Dear Peace members and friends,
I’m looking forward to Sunday worship (9:30am)! We’ll begin a sermon series called, “How My Mind Has Changed.” Let me explain: way back, when I was considering the call to parish ministry, an old pastor (had to be 50!), after listening to me describe how I had come to that point, looked at me and said, “If there’s any way you can avoid this, run! Run, and keep on running! Go into ministry only if there’s nothing else you can do.” I thought that was good advice. In fact, I had been thinking about just that! Obviously, my mind changed and I didn’t run away. And here I am, 41 years later, thinking this vocation was a great way to go!
My mind has changed about all sorts of things over the years. Changing one’s mind is part of following the risen Christ for all of us; faith moves us from where we were to what we will be. Paul said it this way: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of god—what is good and acceptable, and perfect (Romans 12:2).”
In my last few weeks at Peace, I’d like to pass on a few of the ways my mind has changed over these years, in the hope that you can both identify with them and be blessed by God in some way or another. It’s not my usual tact to be overtly autobiographical but as William Sloane Coffin, Jr. wrote: “Finally, you preach for yourself but, if you go deep enough, you touch enough common humanity so that everyone’s involved.” That’s my hope and prayer, too.
This Sunday, we also have the privilege to welcome into the church, the body of Christ, Brynn Talbott, the daughter of Sarah and Sam Talbott, and sister to Emilia and Christian Thompson, the son of Katie and John Thompson, and brother to Taylor. Christian and Brynn are cousins and grandchildren of Kim and Bob Barnett. In the spirit of the day, I’ll have a message: “How My Mind Has Changed: On Baptism.”
Last of all, in the community news, we’ll hear a pastor transition update from Andy Loeffler, the Vice President of the congregation.
See you Sunday!
Mark