Wales’ Tales

Surprises abound in the plan of the Lord,

You just never know what’s ahead.

It may be a snowfall that no one foresaw.

It may be a feeling of dread.

It could be a flood or an earthquake or storm.

It could be a bright sunny day.

It might be exactly what you had in mind,

What you ask for when you stop to pray.

And when we are caught by those things off and on

That cause us to fret, gripe and moan,

We need to remember that when things occur

In faith, we are never alone.

And if we know that, we also recall

That that nothing is sure in this life.

Each day is a journey, an adventure , a gift

As it were, be it pleasure or strife.

And if we take time to see what is there,

To see what brings beauty and joy,

We just might reflect the blessings of God,

 Our words to praise God would employ.

To put away fear, to take time to see

The doors that spring open each hour,

To learn to respond with a yes and a hope,

And discover God’s mercy and power.

For when we are open to God’s holy plan,

We just might discover our part

In the workings of God for the whole universe

And let them be part of our heart.

For when we’re in tune with the rhythm of God

And allow our anxiety release,

There’s a chance we’ll discover a purpose divine

And rest easy in God’s holy…

                                                                Peace,

                                                                Pastor Alex

Wales' Tales

Once in a while, the world seems to turn

At a pace that is not just the same.

Events will occur that surprise us anew,

As if they were not part of the game.

A plane disappears, just drops out of view,

It seems to fall out of the sky,

And no matter how hard the experts explain,

In truth we have no idea why.

A Vortex comes down from the far away north,

Creating a wintry mix,

with snow, ice and rain, it blasts ‘cross the plain,

and leaves us all in a fix.

A fire destroys a landmark that stood

For years as a gathering place,

And several die in the rubble and smoke,

A horrible loss we must face.

The way of the world is a challenge at best,

A struggle to know day by day,

How to deal with the changes, events as they come

Sometimes only thing is to pray.

We often pretend that we’re still in control

That we know the way things should go,

But when we faced with these trials and fears

We stumble and get up so slow.

Because we are caught in chaotic world,

In a place where the future’s unsure,

We need something more onto which we can hold

That provides us with truth that is pure.

And none can be surer than a cross made of wood,

Of a tomb that is empty at dawn,

Of a voice that can calm us and grant us real hope

In the face of the fears that can spawn

From not being in charge, of requiring our faith

For granting us grace and release,

The power of Jesus, alive evermore,

In the Kingdom of mercy and …

                                                                Peace,

                                                                Pastor Alex

iWitness Good News: Nicodemus

What was the last recommendation you made to a friend? That they just had to read the Divergent trilogy of books? That they just had to see Frozen or 12 Years a Slave? That they just had to hear the Kacey Musgraves or Paul McCartney album? Or did you share the cute YouTube video of the shark cat riding a Roomba?

Read Genesis 12:1-4a and John 3:1-17.

When we recommend a great book or movie to a friend, we are bearing witness – we are testifying from our own experience, we are claiming a power that has to be shared, a truth that we have uncovered. We share our witness because we want our friends to experience those same feelings. We just cannot keep it to ourselves!

Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, testifying to his beliefs about Jesus. As a rich and powerful man though, he was probably hedging his bets – not wanting his eyewitness of the Good News to spread too far. Nicodemus has a face-to-face encounter with Jesus, an encounter that makes him confess his beliefs, ask good questions, and patiently listen for answers – answers that may be clouded in mystery.

Have you had an iWitness experience with Jesus? Have you encountered the wonder working power of God in your life? If so, have you testified – have you borne witness to the saving love of Jesus Christ? These phrases may be less familiar to Presbyterians, but no less important.

When we feed the hungry at Let’s Help, we are sharing our witness. When we invite our friends to Fellowship Friday, we are testifying to the love we experience in community. When we stand up with other Topeka congregations in the name of justice with JUMP, we share our testimony that our God cares about the least of these. When we teach and learn in Sunday School, when we work out with the Heat, when we fold Talking Trinity newsletters – through all of those we are bearing witness to the love of God, the love that gave us God’s only begotten Son, the promises that harken back to the God of Abram.

So come and bear witness to the light, even in the middle of the night. Come and witness the truth of the teachings of our Rabbi Jesus during this Lenten season. Come and witness God at work through us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Come and hear, sing, speak, pray the Good News, so that the entire world might know their salvation is at hand.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Kate

Wales’ Tales

When the pressure grows too strong,

And we want to have it all

That’s the moment in our lives

When we probably will fall

Into the trap of greed and sin,

The devil’s plot for sure,

For which our human struggles

Need what only God can cure.

For when we have to make a choice

‘tween what we want to get

And what we really need for life

Will cause us to regret

That we are prone to choose the wrong,

The things that lead to hell,

And travel farther from God’s will,

Like Adam when he fell.

God only wants the best for us,

The gifts of life and love,

And when we get it right it seems

To fit like hand in glove.

But more the case, we choose the sin,

And disobey God’s call

To then discover we are lost

Our choice has cast a pall

O’er every corner of our life

O’er family, friend and foe

And like dark clouds of storm and gale

‘Twill follow where we go.

For we cannot remove the sin,

Nor make the sin turn right.

Our fate is soon a dismal trek

Into eternal night.

But God has sent the Holy One,

Who did resist the sin,

And by his love and sacrifice

Has help us enter in

The kingdom of God’s gracious light

Where sin God shall release,

To sing our praise and thanks to God,

Rejoicing in God’s…

                                Peace, 

                                Pastor Alex