bi-monthly newsletter article (assuming that all members and friends of our church take time to read and respond) is the only means I have to communicate with the whole church family the Good News of God’s gracious and forgiving love! No matter how we look at it, we Christians are all bearers of the gospel - the Good News that the creative lover of the world, is willing to die at the hands of his people and then come back again, not to get even with his enemies, but to love them even more! I consider that one of my most joyful responsibilities as a Christian. I pray it is the same with you!
      
      Whether the weather reflects or not, we are in the season of Spring and are experiencing the revival of nature in the blooming of bulbs, bushes and trees. They seem to echo the resurrection of the Christ we celebrated this year towards the end of March, and that in itself is good news of God’s faithfulness, steadfastness, loving-kindness, joyfulness, and amazing patience to those who are still bent to destroy, disfigure and pollute God’s beautiful creation! To those of us who repentantly cry to God and ask for mercy and forgiveness for our sin against God’s beautiful creation, God answers graciously, reminding us of his merciful forgiveness and love with the glorious colors of Spring, and an affirmation of new life in and around us! Thanks be to God that Easter faith continues to be celebrated in all creation, reminding us of hope and God’s promise of new life in Christ!
      
      It is also a most joyful task for me to remind you of the host of activities we have as a church in the months of May and June. How necessary it is for us to dig, weed and prepare the fertile ground of our minds and hearts to the seeds of the Spirit God desires to scatter into our souls. Through the spiritual activities and fellowship that the church provides to us - through those precious opportunities of adult Sunday School, music ministry, worship, a variety of fellowships and a host of opportunities to serve others and to extend to them a helping, loving hand - the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control abound in us! Unlike other seasonal fruits, the Scriptures remind us that those fruits of the Spirit are always in season. And that also is good news!
      
      Allow me to share with you the good news that our loving concern and prayers are working effectively in the lives of many! Many of us are more conscious and sensitized to our shut-ins and those who are away from sight. God has opened the eyes of our spirit to see them as part of the vine to which we all belong, and to celebrate our connectedness in so many different and creative ways. By reaching out and touching the broken lives of others, we become God’s good news to others in this world. Let us continue to be thankful to God who not only calls us, but also sends us out as heart-warming companions to other lonely and disillusioned travelers, sharing with them the Good News that Christ is risen, and life can be tackled again with courage, hope and joy!
      
      Let me add my congratulations and best wishes to all our graduates and their families, and God’s blessings on their hopes and dreams! Your co-sharer of God’s Good News, JMS