Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

We continue to experience the topsy-turvy effects of living in a time of a COVID-19 viral pandemic, altering vastly efforts to address educational, economic, familial, and vocational concerns. And if you are a fan, sports as well. Understandings of the virus and its impact upon our lives changes daily. The virus is finding its way into our younger populations, hampering back-to-school considerations. A number of well-conditioned athletes who had tested positive for the virus have developed myocarditis, a potentially life-threatening heart ailment, a factor in shutting down some Division 1 football programs. 

And we continue to ask, What can we expect next? Is all vanity as the writer of Ecclesiates presumes? Are we in an endless spiral of ups and downs, dressed in certainty and uncertainty alike? In Ecclesiastes 1, the writer ponders, "All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is that will be done; there is nothing new under the sun." We cannot be certain what had motivated the writer of Ecclesistes to express himself this way, other than feeling all of life can be subsumed under the umbrella of vanity, with little address to purpose and hope. Have such feelings permeated into our lives in our recent history, even sneaking surreptitiously into our religious berings?

The writer of Ecclesistes has often been referred to as one of wisdom and insight. Yet, at times the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge was experienced as "chasing after wind" (1:17). He came to realize that life is filled with ups and downs, peaks and valleys, pleasures and disappointments; that the past, and even the present, are not clear indicators of what is yet to come. That being said, the writer did provide encouraging counsel to always attempt to discern the ways of the wise versus the ways of the foolish: "Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. The wise have eyes in their head, but fools walk in darkness" (2:13-14). But again, the writer questions his own thoughts when considering that the wise and the foolish may meet the same end. Again, is "all vanity, and a chasing after wind?" Are our efforts but a vexation? (2:23). 

The writer questions, is there wickedness in the place of justice and in the place of righteousness? (3:16). In other words, in a world filled with God's grandeur, why does the world look so broken? Is there a path to understanding that might eclipse the hold of vanity, a vanity void of hope? Is there a future beyond "dust to dust?" (3:20). Yes, there is, from a profession of faith oriented to the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. In Christ, there is purpose and promise; all is not vain. But let us not presume carelessly upon God's grace and mercy, as the writer of Ecclesistes cautions, "With many dreams come vanities and a multitude of words; but fear God" (5:7).

As Christians, we believe in the hope that God reveals to us in and through the risen Jesus, even when the present can be a picture of uncertainty, where truth can sometimes be submerged in a rhetoric designed to confuse and disavow. The writer of Ecclesiastes again cautions, "The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools" (9:17). He concludes, "Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgments, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" (12:13-14).

God's blessings and peace be with you! Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

We continue to experience the topsy-turvy effects of living in a time of a COVID-19 viral pandemic, altering vastly efforts to address educational, economic, familial, and vocational concerns. And if you are a fan, sports as well. Understandings of the virus and its impact upon our lives changes daily. The virus is finding its way into our younger populations, hampering back-to-school considerations. A number of well-conditioned athletes who had tested positive for the virus have developed myocarditis, a potentially life-threatening heart ailment, a factor in shutting down some Division 1 football programs. 

And we continue to ask, What can we expect next? Is all vanity as the writer of Ecclesiates presumes? Are we in an endless spiral of ups and downs, dressed in certainty and uncertainty alike? In Ecclesiastes 1, the writer ponders, "All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is that will be done; there is nothing new under the sun." We cannot be certain what had motivated the writer of Ecclesistes to express himself this way, other than feeling all of life can be subsumed under the umbrella of vanity, with little address to purpose and hope. Have such feelings permeated into our lives in our recent history, even sneaking surreptitiously into our religious berings?

The writer of Ecclesistes has often been referred to as one of wisdom and insight. Yet, at times the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge was experienced as "chasing after wind" (1:17). He came to realize that life is filled with ups and downs, peaks and valleys, pleasures and disappointments; that the past, and even the present, are not clear indicators of what is yet to come. That being said, the writer did provide encouraging counsel to always attempt to discern the ways of the wise versus the ways of the foolish: "Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. The wise have eyes in their head, but fools walk in darkness" (2:13-14). But again, the writer questions his own thoughts when considering that the wise and the foolish may meet the same end. Again, is "all vanity, and a chasing after wind?" Are our efforts but a vexation? (2:23). 

The writer questions, is there wickedness in the place of justice and in the place of righteousness? (3:16). In other words, in a world filled with God's grandeur, why does the world look so broken? Is there a path to understanding that might eclipse the hold of vanity, a vanity void of hope? Is there a future beyond "dust to dust?" (3:20). Yes, there is, from a profession of faith oriented to the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. In Christ, there is purpose and promise; all is not vain. But let us not presume carelessly upon God's grace and mercy, as the writer of Ecclesistes cautions, "With many dreams come vanities and a multitude of words; but fear God" (5:7).

As Christians, we believe in the hope that God reveals to us in and through the risen Jesus, even when the present can be a picture of uncertainty, where truth can sometimes be submerged in a rhetoric designed to confuse and disavow. The writer of Ecclesiastes again cautions, "The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools" (9:17). He concludes, "Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgments, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" (12:13-14).

