Conklin-Broad Avenue-North News

September Newsletter                         

Can you believe the summer is almost over? The high temperatures may remain for a while, but the vacations are ending and school will be resuming very shortly. When I think about all the work and responsibilities and opportunities that are before us as a
church family, I can begin to feel overwhelmed. I’m sure many of you can feel the same thing as you consider your personal lives as well. I was reminded of how deeply independent I can become spiritually in these seasons of hard work and necessary effort when I read this quote recently:

“The Reformer, Martin Luther noted that ‘the sin underneath all our sins is the lie of the serpent that we cannot trust the love and grace of Christ and that we must take matters into our own hands’ and that is why we must constantly teach the Gospel of Grace, repeat it and work it out in our practice daily.” - - gracedagain.com.

During this season of pastoral and church-wide renewal, I have seen a wonderful thing happen. The people of Conklin Presbyterian have risen up to fill the gaps spiritually in places where there was need. Certainly no one particular per son could have done all that is needed in the absence of our Senior Pastor. And I have been thrilled to see how many of you have stepped up to reach out to one another and care for each other during Steve Starzer’s sabbatical. So my prayer is that the Fall of 2009 will bring to us an even deeper sense of this trust in the “love and grace of Christ” that Luther spoke of. May we ever be a growing family of faith that encourages one another in this trust and may our friendships rest in His love.
 

His peace to you all,
Steve Chastain