Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will
reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We have entered the season of Lent and are on a journey through the places Jesus walked on his way to the cross. Our Wednesday evening services are focused on the “Places of the Passion” as Jesus moved closer and closer to bringing true life to you, to me and to the world! He did not become weary as he was on the way to the cross. In Bethany, anointed with oil, he was not detoured from the way to Jerusalem. On the Mount of Olives, knowing Peter and the others would fall away he did not grow weary as his face was set toward the cross. In the Garden of Gethsemane he did not allow his heavy and weary heart to keep him from following through with the ministry at hand. As Jesus stood in the courtyard of the High Priest or before Pilot himself, he knew what was before him and though his body was weak and beaten down, he continued to do, for the world, that which brings hope for us all.
What if Jesus had grown so weary that he couldn’t do the work that was before him? Can you imagine the heaviness of our sin and failings? Can you imagine a world without hope? Can you imagine or picture a world without the love that has picked you up? I cannot begin, nor want to begin, thinking of that kind of a world.
We have a message of hope filled with love and we are called to make that our life and priority. Paul wrote to the Galatians “to not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” The message is there for us as well. The reset button was pushed over this last year and we are continuing in the ministry before us. The style at Bethel has changed during COVID, but the message is the same. We are ramping up again as we look to not grow weary doing good to reap a harvest.
At the SLT retreat we spent time talking about last year, trying to be honest with ourselves about our congregation’s successes and failings over the last few years and setting goals for this upcoming year. Our special focus was on the need for Christian fellowship and community at Bethel, how to work with the confines that are still with us because of COVID and discussions on building our ministry teams and their direction.
Now will come the time for each of you to be looking for opportunities to serve at Bethel so that a few do not grow weary. The more people we have working together in Christ’s ministry, the easier it will be to do Christ’s work. (Read Jamie Villante’s, your SLT president, article.)
We are adding an in-person Bible Study opportunity beginning March 4th. This Study will be at 1:00 on Thursdays and is for those who are not online OR prefer an in-person option.
In Christ and looking forward to this year,
Pastor Barb
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