July 28, 2019
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).
Friends in Christ,
We hear a lot about the struggles of Protestant churches across our nation. But I am reminded that the early church also struggled. Rev. David Gray writes in Feasting on the Word, “What has helped God’s people deal with discouragement since the beginning is the knowledge that we are not alone. We follow in the footsteps of people from the earliest biblical times who were unsure of what the future held for them. We follow in the footsteps of saints who along the way chose to trust God anyway. We follow a God who does not abandon us in times of trouble. “
As I prepare to write my sermon for August 18 based on Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2, I am thinking about the past saints of Lynnhurst Church. In the Protestant church saints are people who believe and have faith in God in Jesus Christ. There are saints in every congregation, people who live out their faith in their everyday lives. Saints are often the people who work in the background to make ministry happen in the church. They are the people working in the kitchen, in the office, and in the yard. They are often the people with a good idea for a new ministry or project, and they work tirelessly to make the ministry a success. They are the people who paint walls, fix the furnace, turn on the lights and heat, clean up the parsonage, and make things run smoothly.
My question for you to reflect on is this: Who are the saints of Lynnhurst Church who have completed their earthly lives? I invite you to send me the name of the person (or people) you consider to be a saint of Lynnhurst and write me 2-3 sentences about this person and why they are a saint. I will share your thoughts in sermon that Sunday.
Thank you for helping me get to know the past saints of our congregation and bring Paul’s message alive.
Blessings on the journey,