Category: News

¹⁶ From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view, we regard him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Corinthians 5:16-21

If you live in Ashtabula County you know all about Interstate 90.  The highway bisects the county almost in the geographical middle of the county.  Depending on which way you are traveling east or west, the highway comes into or leaves the county either around Madison or the Pennsylvania State Line.  I cannot begin to imagine how many people have travelled into and out of our county over the course of a year or even a lifetime, but I personally have driven out of the county to visit loved ones for the holidays and into the county when those vacations are over.

Our journeys of discipleship are very similar to trips made on Interstate 90.  The highway comes into and leaves the county; we are on a similar journey out of the kingdom of sin and death and into the Kingdom of God.  The Greek word Exodus from which the second book of the bible takes the name in a quite literal fashion means the road out, and the word Eisodus quite literally means the road in.  Paul would describe the journey of discipleship as if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.   The old has passed away, the road out, the new has come, the road in.

To take Route 90 out of Ashtabula, or the old creation has passed away, quite simply means that our connection to sin and death has been severed and we are now free or liberated from our sins, our guilt and our connection to the evil powers of this world that cause us so much misery and apathy.  Like Israel in Egypt or Babylon, the taskmasters have been vanquished, and we are free to take the road out of slavery to sin and death and free to take a journey into new and better land.  The moments we crossed the line are forgiven, our moments of falling short of the humanity we were created to be are cancelled, our moments of missing the mark in obedience to the covenant are gone.  These are the old things which have passed away.

To take Route 90 into Ashtabula, or the new creation has come, quite simply means that we now have been baptized into Jesus Christ, and we can be born again and live life anew and afresh in God’s righteousness.  Like Israel in the land of Canaan, we are free to enter the promised land flowing with milk and honey.  But to make the trip in means to live life differently than the lives we lived in Egypt or sin.  To love instead of hate.  To be faithful to God.  To offer kindness to the least and to make things right and just.  Israel was called to be holy or different because they were in Canaan and not Egypt, we are called to be holy or different because we are in God’s creation instead of Sin’s creation. 

Friends, we are on the cusp once again of another season of Lent, a time of introspection, discipline and repentance.  If we are on the road out of sin and death, what do you need to give up this Lenten Season?  Perhaps not Brussel sprouts or chocolate, but pride or hate?   If we are on the road into the Kingdom of God, what do you need to take on this Lenten Season?  Humility, justice or love?  If any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come; let us put aside the old life and through the Spirit of Jesus Christ become the new creation.  Let us take the road out of sin and the road into Christ.  Amen.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not rely on your own insight.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be healing to your flesh
    and refreshment to your bones.  Proverbs 3:5-8

One of the skills I learned in the Boy Scouts growing up was how to use a compass.  During our Jamboree, where all the troops in Cleveland gathered to compete against each other in the various skills we were learning, our leaders set up a compass course.  Throughout a very large area of the forest, our leaders attached markers with a unique hole punch to trees and then gave us the bearings on how to find them with our compass.  We had to run through the forest and find the markers and punch our cards and whoever had the most correct punches received the points.  Sometimes, I remember the event being easier than others, we quickly found the markers and sometimes I remember us having to wander the woods until we found them.  But most of the time, we were able to find our way even if that way was a long and winding road through the pine trees.

In our time together as two churches, we have experienced moments of the last three years where we arrived at the destinations where God wanted us to go, but we have also experienced moments that felt like a long and winding road through the pine trees.  Perhaps we are unsure of what God is calling us to become, or perhaps we have great anxiety about what a merged congregation might look like.  While we certainly have all that, and much more, we do have a compass to point us in the faithful direction and to aid us in our discipleship.  Proverbs states, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Jesus, our Lord knows the path for us to take.  Jesus, our Shepherd protect us from those who prey upon us.  Jesus, our Provider, gives us every Spiritual gift needed for us to follow.  All we can do in those moments of uncertainty and anxiety is to acknowledge Him in every choice and matter, and He will compass us to the faithful end.  He will make straight the discerning choices we as a community of faith must make this year. 

