Pastor’s Corner – May 21, 2023

As we stand at the threshold of Pentecost, Jesus prays for his disciples. He does not leave them as orphans but with a promise of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, in the power of the Spirit, the disciples will be witnesses beyond Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. Then Jesus prays for the unity of fellowship just as his relationship with God. The lectionary reading for this coming Sunday reminds us that we are not alone and that we are called to bear witness to the good news!

We are constantly reminded how our mainline churches are declining in membership. We feel it in our empty pews, remembering times when the pews were filled with people we loved. In the past twenty years Presbyterian Church USA lost more than half of membership and the congregations are getting older each year. Younger generations are not interested or find the church irrelevant in their lives. This, however, does not mean people are less spiritual or not seeking faith in something greater than themselves. Somehow, along the way we have lost touch to make connections and transform the way we practice our faith that makes sense to the world. The question I want to explore with you this coming Sunday is simple: what does it mean for the church to be moved in the power of the Spirit to be witnesses in our world? It’s really a question of our identity. Who are we called by God to serve? There is an intimate connection between who we are and our calling. God bless, and see you Sunday morning!

Pastor Dae