A Word From the Pastor (May 2009)

Dear Friends in Christ,

In the midst of our earthly troubles and struggles, sometimes it's helpful to get a little perspective, to reflect on things precious and eternal. In many of his parables, Jesus tries to evoke the wonder, the miracle, the goodness of the kingdom of heaven. He speaks of the kingdom of heaven in terms of a teeny, tiny seed that grows and grows, maturing into the greatest of trees, becoming a place of welcome and respite for earth's creatures. He uses the metaphor of leaven in a loaf, yeast that makes life-giving dough expand and grow to give nourishment to the human family. He speaks of the kingdom of heaven as a treasure that is worth selling all our possessions to gain, a treasure more valuable than the finest pearl. Jesus depicts the kingdom of heaven as a realm of sorting, where the good is retrieved and embraced while the bad, the evil, is cast out. The kingdom of heaven that Jesus describes is a realm of growth and life, of beauty and goodness. Surely Jesus wants his disciples to see the kingdom of heaven as a wonderful thing, a precious thing, their most valuable treasure.

The kingdom of heaven is a marvel. It is amazing that from Jesus' small band of followers should grow a people of faith that circles the globe, a people of faith who have undeniably transformed the world in which we live. It is a marvel that the dream, the hope, of the kingdom of heaven has sustained Christian people in the face of severe persecution throughout the ages. Even today, it is illegal in certain countries to share the good news of Jesus Christ, to declare that God's kingdom is at hand; yet even today, there are people who so treasure that good news that they will not be silent. They are willing to risk everything, even their lives, for the sake of Jesus Christ. It is a wonder that you and I are bound in the Christian family, not only to the members of this local church, not just to members of the greater United Methodist Church, but to all Christians across the globe. We are bound together in one family with believers of every land and time, culture and ethnic group, even to that great communion of saints who have gone before us into eternal life. The promise of the kingdom of heaven gives us a marvelous hope that someday there will be a sorting, a cleansing, and evil will be banished, and only the good, the right, the loving, the grace-filled will endure. The kingdom of heaven is a wonder, a marvel, a precious gift.

In the midst of life's ups and downs, you and I are challenged to hold fast to the promise of the kingdom of heaven, for no earthly loss can diminish it, and no worldly gain can compare with it. We have reason to be hopeful, to be joyful, for despite the ebbs and flows of earthly fortunes, the kingdom of heaven endures forever. The kingdom of heaven is God's priceless and eternal gift to you and me.

May the blessings of the Risen Lord be upon you in this Easter season and always.

Rev. Peggy Ann Sauerhoff