Dear Grace Church Family,
I am writing this week’s reflection in the lobby at Moffitt Cancer Center. A year and a half ago, I received CAR-T treatment for a battle I was in against Lymphoma. The news I received this morning was that I remain cancer free, and my immune system has responded to immune therapy I was receiving. As a cancer patient/survivor, real reality is before you every day. One of the things I was most grateful for when my doctor told me the news was the renewed sense of energy through which I would be able to live my life and ministry. There are so many things I look forward to in our life together this year!
One of the commentators for the scripture reading for this week shared that it was a passage that people look forward to reading about as much as his children look forward to eating steamed spinach! I laughed while reading his words, while also realizing the truth in them. The scripture reading is Luke 6:27-38. It is a continuation of the sermon on the plain and the passage where Jesus calls us to love our enemies. Following Jesus is not an easy thing to do. Jesus calls us to live in the Kingdom of God realities. It’s not easy, but it is the way that leads to life eternal.
We are very close to the Lenten season. It is a time of reflection and preparation for all of us on this Christian journey. I will be writing an electronical devotion for us as a congregation that will be sent out through the mail service we use. We do not have capacity to print it because of the way I am writing it, so I wanted to make sure we alert you of this as early as possible. The title of the work is called, “We are not Alone.” I will be anchoring the writing on the same passage of scripture that Nick Barth is using for the Cantata.
Interestingly, in one of my first meetings with Nick, he began to share this big idea he had for Easter with me. As I listened to him, I was stunned. We both had been planning Easter messages from the same passage of scripture. I hope you will make every effort to participate in our Lenten journey as a church. Begin to think about what your fast might be. Pray over the question, “What might I release from my life or take on for forty days to grow in my relationship with Jesus?” The Holy Spirit will guide you if you spend some good time in prayer.
As always, I am so very grateful to be…
With you on the journey,
Pastor Michelle