We have received a letter from Pastor K with some vital updates and prayer requests.   Please read through the letter and keep Pastor K, his ministry area, fellow pastors and family in your prayers.  Identifying information has been removed for the safety of all involved.  

If you want to send an encouraging note, written prayer or scripture - I know he would be blessed by it.

We want to praise God that we are safe and secure here in the days of persecution, recently past week in our ministry areas: ------------------, ---------------, ---------------, ---------------, ------------- and -----------------------  a church property was burnt down and a pastor was beaten at home. We receive a persecution story from ------------------------ nearly every day.  

We Christians are facing persecution in the name of Jesus, we praise God for that, as written in Matthew 5:11-12 we rejoice in His Name.  Sharing gospel become a challenge for us here in ---------------------------. In our Child Development Centre,  a few parents have stop sending their children to in CDC center. But i believe and trust that God has His own plans. God is working through persecutions as many people are receiving news in their television and hearing the stories of Jesus Christ. Gospel is reaching in new areas, despite persecution, in ----------------,---------------------,----------------- and --------------------.

This month we as a small fellowship have planned to teach & train 10 evangelist to make Christlike disciples by the end of December 2022 in {these places}*. For which we are looking a platform where we can have a suitable discipleship training for them. As we have a rented place here in --------------------------, here we are having our fellowship and running CDC center. But yearly the rent & taxes increases 10%. Since 2015 raising fund became a big challenge. As we have poor labour members in our fellowship where we raise 60%- 70% rent from the fellowship and other supports. Rest remaining 30% - 40% we struggle to raise and pay on time. We are planning to buy a land near by the ----------------------, as this property will give us freedom of worshiping God training and build each year 20 evangelist to send unreached villages in {these places}*.   So, the people receive gospel and local Christians get no persecutions. Thus far God has kept us safe, for which we praise God.
 

• I would like to ask your prayer support for building 20 evangelists in a year and  train and send 10 evangelist by the end of December 2022. 
• Pray for the rent & taxes for the rented house and fellowship, till we get our own land & build our own property. 
• I would ask you to have special prayer for our Christian people who are facing persecution in our ministry area. You can pray for Pastor from -----------------, ----------------, and specially pastors from ---------------------. 
• Pray for my daughter ----------------- she is growing in knowledge of the Lord. She helps me in singing songs, leading worship in our Sunday fellowship and house fellowship, keep praying for her education she is writing her first semester exams.  

Thanks for your help and support in building His kingdom.  
Pastor K

Video Transcript
Hey church family, it is Pastor Peter!  I'm sitting here in the church sanctuary and I am thinking about our building and the things that need to be done to get it repaired, both on the outside and the inside.   As I said on Sunday - it's A LOT OF DETAILS - and I recognize I'm not a detailed oriented guy.  I'm a big picture guy.  

So I am looking for some help.  Someone who is detail oriented, someone who doesn't mind making phone calls or following up on emails.  I'm thinking it will be just an hour or two a week for someone who can make this their priority for church service for the next couple weeks.  This will help me stay on top of all of the things that need to go on:  to make sure that the architect, engineer and construction crew are all together in the same boat.  If you like to-do lists, enjoy making phone calls, and making sure things are done on time,  I would love to hear from you!
 
I would love to hear if you are interested or have questions.   Reaching out doesn't mean you are committing to this;  it just says "hey maybe I want to see if I fit this."  If you are interested my phone number is going to be on the screen somewhere you can go ahead and text or call.  I will touch base and chat through all the details.   If you decide it isn't going to work for you,  no harm no foul,  but if it does -  absolutely great!  

Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity to serve your church community (and help out your pastor). I truly appreciate it! Have a wonderful week and we will see you on Sunday !

Below is the letter we received from Pastor K!   I hope it encourages you as you read, and I pray it spurs you on to pray for Pastor K, the ministries he leads, India, and his family!   As a reminder - identifying information is redacted (names, and places) to protect the wellbeing of his family!  The full letter, with images is available in person if you would like to see it.

