Stop and Remember

_                                              A Note From The Pastor

“As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace
in vain. For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and
i the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the  time  of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)

I’ve heard it all my life, but it really seems to be true that time flies by when you’re having fun. I know that many of our children think Christmas can’t get here fast enough, but to me it feels as though it was only a week or so ago that we celebrated Christmas for 2011. And yet, here it comes again.

And December will be a busy month with all the programs and parties and special events and worship. I emphasize worship, because sometimes I think we get so caught up in the seasonal celebrations that we forget the salvation that is ours because of what we are celebrating.
 
Now is the time, Paul told the Corinthian church. Now is the time to remember all the good things God has done for us in the past. Now is the time to recognize the gift of salvation that is ours right now. Now is the time to look with hope to our future.

One of the meditations in the Nouwen booklet Here and Now says, “Joy is based on the spiritual knowledge that, while the world in which we live is shrouded in darkness, God has overcome the world.” It was the coming of the Christ that made that happen.

So, my challenge to us all is to stop and remember during this season. Remember that now is the time. Remember that now is the day of salvation. And laugh and love and rejoice!

                   
                                                                        Pastor Nancy