This is Pastor Jon's letter from the June Parish Paragraphs:
| “O blest communion, fellowship divine, We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine. Alleluia! Alleluia! “And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong. Alleluia! Alleluia!” |  Attendees of the 100th Anniversary Dinner on May 6 sing one of the congregation's favorite hymns. |
These hymn lyrics from “For All the Saints” get me every time. We usually sing them on All Saints’ Day, but it seemed fitting to sing them during our 100th Anniversary worship as well this past May 7. Because indeed, we remember and honor and give thanks for those saints who fought the good fight and finished the race—and who, by God’s grace, planted and nurtured this divine fellowship that we call Point Place UCC.
I am not only grateful to those saints, but also to the saints of today, and in particular those who helped make our celebration a joyful weekend: Leslie and Chuck Geletzke, Diane Yarrito, Jim Armstrong, Lynette Thayer who organized the directory photos, Lori and Tina who emceed the dinner, and more!
I am also conscious that as many saints have “finished the race,” they have passed the baton on to us. As we have explored some “Lessons from Our Past” over the last few weeks, I want to reiterate this:
We don’t honor the past by preserving everything they created; we honor the past by imitating their creative spirit as we seek to follow God’s GO with faith, hope, and love.
This is now our work. As I take a partial sabbatical in July and as we come together in the fall, we will be asking the question, “What now?” How do we receive God’s call to “Go with God” into the next century. I hope you will be a part of that conversation. For to be among the saints is to be called.
Pastor Jon
I am not only grateful to those saints, but also to the saints of today, and in particular those who helped make our celebration a joyful weekend: Leslie and Chuck Geletzke, Diane Yarrito, Jim Armstrong, Lynette Thayer who organized the directory photos, Lori and Tina who emceed the dinner, and more!
I am also conscious that as many saints have “finished the race,” they have passed the baton on to us. As we have explored some “Lessons from Our Past” over the last few weeks, I want to reiterate this:
We don’t honor the past by preserving everything they created; we honor the past by imitating their creative spirit as we seek to follow God’s GO with faith, hope, and love.
This is now our work. As I take a partial sabbatical in July and as we come together in the fall, we will be asking the question, “What now?” How do we receive God’s call to “Go with God” into the next century. I hope you will be a part of that conversation. For to be among the saints is to be called.
Pastor Jon
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Hebrews 12:1-2
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