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As we move forward now, through these very special months of summer, we find ourselves in the Season of Pentecost, with its emphasis on the ministry of God the Holy Spirit. It is the work of the Spirit to find a home in the heart of every person, and to bring that person into a meaningful relationship with God, through faith in Jesus the Christ, God’s Son, Messiah. As we come through this experience, growing and maturing into the whole and complete person whom God intends for us to be, we find that we desire, and we need, the fellowship of other such believers, and the Spirit brings us all together in the family of faith – the Christian church, the Body of Christ, alive and active in the world today. We affirm our belief and trust in this reality in the words of our creeds: “We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church,” “the communion of saints.”

And in this very special relationship between God and his saints, we find the peace and the security that we crave in our innermost being. A poll was taken some years ago, and the results are still valid today. The question was asked: “If you could choose what you want most in life, what would you ask for?” The most-common response was: “PEACE.”

People want peace in their marriages, in their families and in their workplaces, and especially now – in the midst of war and confrontation, chaos and distrust, and unrest – we look for peace in our country and in our world. Our country has some of the best medical and psychological treatment centers, highest educational institutions and worldwide communication abilities. Yet, with all of these things, most people are without inner peace. The results are obvious – and they are devastating: broken marriages, split families, hatred, rebellion, financial anxiety, and a country unsettled – in chaos and division.

The world offers peace through many forms of escapism: drugs, alcohol, immoral relationships, and constant entertainment. It is sought through forms of pleasure, self-satisfaction, and positive thinking. Many believe that peace is defined by the absence of trouble. They refuse to face the problems in their lives, believing that this is finding peace.

We can choose to have true peace, not from humanity but from God. This peace means to be in harmony with God, to be bound, joined and woven together with God the Father, Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Spirit – our Triune God, the Holy Trinity. It also means to be assured of, confident of, and secure in, the love and care of God. It means to be in Covenant with God. There is a sure trust that God will provide, guide, strengthen, sustain, encourage, deliver, and save, those who seek him with their whole hearts. This peace comes first and foremost from receiving Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, and it also comes from a knowledge of God’s Word.

Most reject God’s peace because they surrender to their own selfishness and their lust for the pleasures of this world. Jesus says: “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you.” (John 14:27) True inner peace is offered to all who know Jesus the Christ, regardless of their circumstances. In these days of uncertainty, and distress, and separation, we all need to receive Jesus into our lives. He is the giver of eternal life, and he is the Prince of Peace! He is our Prince here at Peace Lutheran Church! Correct?

Spiritual health is as important as physical and mental health. It supports emotional balance, strengthens relationships, and can even improve physical outcomes. By nurturing the spirit, we can age with greater resilience, meaning, and vitality. Cultivate spiritual health by: practicing mindfulness or meditation to reduce stress and enhance focus, engaging in prayer or contemplation with God, joining faith or support groups for community and shared values, volunteering or mentoring to foster purpose and connection, spending time in nature or engaging in creative expression for inspiration.
And we see this last talent especially expressed here in our own congregation – creative expression in our printed and online materials, in our decorations in narthex and fellowship hall, and in our publicity items. StefAnie Perkins, our office manager and secretary, in many ways keeps our congregation running. For years now, she is the go-to person and guide for day-to-day life around the church. As one member has put it: “She keeps this place running.” If you have a question, she probably knows the answer; if you have a comment, she listens – confidentially. She exhorts us to take measure of ourselves and to keep our spirits growing. And we deeply appreciate her efforts, and her contributions to our ongoing ministry here at Peace, as well as those of her husband, Blake. And we all love their dog, Loch!

Looking back over our memories of such persons, in other places perhaps where we have lived and worshiped, we recall the important times and the meaningful relationships that have formed us. For myself, the bashful elementary student, singing Jesus Loves Me in Sunday School, growing into a 10-year-old who wanted to be a pastor, and then to a homesick boy in a week at church camp one summer; and that youth growing into a 15-year-old giving his first sermon. Continuing to mature, the high school graduate packs his older cousin’s U.S. Navy seabag and goes off to college and then goes off to seminary, and today he is your pastor. Growth and maturation are really pretty amazing, when you take the time to stop and think about it. Growth is happening all the time. Children grow in the blink of an eye; if they are not, we have them to the doctor in the blink of that same eye. We learn and mature as we get older; we gain wisdom as the years go by. We are meant to grow and change, and the people we were in the past are not who we are today. It is both bittersweet and beautiful; we are always growing, always learning, always changing.

How have you seen growth in your own life? What are the experiences that grew you into who you are today, and who are some of the people who helped you to grow along the way? How has your faith grown or changed over the years, and where have you seen God faithfully at work in you? After all, this is perhaps the best news of all: while we are always changing, God’s faithfulness remains the same, and God’s hand is guiding our growth. Consider these truths as you enjoy the changed pace of these  summer months.

Faithfully yours, Pastor Bartos +

+ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) +