Dear Pastor Peter & Ketchikan Naz Family,
Greetings to you in the precious name of Jesus Christ. Hope that you are doing well in His grace .
God has been doing great work in work and ministry In amazing way in past months God has been leading us different way. I believe that He has chosen us here for the community and for building His kingdom among the Indians communities. Past months I could see that God has been working with us, He is at work.

1. In month of April I had privilege to go to ******** for doing VBS for children. In which 208 children participated. In this group many children were from other faith. The program was organized by the group of local pastors. I was as a recourse person, in leading VBS among these children. The trip was super excited as of the result leading VBS for 208 children was the big task for me. One of other Brother from North India travelled with me to have wonderful VBS in ********.
2. In Month of May we arranged 2 days evangelical training in our ******** Church in which local members of the church were taught about sharing faith to others. In which 17 members of our church took part in it. The intension was to build evangelist from the local church. We cannot share our faith openly, we have to be cautious in it. But having other ideas, plan, we try to share each day our lives and share our faith to at least one person.
3. In month of June here in ******** schools got summer vacation as the temperature was 42- 49 degree. ******** my little daughter also got summer vacation. She started getting bore at home. As she was used to school, so, my wife ******** and ******* had plan to visit mountains of Uttarakhand for few days. They went for 2 weeks in mountains had cold temperature around 6- 22 degree.
4. In month of June I have got a responsibility from Church of the Nazarene India field to lead Nazarene Discipleship International - India– children (NDI-India) as a coordinator. Which helped me in building new plans to enroll many children in discipleship- in making Christlike disciples in nations. Through which I could lead 3 VBS & Children camp in ********* District in which 152 participated in 3 different platform. Month of June was full of excited in leading VBS, Children camp in 3 different part of the *********. I believe that we had fruitful VBS, Children Camp as we could introduce Jesus to many children. Now the local churches are leading those little children in His powerful words & they are sharing the stories gospel to their parents, for which we praise God. God has other ways to bring His people to Him
5. In month of July ******* school got reopened, and she started going to school. Few days it was hard to send her school as after one month the school reopened. This month the excited thing was for all of us was the Birthday of ********. On 7th July we celebrated her birthday with cake cutting, invited her friends, she made our day with her friends.  The month was fully busy in sharing & encouraging people in Christ. And planning for NDI- India, developing Christlike disciples in the nations

This is how God was involved in our work & lives,  we praise God for this, what He has done in our lives. He is continues working in our work, ministry and lives.

******* Child Development Center is doing great work in building children’s lives, and their family. This month on 8th July we were able to go for educational trip in ********, which is 40 Km. from ********.

From ********* Church of the Nazarene and from the India field NDI team my wife and I  have been elected for the General Assembly & Convention 2023. For which we are so excited, We would be visiting Indiana for the General Assembly & convention in June 2023. Hope to see you one day. “If God willing”. We are praying for passport, visa, and other travel expenses.

I know and believe that you & all the Ketchikan Naz family is continues praying for us & for India.
Thanks for your prayers in building His kingdom.  Here is how we need your continues valuable prayer and support.

• Pray for ******* education as she grows up, pray for completing her fees on time.
• Pray for the NDI-India, as I have got new responsibility. May God help me developing Christlike -disciples.  
• Pray for the VBS teachers as they are growing in the area, may God help them to reach and teach the children and build them in gospel that they enroll each child in discipleship.
• Pray for the churches here in *********, that whoever has received gospel that they grow in the word of God.
• Pray for our CDC center here as their parents hear gospel, may God bring them in fellowship. As well as pray for the our community which we serve in His name.
• Pray for our travel plan to USA for general assembly and convention 2023, visa, passport, and other travel expenses. I believe that He can do great things in lives and ministry.

In His Service,
Pastor K

God is never upset with your questions or your doubts.  He embraces your honest conversation and desires you to bring all things to him.   With that in mind - during a recent church service you had the chance to ask whatever was on your mind!  Your questions are amazing  they are below!  

