Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church,
It is an honor and a blessing for me and my family and I pray for you as well that I have now been duly installed to serve as your pastor, as it is meet, right, and salutary to do. (even if it could only be 6 of us gathered together 6 feet or more apart).
This is truly a strange way to say hello, but it allows me to focus my words to you and to point you to The Only Thing and Only One that matters, Jesus your Lord and Savior.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)
This strange hello is we pray only temporary and we will be allowed soon to gather together again around Word and Sacrament and fellowship with handshakes and hugs. Remember this fallen world is temporary, but the joys in heaven that you and I will receive (not because we deserve them, but because Jesus has assured us IN HIM we will have an eternity in paradise). Those joys in heaven are eternal and our time together in our heavenly home will joyously never end.
We should never be surprised when our imaginary control in this world comes tumbling down but also it should never cause us anxiety because as children of the heavenly Father we are now and always promised ultimately His Kingdom and Joy that will never end.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Even though we cannot meet together in person for now, I will continue to proclaim that same message. Remember that God has called you to stand firm in His Word. Remember, this isn’t your church. This isn’t my church. This is Christ’s church. He is the head of it, He is the Rock, we are merely the caretakers of it for the brief time we have in this world. And as His caretakers we are given the greatest gift of all Salvation, a peace that surpasses all understanding, eternal life in His Glory with all our dear loved brothers and sisters in Christ. And I don’t know about you but I hope and pray that you understand that there is no better THANK-YOU than that. This is where He wants to give you the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation through His unchanging Word and Sacraments, in the midst of a world that’s constantly changing and seemingly out of control. So don’t ever take your focus off of that, His means of grace.
Remember that although we are currently kept apart because of Covid-19 and we cannot gather for handshakes and hugs for now, those of us who believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin, death, and the power of the devil, we are always united together in Christ.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Johnson and Christie
