February 24, 2006

Dear family and friends of WCPC:

I played golf yesterday. I’m not very good. Someone told me once that if a pastor was consistently playing good golf he wasn’t being a very good pastor. If that is the case I must be a great pastor, because I am a terrible golfer. At one point I had to play in the rough for the entire hole. The only thing that brought me comfort was seeing a path worn down by other unfortunate golfers. I wasn’t alone in my misery.

I’ve told the story before in my preaching of a couple in my first congregation in Florida . They attended regularly, sat in the back, but never got involved. They never visited a Sunday School class, a small group. They came and went every Sunday and no one noticed them. They had retired to Florida and looked forward to many years together. Then one night the husband had a fatal heart attack. A compassionate nurse at the hospital asked if she could call anyone. The grieving widow asked the nurse to call the church. I got the message and went to be with her. She was all alone.

I grieved with her and for her. There was no one there to share with her in the pain of the loss. As I recall there weren’t many at the funeral. All their friends were back up north. Once again she was alone. I am certain that some members of the Palm Harbor Church reached out to her, but in truth, I don’t remember seeing her again in church. My prayer then was that she found others to share with her in such a great loss. Maybe she returned home. I don’t recall. I just remember so clearly how alone she was.

You aren’t alone. The fact that you are receiving this email devotional means you are either a member of WCPC or have a connection here in some fashion. Please know that whatever you are going through right now, whether it’s emotional, physical or spiritual, there is someone here willing to walk with you. I assure you the path you are walking right now has been walked by others. Maybe it’s an issue at home, with your spouse, your kids. Maybe it’s at work. It doesn’t matter. You and I weren’t meant to live our lives of faith in isolation. You don’t have to.

As a congregation we are growing numerically. I find that exciting, but it’s also challenging. I don’t want anyone to feel left out or left behind. You won’t know everyone who attends here every Sunday. In fact you shouldn’t know everyone who attends here. But you need to know some, certainly a few. That's one of the reasons I continue to hold up to you the importance of being involved in Sunday School, committing to a week day Bible Study, joining a small group or getting involved in one of the musical groups or volunteering to be part of one of our service teams. You need a place where you do know everyone and they know you. Where you can not only find support and strength yourself, but also give support and strength to others.

See you Sunday, if not for your sake, then for the sake of someone else.

David Jones

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Please remember this week our Youth will be leading us in worship. They’ve worked hard and I invite you to be presence, not only to be encouraged, but also to encourage them.

Also, Lent begins this Wednesday. We will hold an Ash Wednesday worship service at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. My meditation is based on John 5 and the question I want to raise is this, “Do you want to get well?”