Hello, Dear Church!

It has been a difficult week for many of us. We mourn collectively the loss of some pillars in our church and community:  Grady Brown, Ralph Morgan, and Diana Jones. Someone told me that in my role as pastor in this community, I will plan ten funerals for every wedding. At first I was disheartened by the notion, but then I remembered that death is not the end for us! A funeral can be considered in the same spirit as a wedding:  the (re)union of the Lover with the Beloved. I celebrate the lives of these individuals and their faith and contributions. Truth be told, we are all pilgrims traveling through this world for a short time, and we were never supposed to stay. This world is a womb in which we grow and develop so that we can be ready for eternal life. Because of our faith in Christ, we will bask in the endless Glory and Love of God, and we can all take heart in that!

There are some other happenings behind the scene including some work with improving communications as well as keeping track of church membership, planning some events for food and fellowship, and considering the upcoming weekly Bible study. As always, if you have any suggestions for us as leaders in the Church, you are welcome to bring them to me at any time. My door is always open for any of you, even if it’s just to chat and tell me your story. I know what some of you are thinking:  “This poor boy just got here and has been thrown into the fire! I can’t bother him now!” I know because many of you have told me so! Nothing could be further from the truth. I am hanging in there just fine, and I am a big boy; my plate isn’t full yet. Call on me whenever you need me, and we will find a moment to spend some time together.

I love each one of you dearly and have enjoyed getting to know you better. I look forward to the future together as our relationship with each other and with God grows even deeper.

With love,

Pastor Zach

(828)-475-9130; zacheibc@gmail.com