I'll be working on answers to these and will be sharing the responses over the next few weeks. If anything sparks an interest, another question or you want to discuss something in person - don't hesitate to reach out!  

If you missed the opportunity to ask a question  don't fret!  Submit your own here!  You can ask anonymously - or leave your email if you want Pastor to respond personally!

On Sunday, April 10th, I shared a brief update on the process of the insurance claim status for the damage to our building.  If you missed Sunday, or needed to hear it again - you can watch the 4 min clip below!   Please be in prayer for this issue as your church board prayerfully considers how to progress.
                          -Pastor Peter

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.  Lent is the 6-week season in the life of the Church that leads up to Easter.  It is a time of reflection on one’s faith, a period for repentance, and humility.   Often Lent is seen as the time to ‘give up’ something - like media, sweets, or coffee.   The intentional denial of something your body longs for is a good way to help you remember the longing you soul should have for closeness to Christ.  This is called fasting, and it is a wonderful spiritual discipline.  

I hope that in this season of Lent - the season of preparation for Easter - you find a way to engage your soul with the Lord who loves you so dearly.  This may mean giving something up, or it may mean taking something up.  You may deny yourself something you love, and in it's place let that desire remind you to pray.  You may choose to be more intentional about loving your neighbor.    

However you worship through Lent, may you know this -
The Lord loves you with a never-ending love.  His compassion is overwhelming and is not limited by the ways the we 'think' the Lord should act.  His ways are not ours - they are far superior!    Rejoice in that love this Lent season.

The past few days were crazy and full of God's immense wonderful works!   We found out that the water damage we have in our building is from a water main leak/rupture!!  Which is both good and bad.  Let me explain!

It's good because we know what it is, and we know how to fix it.  It's relatively straight forward of a solution and hopefully we can get it knocked out as soon as the weather warms up.  It also means that insurance may potentially cover the losses we experienced in the building due to the water damage.  This is HUGE.  I cannot stress enough how amazing God is.  Pray that the insurance adjuster approves this claim!

It is bad news in the sense that we have had to turn the water to building off - so as not to damage the building further.  Without water we can't meet, or use the building for group gatherings.  

However, God is good.  I am repeating this all the time the past few days!   Starting this Sunday (yes...THIS Sunday!!!) we will be meeting at the Saxman Community Center.  There is ample parking, a beautiful entry, and spacious auditorium.  It is reserved for us on Sundays moving forward (until our main is fixed).  It is also reserved for us for Christmas eve.

Here is what this means for us:
If you have any questions or concerns - please don't hesitate to reach out to me!   Thanks in advance for your flexibility and willingness to jump in and serve during this temporary change!  You guys are amazing and I'm so thankful to be your pastor!

Pastor Peter
951-515-6162
pastorpeter@ktnnaz.org

Saxman Community Center is located at 2841 S. Tongass Highway.
The best access road will be Bear Clan St - as it is the best plowed and least bumpy.  

Brief update on the building...more to come in the next few days.  Stay tuned and pray!

Dear Pastor Peter,
Greetings to you in the precious name of Jesus Christ.  I hope and trust that you are doing well in His service.

Here in India farmers strike is over now. All the farmers of India are back to home we are happy for them as they all are back to their home town, after more than a year. It took 1 year 3 months to complete to fulfill their appeal.

As well as our church ministry is growing day by day, we are able to reach many families. In month of November 2021 the new family accepted christ as their personal Savior. {----------} they are growing in the lord now. Keep praying for this family as they have started house fellowship in their home.

Within this in NCM Child Development Centre, we are preparing for Christmas celebration which will take place on 25th December, in Christmas program our CDC  children will be participating in gospel songs and action Songs. On this day we have set our target to share gospel to 100 people. Pray for this program, as we share gospel to these 100 people around us.

May God help us, there are political situation are not so good as we have ward members elections on 24th December. But i believe that your prayer support  can do great miracle in each and everyone's life.

I am going through very tough time, as i was supposed to be happy and excited as advent season is going on. But i am little down, as in my earlier email i informed you that my sister's wedding date has been announced. We all were excited, but my father met with an accident and he got fractured his left leg and he had to go for surgery. Now there is an iron rod is fixed in his leg. Our all excitement for wedding is gone down now.
 
