top of page

Pastoral Message for the Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 10, 2020

Pastoral Message
(for members and friends of)
Geeseytown & Newry Lutheran Churches
Christ the way, truth, and life
Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2020
We begin by remembering:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me.” (John 14:6)
Let us pray:
Almighty God, your Son, Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. Give
us grace to love one another, to follow in the way of His commandments, and to
share His risen life with all the world, for He lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2-10 & John 14:1-14
Thoughts from the Pastor:
During these challenging days of the coronavirus, I came across an ancient
Roman saying which is still quoted today, “While there is life, there is hope.” Of
course, this ancient saying contains an element of truth, but no guarantee of
certainly. The First Epistle of Peter has a key theme: God’s grace and the living
hope. The fact of life does not determine hope, but the faith of life. Christians
believe in and enjoy “living hope” because their faith and hope are in God. This
living hope says to the world, “Be hopeful.” Tell your family members, friends,
neighbors and relatives to be hopeful because their hope is in God.
We always need to remember during these challenging times, we have a
privilege to be part of Jesus’ Church, “a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” In
1 Peter 2:4-5, we are taught and given a gift from God, “ Come to Him, a living
stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like
living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood,
to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” This gift is
unity that transcends all local and individual assemblies and fellowships because it
is built together with Jesus Christ. My friends, we belong to each other through
grace and faith in Jesus Christ; therefore, we also belong to Him.
Sure, we are stuck living in our homes waiting until we can visit our family
members, talk with our neighbors and return to work. But we still belong to Christ
and to each other. My friends, the various media tell us to be patient and that we
are all in this together, but for some people the phrase, “being patient” is a
challenge for them. So, call your neighbors, check on a senior member of your
family, check on family members living out of town or the area and let them know
you care about them. It will help them know that some one cares about them
helping them to be patient.
As I think about our Gospel lesson this week, Jesus is always the way, the
truth and the life. Without Him we do not know the way, the truth and life;
however, we are blessed if we treasure our Heavenly Father’s Word and obey it,
then our Heavenly Father and Jesus will share their love with us and make their
home in us. We need to also remember when we trust in our Heavenly Father
loving His Word, praying and obeying we will have a deeper relationship with our
Heavenly Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. I realize we are going through some
demanding times and we do not know when this coronavirus will be cured, but
one of the best ways to ease a troubled heart is to bathe it in the love of God.
When you feel like an “orphan” let the Spirit of God reveal God’s love to you in a
deeper way.
I am going to close with some famous words from Charles Spurgeon, a
famous biblical scholar, “A little faith will take your soul to heaven, but great faith
will bring heaven to your soul.” Let your heart become a heaven on earth, as you
commune with the Lord and worship Him. Remember, the Holy Spirit abides in
you. He is a gift from your Heavenly Father who answers your prayers and Holy
Spirit never leaves you.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Dick Henry

Pastoral Message for the Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 10, 2020
Geeseytown / Newry Lutheran Parish

info@GNLutheran.org

Newry Lutheran Church

1030 Shamrock Lane

PO Box 397

Newry, PA 16665

P: 814-317-5287

 
 

Geeseytown Lutheran Church

462 Route 22

Hollidaysburg, PA 16648

P: 814-696-0743

  • Grey Facebook Icon

©2021 GNLutheran parish

bottom of page