Pastor's DeskPastor Marlene Ciranowicz
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Hope Is Coming!
May/Jun 2021
I stand amazed at what God has done for our church in spite of everything. Truly, He has shown the truth of Romans 8: 31, “What, then, shall we say in response to this (the pandemic, social unrest, injustice?), If God is for us, who can be against us?” We have been so blessed despite all that is going on around us.
I was listening to a sermon on the radio this past week in which the young pastor preaching confessed how down he had gotten over the pandemic and other things going on in our world. The more he thought about these things, the more depressed he got. He decided it had to stop! So what did he do? He made a conscious effort to think of positive things that had come about because, for example, the pandemic. His first thought? He has saved a lot of money because his wife could not shop as she once did! Ha!Ha! I am sure there are a lot of men out there who could identify with that.
As much as we might chuckle about that, there is so much truth in what he is saying. No matter what, there is always something to be thankful for! Do you know what I am thankful for? YOU! I started my 15th year here at Memorial Park since the last newsletter was published. Like many milestones in life, we have a tendency to look back and re- evaluate things, don’t we? I thought a lot about the past but especially about this past year.
This past year has been very hard on the church. Despite our best efforts to make the church safe, many people have stopped coming and we find ourselves wondering what is going to happen to us. We are not alone. The churches all across our nation are facing the same thing. But if we count our blessings instead of wringing our hands, we already know what’s coming…good things! You will read elsewhere in the newsletter the exciting things that are beginning to happen so YES we are still alive! Praise God! I will give you just one example. I am simply overwhelmed with the generosity of everyone who supported our roof fund. In the worst year ever, we were able to raise $25,000 to replace the roof over the sanctuary. With the cost of materials going up because of the pandemic we held our breath when the revised quote came in. It was only $1000 more, not 5000 or 6000 we thought it might be based upon what we had heard about supply shortages. I am excited to tell you the new roof will be put on either 3 June or July AND we did not need to borrow the money…thanks to YOU! And what more does this tell me? It tells me the impossible became possible because God still has work for this church to do.
As we begin to enjoy the warm weather, may we take time to thank God for bringing us through a difficult winter. As we begin to rebuild the church, may we be thankful God has been and will continue to be there to help us! Let us be glad and rejoice. This is the day the Lord has made!
Blessings,
Blessings, Pastor Marlene
I stand amazed at what God has done for our church in spite of everything. Truly, He has shown the truth of Romans 8: 31, “What, then, shall we say in response to this (the pandemic, social unrest, injustice?), If God is for us, who can be against us?” We have been so blessed despite all that is going on around us.
I was listening to a sermon on the radio this past week in which the young pastor preaching confessed how down he had gotten over the pandemic and other things going on in our world. The more he thought about these things, the more depressed he got. He decided it had to stop! So what did he do? He made a conscious effort to think of positive things that had come about because, for example, the pandemic. His first thought? He has saved a lot of money because his wife could not shop as she once did! Ha!Ha! I am sure there are a lot of men out there who could identify with that.
As much as we might chuckle about that, there is so much truth in what he is saying. No matter what, there is always something to be thankful for! Do you know what I am thankful for? YOU! I started my 15th year here at Memorial Park since the last newsletter was published. Like many milestones in life, we have a tendency to look back and re- evaluate things, don’t we? I thought a lot about the past but especially about this past year.
This past year has been very hard on the church. Despite our best efforts to make the church safe, many people have stopped coming and we find ourselves wondering what is going to happen to us. We are not alone. The churches all across our nation are facing the same thing. But if we count our blessings instead of wringing our hands, we already know what’s coming…good things! You will read elsewhere in the newsletter the exciting things that are beginning to happen so YES we are still alive! Praise God! I will give you just one example. I am simply overwhelmed with the generosity of everyone who supported our roof fund. In the worst year ever, we were able to raise $25,000 to replace the roof over the sanctuary. With the cost of materials going up because of the pandemic we held our breath when the revised quote came in. It was only $1000 more, not 5000 or 6000 we thought it might be based upon what we had heard about supply shortages. I am excited to tell you the new roof will be put on either 3 June or July AND we did not need to borrow the money…thanks to YOU! And what more does this tell me? It tells me the impossible became possible because God still has work for this church to do.
As we begin to enjoy the warm weather, may we take time to thank God for bringing us through a difficult winter. As we begin to rebuild the church, may we be thankful God has been and will continue to be there to help us! Let us be glad and rejoice. This is the day the Lord has made!
Blessings,
Blessings, Pastor Marlene