Now i am in little hard time as i have to manage my sister's wedding and at the same time look after my father's health. I am on little stressed. As i have to manage all this.

1. Pray for our family, as i bear the expenses for my father's treatment.
2. Pray for my sister's wedding that everything goes well and nothing should lack, May God do miracle as Jesus did at cana wedding.  
3. Pray for the church family as all are new believers, they all are excited to celebrate Christmas 2021, some of them are very new as they will celebrating Christmas very first time.
4. Pray for the children as they present gospel through songs and action.
5. Pray for us as we share gospel to 100 people on the day of Christmas.

I believe and trust that your prayers can do great miracle in our life and ministry, and God can fulfill all the needs required in life and ministry.

In His service
 

Greetings from Dallas, Texas! I’m here attending a conference/training this week and wanted to share with you a bit about what it is and why I’m here.

I’ve been in KTN for 9 years now, and one question I hear A LOT is “What do I say to my aunt/sibling/child who is gay?” “How do I handle my child? … they just came out to me!” “How do I share my faith with my friend who is gay?” When asking these questions people are often hesitant to even say the word ‘gay’ outloud - worried that there will be instant pushback/anger/judgement.

I think it would also be silly to assume that no one at KTN struggles privately with SSA (same sex attraction) and what that means for their walk with Christ. Whether people are struggling with their own sexual identity or that of a loved ones - it’s often a struggle that is done alone, in fear and shame. However Scripture clearly tells us that there is ‘no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.””

Christ calls us to be a people who run towards the challenging topics without fear. He calls us to be a people of immense grace and compassion; a people who find unity in Christ. A people who help lift the shame off our brothers and sisters.

This is why I’m at the conference this week. Revoice 2021 is a conference to help the church learn about/engage/equip sexual minorities as members of the Body of Christ and the theme this year is ‘Together.”

So to say I’m excited to be here to learn and be challenged would be an understatement. I hope you will join me in praying over this conference. I also hope you have questions about what I will be learning, and what it means for our local church in KTN. I too have those questions! I would gladly sit down with anyone when I get back and share what I learned to open up a dialogue!

If you want to read more about Christianity and LGBTQ+ issues and understand the position of the Church of the Nazarene -  I would encourage you to read this paper. It’s fantastic - and it just may surprise and/or challenge you!

I’m available if you have questions or comments about this - there is a 3 hour time difference, so if I don’t respond immediately just hang tight! You are loved! Can’t wait to be back with you all!

Pastor Peter
951-515-6162
pastorpeter@ktnnaz.org

Great news!   We have received a letter* from our parter pastor!  As you read through it you will find so many areas of prayer and I encourage you to pray daily for Pastor K and his family, his ministry and his community!  I also hope that you will be encouraged in our own faith as you read his letter.  Encouraged to be bold in sharing your faith, in generosity, in creativity,  and in your passion for those around you who are not yet connected to Jesus.

*I have edited identifying information for now...until I receive clarity on whether or not it's okay to post that information online.  

I am Pastor K* serving Lord and His people being part of the church of the Nazarene since 2013. My wife has been a great support in building His kingdom, we are parents since 2018, God blessed us with a daughter, she is the reminder that she is the gift from God and He is faithful to us. My wife and myself are graduate in theology and Bachelor of Arts. We both Married in 2016 since than we both have given our full time in serving God through serving people.  

It gives me joy to inform about our ministry excitement, as we want to see His great kingdom to come. We are saved to serve, “Serving God is the best way to serve God through serving people”. As among of these people they are the leaders of tomorrow.   Right now we are in (location) is one of the place which is a boarder to entering “city beautiful (location)”, it is one of the urban. village where we find migrated community from different part of the India, most of the community from (location), (location) and (location) are here, as they all are here to earn their daily bread, most of them earning wages is difficult, as most them are illiterate, due to which they are unable to provide good education to their children. They all are from different faith most of them are Hindus.

