May
God’s Grace and Peace be unto you …
It’s
January and we are at the beginning of a New Year and a new beginning in the
life of our Church! Over this past Advent Season I have been so graciously
welcomed by the Congregation – with open hearts, open minds, and wide-open
arms.
For
both the congregation and the Minister, beginning a new Call in a new Church is
somewhat like an “arranged marriage.” Before I even landed in Topeka, I prayed
for each of you. I’ve been told you have prayed for me as your new incoming
Pastor. What courage this takes – what
faith! We both have pledged and purposed
to pray for one another, to love one another and to support one another. What
an arrangement, indeed!
What
a gift we have set before us all. It is a blessing beyond measure.
God
has ordained this time, set apart for us, to grow together, learn together and
to bring God’s Blessings to Topeka and beyond.
What
an amazing blessing it is for me personally, and I give thanks – ahead of time
- for such a wonderful congregation as Trinity. We have a long future ahead of
us as we expand our Church into the community of faith that God has intended
for us here at Trinity Presbyterian. The
deep gratitude that I want to impart is said best by the Apostle Paul: “I have heard of your faith in the Lord
Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease
to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.” What a blessing, indeed.
Continuing
on with the theme of new beginnings, my first sermon with you, on December 27, was
on the new beginning as seen through the eyes of a courageous Old Testament
figure: John the Baptist. Let’s take note of his powerful transition of
power as Jesus’ ministry begins, as told in the Gospel of Matthew 3:13-17 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at
the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying,
“I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus
answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill
all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just
as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he
saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from
heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved,[a]
with whom I am well pleased.”
Wow,
what a beginning! John the Baptist stepping forward, fully
expecting to be blessed by the Messiah, and the Messiah requesting to be blessed
by John. What an example of leadership. Here we see a leader who is blessed by
one who is led. Now that is courageous
leadership! John the Baptizer, the
cousin of Jesus, paved the way for Christ.
John prepared the people for Jesus’ ministry with a unique ministry of
his own, courageously calling people to repent and live out what they claimed
to believe.
This, in part, is my vision for Trinity
Presbyterian. That we, together, will
grow in servant leadership. What a
blessing indeed ~ I am excited about the future of our beloved congregation and
its impact for God’s Kingdom in the years to come. Happy New Year, indeed!
Rev.
Kate Huddelson
