Grace and Peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!
Last Sunday I had the opportunity to preach on the first chapter of Mark at First Presbyterian Church of Troy (MI). Only two verses in, the Evangelist is already quoting from Isaiah:
See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord!”
Mark breathlessly links this quote to John the Baptist, who comes on the scene immediately afterwards in camel’s hair eating locusts and wild honey.
Fashion and diet trends have thankfully changed in the last 2000 years, but at our best, we prepare the way of the Lord like John. We are God’s messengers, proclaiming peace, justice, hope, and salvation. Like the Isenheim Altarpiece (pictured at left), we follow John by pointing others to Jesus, the giver of abundant and eternal life. I am grateful for how you live out your faith in him, and join his mission to the world.
In this newsletter, you’ll see that the Synod wants to give your congregation or PC(USA) institution grants to strengthen your ministry, and you’ll have a chance to read a state-of-the Synod report from the Lombard-Mennonite Peace Center. Don’t miss an excellent presentation on COVID-19 and the church by immunologist and Cincinnati Presbytery Exec Lisa Allgood, and watch the first of the many “Get to Know The Presbyteries” videos, this time on Mackinac and Eastminster presbyteries.
God bless you as you serve and lead! Please don’t hesitate to contact me for any reason.
Your partner in ministry,
Rev. Charles B Hardwick, PhD
Interim Executive
309-530-4578
synod.covenant@gmail.com