June 2014

Where does God speak to you? Of course we sense God’s presence in the Word proclaimed and in the sacraments – The Lord’s Supper and baptism. Do you hear God in other times and places?

Some of us were talking this week about how hard it is to slow down the fast-paced lives we seem to lead – even to take an anticipated vacation! We want to hear God leading us and telling us where to go and what to do next. That goes for each one of us as well as our community of believers here at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. God is speaking to us in a variety of ways and will continue to do so!

When I have a chance to go on retreat, I like to spend a few days at the Kirkridge Retreat Center in Northern Pennsylvania. I am always amazed at how being in those beautiful mountains with a spectacular view from every part of my surroundings helps me catch my breath and truly listen to God. I always discover God in the words of other Christians, in the beauty of creation, and in the peace and quiet those hills and forests provide. I keep thinking of the following Bible verse as I do often here at Holy Trinity:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills –
From where will my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121: 1-2)

As I prepare to say farewell to all of you as my time as your interim comes to an end, I hear God speaking to us here at Holy Trinity –

Through the voices of our children – who always offer us hope,
In the words of other Lutheran Christians with a vision for mission in the present and future,
In the beautiful music we hear each Sunday, transporting us to vistas yet unknown,
In the ways that so many live out the gospel in service to others by feeding the hungry and taking care of those in need,
With words of comfort and consolation from others in our congregation, and
Through the faithfulness of all God’s servants in this place.

God is speaking. Let us listen.

In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Darlis Swan
June 2, 2014