God's blessings and peace be with you! Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

We continue to experience the topsy-turvy effects of living in a time of a COVID-19 viral pandemic, altering vastly efforts to address educational, economic, familial, and vocational concerns. And if you are a fan, sports as well. Understandings of the virus and its impact upon our lives changes daily. The virus is finding its way into our younger populations, hampering back-to-school considerations. A number of well-conditioned athletes who had tested positive for the virus have developed myocarditis, a potentially life-threatening heart ailment, a factor in shutting down some Division 1 football programs. 

And we continue to ask, What can we expect next? Is all vanity as the writer of Ecclesiates presumes? Are we in an endless spiral of ups and downs, dressed in certainty and uncertainty alike? In Ecclesiastes 1, the writer ponders, "All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is that will be done; there is nothing new under the sun." We cannot be certain what had motivated the writer of Ecclesistes to express himself this way, other than feeling all of life can be subsumed under the umbrella of vanity, with little address to purpose and hope. Have such feelings permeated into our lives in our recent history, even sneaking surreptitiously into our religious berings?

The writer of Ecclesistes has often been referred to as one of wisdom and insight. Yet, at times the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge was experienced as "chasing after wind" (1:17). He came to realize that life is filled with ups and downs, peaks and valleys, pleasures and disappointments; that the past, and even the present, are not clear indicators of what is yet to come. That being said, the writer did provide encouraging counsel to always attempt to discern the ways of the wise versus the ways of the foolish: "Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. The wise have eyes in their head, but fools walk in darkness" (2:13-14). But again, the writer questions his own thoughts when considering that the wise and the foolish may meet the same end. Again, is "all vanity, and a chasing after wind?" Are our efforts but a vexation? (2:23). 

The writer questions, is there wickedness in the place of justice and in the place of righteousness? (3:16). In other words, in a world filled with God's grandeur, why does the world look so broken? Is there a path to understanding that might eclipse the hold of vanity, a vanity void of hope? Is there a future beyond "dust to dust?" (3:20). Yes, there is, from a profession of faith oriented to the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. In Christ, there is purpose and promise; all is not vain. But let us not presume carelessly upon God's grace and mercy, as the writer of Ecclesistes cautions, "With many dreams come vanities and a multitude of words; but fear God" (5:7).

As Christians, we believe in the hope that God reveals to us in and through the risen Jesus, even when the present can be a picture of uncertainty, where truth can sometimes be submerged in a rhetoric designed to confuse and disavow. The writer of Ecclesiastes again cautions, "The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools" (9:17). He concludes, "Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgments, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" (12:13-14).

God's blessings and peace be with you! Pastor John

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

We continue to experience the topsy-turvy effects of living in a time of a COVID-19 viral pandemic, altering vastly efforts to address educational, economic, familial, and vocational concerns. And if you are a fan, sports as well. Understandings of the virus and its impact upon our lives changes daily. The virus is finding its way into our younger populations, hampering back-to-school considerations. A number of well-conditioned athletes who had tested positive for the virus have developed myocarditis, a potentially life-threatening heart ailment, a factor in shutting down some Division 1 football programs. 

And we continue to ask, What can we expect next? Is all vanity as the writer of Ecclesiates presumes? Are we in an endless spiral of ups and downs, dressed in certainty and uncertainty alike? In Ecclesiastes 1, the writer ponders, "All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is that will be done; there is nothing new under the sun." We cannot be certain what had motivated the writer of Ecclesistes to express himself this way, other than feeling all of life can be subsumed under the umbrella of vanity, with little address to purpose and hope. Have such feelings permeated into our lives in our recent history, even sneaking surreptitiously into our religious berings?

The writer of Ecclesistes has often been referred to as one of wisdom and insight. Yet, at times the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge was experienced as "chasing after wind" (1:17). He came to realize that life is filled with ups and downs, peaks and valleys, pleasures and disappointments; that the past, and even the present, are not clear indicators of what is yet to come. That being said, the writer did provide encouraging counsel to always attempt to discern the ways of the wise versus the ways of the foolish: "Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. The wise have eyes in their head, but fools walk in darkness" (2:13-14). But again, the writer questions his own thoughts when considering that the wise and the foolish may meet the same end. Again, is "all vanity, and a chasing after wind?" Are our efforts but a vexation? (2:23). 

The writer questions, is there wickedness in the place of justice and in the place of righteousness? (3:16). In other words, in a world filled with God's grandeur, why does the world look so broken? Is there a path to understanding that might eclipse the hold of vanity, a vanity void of hope? Is there a future beyond "dust to dust?" (3:20). Yes, there is, from a profession of faith oriented to the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. In Christ, there is purpose and promise; all is not vain. But let us not presume carelessly upon God's grace and mercy, as the writer of Ecclesistes cautions, "With many dreams come vanities and a multitude of words; but fear God" (5:7).

As Christians, we believe in the hope that God reveals to us in and through the risen Jesus, even when the present can be a picture of uncertainty, where truth can sometimes be submerged in a rhetoric designed to confuse and disavow. The writer of Ecclesiastes again cautions, "The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools" (9:17). He concludes, "Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgments, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" (12:13-14).

God's blessings and peace be with you! Pastor John