Hellam, PA

St. James Lutheran Church

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

 

           Grace and peace to you through our Lord Jesus Christ!

 

           Are you making any new year’s resolutions? I suppose we are always trying to improve ourselves. Sometimes we make the same resolution year after year – this year I am really going to (lose weight, stop smoking, get rid of all this extra stuff – you fill in the blank!)

 

           Let me make a suggestion. Make just one resolution. Resolve to pray more. Make your prayer this: Lord, let my light so shine before others that they may see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven. Amen.

 

           Does that sound prideful and scandalous? It is the prayer we have for each child who is baptized. And as we journey through this season of light, the season of Epiphany, the revealing of God in and through Jesus Christ, it is a really good prayer to remember, and to use.

 

           How do we let our light shine? Well, it isn’t about bragging, and it isn’t about “Look at me!”

 

           It is about sincerely doing the good things that God calls you to do, using the gifts God has given you – time, talent and treasure – to hasten the coming of the reign of God. It is about being gentler and kinder, leaving the judging to God and recognizing the love God has for each person with whom you interact. As a congregation, it might well mean continuing to pursue building community through meal fellowships, providing for those who are so less wealthy than we are around the globe through LWR (Lutheran World Relief), and being supportive of the church of Christ in all its manifestations.

 

           Hide it under a bushel? NO! Let that little light of yours shine!

 

             Blessings,

       Pr. Deb 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blessings,

 Pr. Deb 

Pastor’s Message

January/February Newsletter 2012