In 2015 we had privilege to enter in this village to establish a fellowship and we had celebration of evangelism, (like birthdays, celebration of food, cooking completions. etc) among youths and providing motivational seminars.

Right now we are involved with :-

• Community development with “(Location) Child Development Centre” Providing education to each and every child of the marginalized group.
• Arranging VBS in Local areas of North India, children are the gift from God.
• Family care and Counseling
• Women empowerment with Self Help Group
• Church Planting in surrounding areas of  (Location) and (Location). 
• Preparing Christ like disciples through “Discipleship Training school”.-
• Health Check-up Camp to build and grow them in their health.

As they are going to be tomorrow’s leaders, and it gives us opportunity to share about His unconditional love as Jesus did with us. We see this ministry to bring fruit in His great kingdom. Having these ministries, we are able to reach 40 families around the area. In the year of 2017 we started “Nazarene church fellowship”. Now regularly we meet each Sunday. Seeing these people to grow in the knowledge of Lord.

In the year of 2021- 2022 we as Nazarene fellowship want to build 20 young leaders in the knowledge of the lord, filled them with gospel and send them unreached areas of surrounding areas of (Location). and specially want to build them in the Christ like disciples, this is my intention with the lord’s ministry.  To build His kingdom and to see His people contributing towards His kingdom’s growth.

Keep praying for us as we lead this work and ministry here in North West India.

“Together we can make difference if we help and support to grow and develop His kingdom”. (Roman 10:14-15).

-Pastor K and Family

Your voice mattered - and the beauty of this process was that through prayer and the Grace of God - our voices all said the same thing.   We will be developing a partnership with Pastor K and his wife as they lead two small churches of mostly immigrant workers.  In addition to this - his community has a Compassionate Ministry Child Development Center.  This is a place where kids can receive health care, clothing, education, food, and more!

Here are some things you can do while we wait for some more detailed info on the pastoral family and churches.

• Pray for Pastor K 
• Pray for the two churches
• Pray for the Child Development Center
• Pray for wisdom on the development of this partnership
• Educate yourself about Christianity in India
• Educate yourself about Child Development Centers and what they do 
• Prayerfully consider giving regularly (beyond your tithe) to the India Partnership Fund

I'm excited to see what God will do with this partnership.  

Since you are not just watching this unfold - but are helping it develop - send a prayer or scripture or encouragement to Pastor K!  I'll make sure it gets sent right away!

This morning I received an email from our District LINKS missionaries.  LINKS missionaries are missionaries that serve on the ground across the world, and are LINKED to a local district for prayer, support and mutual encouragement.   It just so happens (as it often does when God is at work) that our LINKS missionaries are serving in India!  

In the email they sent a set of images explaining a bit about the needs and nature of India, and I have shared them with you below!  I am hoping these continue to encourage you to pray for our LINKS missionaries, for India, and for our future partner church!  

If you wanted to follow their ministry I have links below, as well as the Facebook Page for the Eurasia Region where you can find prayer requests, and other great info!  I did share with our LINKS missionaries that we are working towards a partnership with a church in India and they were very excited to hear that!

I love how Nazarenes are a Global community!

If you haven't yet...head over to the previous blog (linked below) and read through the church/pastor options and let us know what you are thinking!  I can't wait to begin doing work alongside our brothers and sisters in India!

It's time to select a parter church/community!   We are hoping to gain some insight from you all, since this is not just a project of the church board, but of the entire church.  This means, members, attenders and anyone else in our extended KTNNAZ family can share their thoughts and help us make a choice.  We are eager to begin getting to know a pastor and church, and to help enable the ministry they are doing during this season of COVID and beyond.

Take a moment and prayerfully review the options below and then respond below.  The church board will be meeting later this month and we will take all your prayerful comments into the discussion!

Pastor/Church #1:  Coordinating the work in Kerala state. We have churches in rural as well as in towns , its new work a pioneering district , partnership will be very encouraging to the pastors and churches, you can choose one church or the whole new areas of the ministry.

