My Favorite Bible Verse

Filed Under Pastor's Blog by Pastor Meredith

Jonah 2:10, “Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land.”

If I ever write an auto-biography, the title of the book is going to be “Spewed by God: Stories of Faith and Life.” I don’t know about you, but there are plenty of moments in life that I feel like I’ve been spewed up!

Here is a quick recap of the events leading up to Jonah’s spewing: God told Jonah to go to speak to the people of Ninevah. Jonah doesn’t want to do it, so he runs in the opposite direction. He jumps on a boat, gets caught in a terrible storm, is thrown overboard into the sea and gets swallowed by a fish. He sits in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights and then realizes that he has made a mistake by defying God. He prays to God. God listens and then God speaks to the fish and spews Jonah out on dry land. Then, God tries again to send Jonah to Ninevah.

I draw comfort from the biblical characters of old who ran from God’s call. All those ordinary people who messed up and found themeselves in trouble. All those ordinary people to whom God gave second, third, fourth and sometimes even 100th chances. Yes, that’s the kind of God I need!

We rarely get God’s call right the first time and we often times find ourselves in trouble. Yet, God is always there, ready to provide us with a safe place to sit for a while until we are ready to be spewed up and try again. Thanks be to God!

Go in Peace. Serve the Lord.

Filed Under Pastor's Blog by Pastor Meredith

Each Sunday I end worship by saying, “Go in peace. Serve the Lord.” The congregation responds, “Thanks be to God.” Then we shake hands and everyone goes on with their day. Maybe it is out to brunch or home to mow the grass and, if you are anything like me, you do not think about that closing dialogue until the next Sunday when you hear it at the end of the service again.

When we leave worship, though, we are given marching orders. First, to go forth in peace. What does that mean? Well, for starters, probably not to immediately go home and fight with our spouses, kids, parents, or anyone else for that matter. It means living in ways that promote peace in our homes and communities. Advocating for peace instead of violence throughout our world.

Second, we are told to serve the Lord. We are to provide for those in need by offering shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry, medical attention to the sick and love to those who are hurting. We are to do this not just on Sunday, but throughout the week.

This summer St. Paul’s will be holding “Six Sundays of Service in the Summer.” It is a chance for young and old alike to spend an hour after church serving God by serving our neighbors in need. I hope that you will join us as we go in peace and serve the Lord!