From the Pastor's Pen

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

So far, Christmas has been great at St. John’s (remember, it doesn’t end until January 6th).  Our Children’s Christmas Program was fantastic, 178 people in church to hear the children sing of Jesus’ birth and tell of Jesus coming to earth to save us from our sins. 

The best thing about having 178 people in church is that many of the parents and grandparents of Room to Grow children don’t attend church regularly. What a great opportunity to preach the good news of God taking on our flesh in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth. Not only is God incarnate, but Jesus went to the cross to redeem our flesh by dying for our sins and being raised on the third day, giving us the promise of our own flesh being resurrected. 

Then on Christmas Eve, we had more people who don’t regularly attend St. John’s. They heard about the glory of God shining around us in the Person of Jesus Christ. And they heard that this same Jesus will come to earth again at the time of His final Advent to raise us from the dead by the same glory that raised Him from the dead.  

Truly, we are blessed to have opportunities to tell the good news of Jesus. I trust the Lord will bless us with more opportunities to reach the lost in 2020. 

Certainly, He will, but there will also be challenges, always are in this sinful, fallen world. And yet, I trust He will see us through the challenges as well. He has in the past, why would He not now?  He will, it’s as simple as that. Comforting to know because we will face some challenges during the transition from me as your pastor to your next pastor. But God is in control. 

He already knows who your next pastor will be. All we need to do is to keep on preaching the Gospel of Jesus, Christ, continue with our youth ministry at Room to Grow, continue to share the love of Jesus with the community, with our family members, friends and acquaintances. The Holy Spirit will do the rest. 

So, I look forward to 2020, blessings and challenges alike. We are in good hands with God in Christ Jesus.   Hands that were pierced for us, his feet and side too.  Don’t forget about Christ’s wounds, with them and His resurrection, we have the victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil.  

To God be the glory, forever and ever, amen.  

Happy New Year!

Blessings in Jesus’ Holy Name, 

Pastor Hilton