From Young and Old

January 15, 2008

Dear St. Paul’s Family,
 
There is a quote from the Talmud that says, “Blessed is the generation in which the old listen to the young; and double-blessed is the generation in which the young listen to the old.” Last Sunday, I was blessed to experience both.  
 
Sunday began with 21 seventh and eighth graders in this year’s Confirmation class, as they started on a journey that will conclude this Spring with their profession of faith in Christ and entrance into membership of the church.  This bright, energetic, and earnest group of kids discussed the meaning of baptism and the significance of God’s grace working in their lives.  Their exuberance and potential reminded me of the early days of my faith journey, and the wondrous adventure that followed.
 
Later that afternoon, I conducted a worship service for about twenty older adults in one of our community’s nursing homes.  I shared with them the same message you heard that morning, about the waters of baptism, our being made in the image of God, and the unconditional grace that God shares with all of us. At the end of the service, I walked around with a bowl of baptismal water, and watched as each of them touched the water to remember their baptism.  
 
The journey of faith is a lifelong endeavor.  It begins with a grace that operates even before our acknowledgement or understanding, and works throughout our lives to prepare us for eternity.  Along the way, God blesses us with the example of young and old alike – to remind us of where we have come from, and to inspire us with a vision of what lies ahead.
 
Will you join me in praying for both these young people in Confirmation, as well as these beloved older saints in our community?  
 
THIS SUNDAY – TEMPTATION!

We continue in our series “New Year – New You!” with a sermon called “A New Strength – How Do I Deal With Temptation?”  We will hear Matthew’s version of the story of Jesus’ temptation by the devil, and we will apply its principles to the ongoing battles many of us face.
 
You may feel that you are unique in the private battles that you wage every day, but you are not alone.  Jesus wrestled with them, beginning with his forty days in the wilderness, and even up to the last night of his life, when he was tempted to choose the easier way rather than the way of the cross.  Temptations affect all of us, but we need not be slaves to them.  

As Martin Luther once quipped, “You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them building a nest in your hair.”

Come this Sunday and discover God’s plan for a New You!
 
Grace and Peace,
 
Magrey