What I think the Author of the Proverbs is showing us is that no matter how much we don’t understand the path or even the destination we really do not rely on our own insight.  While human insight has provided profound discoveries in energy and medicine, that insight still does not compare to the insight of Jesus Christ.  He might just have a more complete and a more faithful insight into what is best for our community.  Can we acknowledge he might just know better?  But the Author is also showing us that no matter how much an uncertain future frightens us, or how much this drastic change worries us, we can still trust in the Lord with all your heart.  I worry and I fear, but Christ is faithful until death and entrusts himself to God.  He just might be a more faithful human being than we could ever be for ourselves.  Can we acknowledge we just might need His help?

Friends, as we face a momentous time of discernment and decision, no doubt we must also face our fears and our anxieties.  But we have been promised the Son and the Spirit, our compass to a faithful life together and our energy to live into that life.  This means that as have our last town hall meetings, and our last conversations, and our last moments as two congregations, we don’t have to be confused, nor afraid.  God has promised direction for our minds and refreshment to our bones.  Faith then it seems, is about acknowledging we don’t know the path or the goal, but we know the compass.  Faith then it would seem is about confessing that we have neither the courage nor the endurance, but we have the Spirit of God.  Our calling seems to be to live these next few weeks and months in discernment, not by fear but by faith, neither by weakness but by the power of God.  Let us follow our compass and we will faithfully reach the finish line, even if we must take the long winding road through the pine trees.  Amen. 

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.  Luke 1:19

¹ Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.  Unless the LORD guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.  Psalm 127:1

¹⁸ Give thanks in all circumstances: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

¹² Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  Philippians 3:12

As I sit here in my office on a gloomy Christmas Eve morning, the bulletins sit ready to be read.  The bells wait on the tables ready to be played.  The candles wait to be lit, and the pews wait to be filled.  The decorations are hung, the sermon has been written, and all things wait in silence for the hum and joy of another Christmas Eve Candlelit service.  Everything for the moment is calm and waiting in expectation.

Perhaps then as I sit and review my to-do list, wondering if I have forgotten any chore and wondering if the sermon needs any more polishing, I can relate to what Mary did that first night of motherhood so long ago, Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.  The Shepherds had left with an out-of-the ordinary story about lights and angels, recognizing this newborn baby as God’s long-awaited Messiah and she stored all these things and turned them over in her heart.  I find myself storing up not just another Christmas Eve but another year and turning over the times and seasons of 2024.

What a year and what times have we had!  We have had new beginnings adding another church to our community of faith, and we have said goodbyes to long-standing pillar members.  We have had to compromise on worship arrangements, and we have added new energy and new excitement to our Outreach partnerships.  We have studied and learned, and at times struggled and wrestled with new problems.  But perhaps the greatest learning of mine is that of a single verse of scripture, for all my work and investing in merging and meshing communities, unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.  Unless God meshes and merges, I work to no effect.  Unless God protects this community, my work is empty.  Unless God gathers and encourages, my words and actions are in vain.

But God has done everything God promised and more.  When we look over everything that has happened, we can see the faithful actions of a faithful God.  God is still working, rescuing and leading his people.  God is still here and still for God’s people.  This is why I sit in the silence of an empty church, storing and pondering another year and like the Apostle, giving thanks in all circumstances: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  I am floored at how 3 groups of people can become knitted together stronger than any quilt.  I am astonished at how differences can be worked out and flabbergasted at how new energy can be released into tired and frustrated hearts.  I am staggered at how God overcomes barrier and roadblock to see God’s will done.  I am stunned, like Mary, at the new things God is doing, and I will never stop giving thanks to God for you and your willingness to try new things.

No sooner than I think of all the good things God has done this last year, I also begin to contemplate the tasks that God has prepared for us this coming year: new mergers and new decisions and new collaborations.  We certainly have come far but still have more journey to make.  Paul is right when he wrote, not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  We are not there yet, but still must press forward as the runner keeps putting one foot in front of the other until Christ returns, and that means a new faithfulness on our part.  God is still faithful to us; will we grow in faithfulness back to God?

In a few hours, we will sing, pray and worship our faithful God who became flesh.  The waiting and expectation will turn into presence and joy.  In a new year, we will face and discern what the will of our faithful God is.  The challenge will be for us is how we meet God who meets us in Jesus of Nazareth?  Thankfulness in all circumstances, pressing forward to meet Christ who made us his?  Courage and collaboration?  Faithfulness and fearlessness?  Hope and Wonder?  Let us make this season, a season of faithfulness for the faithfulness of our God; and then every day of 2025 will be Christmas day.  Alleluia and Amen.