Pastor/Church #2:  He is taking charge of  Southeast  India District, this is mostly rural and tribal community churches and few urban congregations. Covering two states Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

Pastor/Church #3: Pastor of two small church plants among  immigrant labourer community, also has a Child Development Centre supported by the NCM among that  community.    

It's been a few weeks since our announcement that we are working towards a partnership with a church/churches in India.  This delay has been due to the effects of COVID and other circumstances in India.  However, today I received an email from Rev. Sunil again and  I wanted to pass it along to you so that you can continue to pray for India in general, and for wisdom on which Pastor/church to partner with!  (I have removed pastoral names for this post...)

As always if you have questions don't hesitate to reach out!
-Pastor Peter

On Sunday, we prayed for the COVID-19 crisis in the world - specifically for the country of India. I shared a statistic gleaned from the news that said ‘600 cremations are performed daily’. However, today I learned the truth behind that statistic. I spoke with Rev. Sunil Dandge (India Field Strategy Coordinator, Church of the Nazarene) via Zoom and I asked him how bad it really was from his perspective. He shared that there are over 3000 deaths a day now and, with cases climbing, the death toll is expected to climb. The sorrow in his face and the weariness in his voice were tangible. Listen to him speak below and let your heart be moved.

The reason I shared this Sunday, and again today, is to stir your hearts toward compassion and action - to think beyond your own worldview and become doers of the Word. I had inquired of our denominational leadership a week or two ago about how best to help our brothers and sisters in India. The church in India is working hard and doing so much good in their respective communities. They are already doing the good works of faith and yet the burden is huge - and perhaps we can help them lighten the load in some way, and resource them in the good works they are doing!

Since our church is a global church - connected in Christ’s mission and vision - my request was quickly routed from the Global Ministry Center in Kansas to Rev. Sunil in India. We shared our hearts, prayed together, and I expressed our desire to partner with a church and pastor in India during this season and beyond. In essence - to build a sister church relationship with a church halfway across the globe. Rev. Sunil will be sending me some information on churches and pastors and the towns/areas they minister in.

Here is where you can participate: will you pray even now for the churches and people of India? When we receive the list of names, will you pray God leads us to one church that we can partner with for the long term?

I look forward to the day when we can Zoom with our sister church and pastor during a church service. When we can send greetings from our families to theirs. When we mutually lift one another up in prayer for needs and praise!

To stir your heart further please take some time to look through these resources. India is not only struggling with Covid but also is on the top 10 list for countries where living as a Christian is dangerous. Reading it all can be overwhelming, and cause us to overlook things to protect our own feelings. So read one article a day and pray in the ways God leads you.

Christmas is the season we celebrate and remember the day the our Savior was born.  The day that God became human.  The day that our fundamental understanding of our relationship between God and humanity changed forever.  God's holiness dwelt with us...and soon would dwell in us.

May the season of Christmas be full of the hope, peace, love and joy of Christ for you and your family.

Like joy...the word love is not fully understood.  In fact we often use love for food, movies, experiences, our spouse, and our Lord.  Something about that is out of place....clearly we do not love our food the same we love our spouse!  

To love is to prefer.  The biblical word agapáo (to love) means to prefer what God prefers, to choose His choices and obey them, to actively and willingly participate with them.

According to this definition of love - do you love God?  

If you apply this definition of love to your spouse do you love your spouse? Do you prefer what they prefer? Choose their choices? Actively and willingly participate with them?

What about loving those who drive you crazy, those whom you don't like?  Do you extend this same kind of love to them?

1 John tells us that God is love.  Therefore He alone can define what love is and how it is to be expressed.  Humanity attempts to manipulate the word and it's meaning - but God's standard stands.  We are only able to love others because God first loved us.  His love - even while we sinned against him - is what fills us.

We often confuse joy with happiness.  Happiness is a momentary emotion and based on circumstances.  When circumstances change so does our emotion and therefore our happiness.  However, joy is not based on circumstances, neither is it an emotion (though it can inspire emotions).  

