May 2024 Letter
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I would like to share this message from Bishop Traci Smith-Malone. Bishop Malone shared this message with us as she preached at the introductory service for the newly named West Plains District of the East Ohio Conference.
“I invite us to reflect on the words that we hear over and over again when we gather as the Body of Christ and partake of Holy Communion:
“By your Spirit make us one with Christ
One with each other
And one in ministry to all the world
Until Christ comes in final victory and
we all feast at his heavenly banquet.”
These words of blessing bear witness to who we are called to be as the Body of Christ and speak to our need for an outpouring of God’s spirit. It is a recognition that we can do all things that God has called us to do through Christ who strengthens and empowers us to fulfill God’s purpose. (Philippians 4:13)
Every time we accept the invitation to come to the Lord’s Table, we are essentially saying YES! We’re saying YES to being open to the movement of the Holy Spirit. We’re saying YES to remembering that we are loved unconditionally by God. We’re saying YES to following in the footsteps of Jesus. We’re saying YES to being like-minded, having the same love and being one in spirit with each other. We’re saying YES to our mission of extending God’s love, grace, compassion and hope to our neighbors and to all the world. And we’re saying YES to remaining faithful until Christ comes in final victory and the Kingdom of God is fulfilled.
Let us keep saying YES to Christ! God is able to do far more abundantly than what any of us can ever think of or even imagine with our collective YES. I can imagine lives being changed, communities being transformed, hope being reborn, and people being reconciled to one another through our collective YES! I can imagine a Church with a radical discipleship that is grounded in the love, teachings and example of Jesus Christ, a Church where everyone has a seat at the table and can belong and be regarded as God’s beloved. I can imagine a Church that transcends geography, borders, barriers and differences. I can imagine a Church that is diverse, and integrally connected—to each other, to our neighbors, to our communities and around the world. This vision can become a reality when we collectively say YES to Christ!”
Such powerful words from our Bishop. Friends, I believe that words do, indeed, have power. I believe that the promises made through our communion liturgy are just that, promises. Please consider how you could say yes to God’s call to be one with Christ, one with each other and one in ministry to All the world, until Jesus returns. What is God inviting you to say yes to?
Pastor Charlene