A Message from Pastor Tim
Friends,
Ever since the turn of the year Kathy and I have engaged the Session is some short videos from the Ordered Ministry and Foundations of Presbyterian Discipleship series, both of which can be found on YouTube. Both series serve as a good primer on how and why Presbyterians function the way we do. This past month we watched the episode in the Foundations series entitled “A People of Grace”, which explores the importance of grace as the basis for all our life and mission. Grace is a simple concept. It is a free gift. Taken theologically it signifies that God gives us salvation as a free gift, which the Apostle Paul asserted that we receive through faith, by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The gift of grace, like any gift, calls for a response of thankfulness, and since the salvation afforded us makes a difference every day of our lives, our gratitude ought to proceed in kind. This is another way of describing the new life we have in Jesus Christ. And one of the best ways we can show our thanks to God is to pay the gift of grace forward to others who may not deserve it either. Note in Paul’s statement we were not given the gift of grace because we were good little boys and girls. It was totally done out of God’s love for us in spite of what we were like.
Since showing this video at our last Session meeting, I’ve been noticing people asking questions and wanting to discuss grace all around me. Recently, I stumbled upon a Facebook discussion about grace that among the many sidebars, which often happens in such threaded conversations, someone asked whether Jews accepted the concept of grace. Short answer; they do, though it usually is understood as applied to undeserved blessings in this life as opposed to the gift of salvation for the next.
Lately, I’ve taken a little time each day to meditate on the meaning of grace for me, and it has a way of changing my approach to the world around me. I’ve noticed that not only am I aware of the little blessings in life, but reactions like jealousy, resentment, and defensiveness have taken a back seat in my emotional responses. I know the potential for them still abides in me, but a little thought about grace has a way of keeping them in check.
One thing I am thankful for is the faithfulness of the Trinity family through this pandemic. When the dust settles from this mess, we will have some work to do to build ourselves back up again, but I trust we will be stronger and wiser and more trusting in God’s gracious presence in the long run. Ultimately, our church community is a gift of God that we have received with thanksgiving and faith. We are indeed blessed both in this life and whatever may follow. God is good.
Tim