April 2024

Dear Members and Friends of St Paul Lutheran, Columbus, Texas;

Ever notice as the Apostle Paul began most of his letters to the Christian churches, the introduction reads, "Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Whether he is encouragingthem in their work to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, or to bring some of their behaviors to the forefront for them to change; he begins with Grace and Peace to you.

Grace is forgiveness, which leads to peace in oneself that then filters into family, work, school and community. It is grace and peace that come to us through God the Father and His son Jesus Christ. As we have now made our journey through Lent, learned a little more about the disciples, faced the reality of Jesus' last days, death and resurrection, we now turn our learning to the season of Easter.

Once Easter and all its celebrations are over, we tend to move on quickly. However, during the season of Easter we reflect on this time when Jesus prepared His disciples for His Ascension and them receiving and using the Holy Spirit. We ourselves are in this period as well to understand we are being prepared for our continuous work that Jesus is calling us to.

What is Jesus preparing you to do? How will Jesus use you to share good news and build up the kingdom of God? As resurrection people of faith, let us remember the grace and peace offered to us by God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Hold onto the knowledge that God is preparing you as Jesus prepared His disciples. They were not perfect, but with grace and peace they were used by God to change the world.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, Grace and Peace be unto you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In His and your service,

Alan