What areas of your life do you find it hard to choose to lean into the future-hope?  What makes those difficult choices?  Have you spent time talking with Jesus about it and asking for His help?
Remember that Jesus himself knows what it's like to struggle with what He felt verses what is set before Him.    Therefore we can lean on Him when we need help with joy.   This joy is for everyone regardless of what you have done or experienced.  Everyone can experience this joy.

Peace.  We are all seeking it...and even manage to navigate our lives in such a way that we can gather moments of it here and there.  However it always seems to be fleeting and momentary - just when we think we have it, the car breaks down, or the kids fight or... a global pandemic.  Yet when we read in Scripture we learn not only is peace not something we are responsible for, but rather something that is given freely to us.  So why do we always seem to lack it?

JOHN 16:33
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Do you see the tension in this verse?  We will live in a troubled world and will experience trouble because of it - however in the middle of our troubles we are still fully able to experience a peace that passes all understanding.

Peace and tribulation -  in the same space of our lives -  at the same time.    

Can you think of a time in your life where despite the situation around you, you were at peace in your soul?  Where for once you weren't searching for that one thing to make you complete - but that in Christ - you were made complete?  What would it be like if every day of your life you could experience that all encompassing peace?  How would your life be different?  How would your reactions to world events, social media posts, and family struggles change - not because of what you have pieced together but because of the peace of Christ at work in you?

If ever there was a season that HOPE is needed - I think we could agree that the end of the 2020 is one of them. There is a general sense of the tension that people are excited for 2020 to end - and 2021 to take over.  As if, in some way, the changing of the years date will change the course of the worlds circumstances.   We hope that 2021 will bring better times - but is that really what HOPE is?  A fleeting wish that life will be easier?   What if HOPE - Biblical HOPE - is something far more rich?   

This first week of Advent is focused on Hope.  We lit the HOPE candle on Sunday to remind us that even in a dark world full of 2020-style events there is still light, warmth and HOPE to be found in Christ.    Take some time this week and reflect on the word HOPE - this idea of waiting for God.    What does that HOPEFUL WAITING look like in your life?

ROMANS 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.  (Romans 5:1-5)

ROMANS 8:18-28
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

The arrival of COVID changed quite a few things about our family, work, social, and church routines, and while we hoped it would be a short-lived adjustment instead it’s become a new way of life.  We have hit the 9-month mark of COVID life and we have nearly 7 months of online services under our belt - that’s a lot of time spent apart from your church family. Not just that - but the social distancing, mask-wearing, travel restrictions, quarantines, news reports of increasing death toll... It’s wearing on me, and I’m sure it’s wearing on you as well!  

The world is weary of COVID.  You can see it in faces (at least the parts of the faces you can see) all around town.  Weariness is a real thing.  In fact, in looking at the graphic below you can clearly see there is documented categories of stress and weariness from long-term exposure to a stressor.  I want you to know - if you struggle with any of these - you aren’t alone.  I do too.  

One of my favorite Christmas Hymns is O Holy Night - and when I was listening to it a few weeks ago the lyrics leaped out at me in a way they haven’t before.  

Christ came to a world that was weary.  Weary from sin, weary from waiting, weary from oppression, weary from the unknown...and I realized that the world Jesus was born into isn’t that different than what we are feeling like now.  We are weary.  Weary from sin, weary from waiting, weary from oppression, weary from the unknown.  However, we can rejoice in our weariness because Jesus came and will come again.  This is what Advent means - arrival.  

So this season as we - as you - turn your hearts towards Christ may you experience a thrill of hope that can only come from knowing that Christ meets you in your weariness and causes you to rejoice.  He came once to redeem mankind from the darkness of sin; and He will come again to redeem the whole of creation from the weariness of a sin-torn world.  He will lift the confusion, bear the weight of the unknown, and establish His Kingdom forevermore.  This is why O Holy Nights ends with this triumphant declaration of joy.

May your Advent be filled with hope, and joy.  May your weary heart rejoice in worship.  May your Savior be ever near to you.  

With love,  Pastor Peter