1439 Ridge Road, Hooversville, PA 15936 Phone: 814 479-2204
Pastor's Page
GOD'S WORK. OUR HANDS
This is the theme for ministry in the ELCA this year. And it was the theme for this year's Allegheny Synod Assembly, held at the Blair County Convention Center on June 4-6th. I was intending to use this page as the place to share with you all the words of our Presiding Bishop, Mark Hanson. But then there were also the words of our Bible teacher, Dr. Marty Stevens (Gettysburg Seminary). But then there were also the words of our own synodical bishop, Gregory Pile. And how about all those words spoken by the men and women attending the assembly...voicing their beliefs, hopes, prayers, thoughts, struggles, dreams and challenges?
As I thought back on it all, I realized there were far too many inspiring, challenging, thought-provoking, convicting, joyful, and encouraging words spoken in those three days--not too many overall, just too many for me to summarize them adequately for you on this one page. I do, however, invite and encourage you to ask me about them. I urge you to join the conversation even though you were not physically present. Instead, I'd like us to take this moment to simply ponder the four words at the top of this page, "God's Work. Our Hands." Go ahead. Read them again, "God's Work. Our Hands." Now take a moment and ponder them. What do these four words mean to you as a child of God, baptized in the waters of Christ? What do they mean for us as a body of Christ scattered into the world, empowered by the Holy Spirit dwelling within and among us?
Four simple words and yet they carry so much in them. "God's Work. Our Hands," In these words, I am reminded that even when we want to make this life, and this Church, about ourselves, it's just not the way. It is GOD'S work we are called to, and it is GOD at work through our hands. We are the means through which God has chosen to continue to give life to the dead, to heal the sick, to encourage the despairing, to bring justice to the oppressed, to give sight to the blind, to lift up the poor, and to free the captive. We are the means through which GOD chooses to act in this world today to spread the good news of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Our congregations have a long history of living our these words in Hooversville, on the Ridge and throughout the surrounding communities. But the world around us is changing and the ways that our hands have served may need to do the same. The work remains the same, but the means by which our hands move and serve may look a little different. And that may mean that St. Thomas and Trinity become a little "different". But just because something may be different, that doesn't mean it isn't faithful and good. Different isn't always bad...just different.
"God's Work. Our Hands." We now take up the call. How will we at St. Thomas and Trinity let God use our hands to do His work in this world in which we live today? How will we give our hands for God's work? "God's Work. Our Hands." Ponder them anew and live with hope, people of God. For God Himself is with us.
Pastor Krista
