|
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you,
because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day
until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion
by the day of Jesus Christ. ~ Philippians 1:3-6
Dear Disciples of Christ the Lord,
“PREACH THE WORD AND LOVE THE PEOPLE.” Pastor Bob Mitchell spoke those encouraging words to me shortly after I began serving as your interim pastor last January. His words have guided me. Your warm welcome and kind actions quickly made me feel at home among you. Thank you!
FEBRUARY 5, WILL BE THE FIRST SUNDAY WITH PASTOR BRAD EIDSON leading worship--if all goes according to plan. My last Sunday will be on January 29. I will miss you. Using St. Paul’s words, I will pray with joy for all of you because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day.
ON BEING DIFFERENT—A FEW THOUGHTS: As you know, Pastor Bob and I are different. We were entrusted by God with different gifts. Yet, we both served CTL on a mission to share the good news of our Lord Jesus. Pastor Brad is going to be different from Pastor Bob and from me. Yet, Pastor Brad will arrive on the same mission: Preaching and teaching the Word of our Lord. When you welcome Pastor Brad, Lauren, and Wiliam, please be as kind to them as you have been to me.
ON CHANGE—A FEW THOUGHTS: With all the significant changes CTL endured the last several years, I was urged, “Don’t change things. Lately, we have had too much change.” Now, the time has come to expect change. We all want progress. Progress always involves change. Hopefully, that progress will include welcoming new disciples whom CTL will embrace. Even when meaning well, our efforts will include mistakes. Disciples of Christ forgive each other, then move ahead together. Jesus’ first disciples frequently made mistakes. Jesus used those as ‘teaching moments’. Let’s learn from our mistakes.
ONE MORE--REMEMBER YOUR IDENTITY! You are disciples of Christ the Lord. If it would help you, print these words, and post them where you will often see them: “I am God’s beloved child, called and sent to make a difference in the world.”
IT HAS BEEN A JOY to serve as your Interim Pastor. Thank you for your faithfulness and kindness as ‘Caring People Caring for People." Below are words from St. Paul giving us our ‘marching orders’ as disciples of Christ the Lord.
Grace and peace to you,
Scott Peterson
Interim Pastor
And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more
with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best,
so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless,
having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God. --Philippians 1:9-11
| 
