Pastor's Message

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are God's co-workers; you are God's field, God's building. I Corinthians 3:5-9

St. Paul had a way of eloquently and concisely refocusing a congregation’s attention on the central thing of life – the Lord Jesus. When Jesus calls us into ministry, he calls us to not gain disciples for ourselves or to gather people into our own circle of influence, but he sends us out to make disciples of Jesus. We all have a calling from our baptism. What’s more, God has lavished us diverse, varied and unique gifts to carry out God’s mission.

I thank God for the many and various gifts, God has poured out on the people of Holy Trinity. It has been a blessing to serve and work among you and to count myself a partner is God’s ministry here. As I reflect on all that God has accomplished among us, I am overwhelmed by the way in which we as community engaged in God’s mission. There was no individual person or personality at the center of our life, except Christ Jesus. Instead, we all joined in the work God gave us to do, each according to his or her gifts.

When we transformed and opened up our building and grounds, we worked together as a community. That unity of purpose and happiness in our work attracted the attention of our neighbors. When we canvassed the neighborhood with door-hanger invitations and gifts, we worked together and each used their God-given gifts to share the Gospel. When we pitched a tent on the front lawn and invited our neighbors to join us in worship and discipleship, we discovered how greatly gifted we truly were. When we offer a Vacation Bible School, each gifted person contributes all they have to create an environment and faith-growing experience that is truly incredible. Musicians, artists, builders, planners, managers, story-tellers, cooks, teachers, administrators, friends, givers, and everything else needed to do God’s work in this place at this time.

But, at the end of the day, we did all of this and so much more so that God might be glorified among us and through us. We work together as a sign and witness to what God is doing in the world through Jesus. God changes lives. God saves people.

Jesus is Lord. That’s our first guiding principle. Through the Holy Spirit, God gives growth in the life of Jesus. That’s why I am so filled with hope and excitement about the future ministry and mission that you will engage. As Holy Trinity prepares to take the next step in following Jesus, we know from our past that no one person is the key to our growth. It takes a variety of people with a variety of gifts working together, but even then, the work is done in faith and confidence in God who gives the growth.

Thank you for welcoming me into your gifted community. Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel. I can’t wait to see what God has planned for this community as you welcome new people and a new pastor with new gifts needed for new ministry in the name of Jesus Christ who, by his resurrection makes all things new.

To God alone be the glory,

Pastor Jim