In Praise of the Church Newsletter

“Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.”
Proverbs 25:25

“Here’s the mail / it never fails / it makes me want to wag my tail / when it comes I want to wail / Maaaaaaaaaaaaail!” That song is very popular in our house these days, because our son Carl is a serious “Blue’s Clues” fan. And the mail is indeed something to sing about. Six days a week, barring any major holidays, the postal worker faithfully delivers it to our homes or post office boxes. Although phone calls, texts, instant messages, and emails are very quick and convenient ways for us to communicate, there is something special about getting a piece of tangible mail. We love getting personal mail – invitations, greeting cards, and handwritten notes. Some of the mail we could do without, of course. There are the unsolicited advertisements and catalogs that do nothing but add clutter to our lives. There are the bills that remind us of debts unpaid.

Once a month, members and friends of this church get a very special piece of mail. You’re holding it your hands right now, of course – it’s the church newsletter. The Messenger arrives in your mailbox each month, full of news, thoughts to ponder, and lots of crazy clip art. I hope that when you receive this newsletter, you do not groan audibly as one who receives a jury duty summons or an overdue bill!

Think of this newsletter as “good news from a distant land.” The newsletter is one more way that God calls you away from the all-consuming chaos and noise of your everyday life and invites you into a deeper life of faith. Because it bears the news of God’s church, this newsletter can indeed be like cold water to our weary souls. So when the newsletter arrives, take some time to read it over and “drink up!” Inside its pages, you may be led by the Spirit of God to discover something new. This humble stack of taped-together papers is one more reminder that the God of the universe loves you and is continually drawing near to you, speaking a word of encouragement and hope to you in good times and in bad.

Prayer: Loving God, we thank you for your patience and persistence. Even though we turn from you, you never turn from us. Send your Holy Spirit to us, fill us with a living faith, and keep speaking your word to us in unexpected ways. Amen.

Action: This month, we find ourselves in the season of Lent. It is a season of repentance and turning to the Lord. Resolve to attend one of our weekly Lenten services or attend a Bible study. St. Peter’s Lenten Services are on Wednesdays at 7 pm, and the Community Lenten services are on Thursdays at noon at Trinity UMC. On March 1st, we are also beginning a special Adult Sunday School series on the theme of prayer. In addition, the Men’s Prayer Breakfast and Good Shepherd Circle studies are always open to all. More details are included…in the newsletter.

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