Welcome,
Pastor Julio C. Peña's April 2024 Message
“SHARING LOVE TO ALL"
Pastor Julio
As we have completed one of my favorite seasons, Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday, in which we had children and youth participate in the service. As we did some changes this year with Holy Monday, Holy Testimony Tuesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and yes Easter with bringing back Easter Breakfast and Easter egg hunt and with a wonderful worship service where love was spread out with everyone as we celebrate the victory of Jesus Christ. As we are reminded that Christ has Risen! Christ has Risen Again! In Jesus Christ action, he shared his love for all of us.
As I ponder on this thought sharing love to all; there are two scriptures that come to mine for me, there might be others for you, but here are my two from the NRSV: John 15: 1 – 17 titled; “Jesus the True Vine” and Galatians 5: 22 – 26 titled; “The Fruit of the Spirit.”
We as Christian need to continue this sharing of love to others, and we need to begin with ourselves. Are we taking care of our physical body, our mind, our soul, and our spirit? If we don’t do the basic things for ourselves, we can’t share “agape” love to others.
Let me be more specific: are we eating right, sleeping well, taking the necessary medications, vitamins, are we exercising well, are we taking rest time, are we getting help if needed, are we doing at least yearly checkups, having fun, laughing, learning, meditating, praying, fellowshipping, worshipping, reading the Bible, etc. If we are doing those things for ourselves, we can be there for others.
Are we loving others in our congregation, are we supporting one another through prayer, fellowship, support when needed, not judging or gossiping of others, are we respecting each other views with love and respect? Are we encouraging?
Now is the time to back up what we say, we are as a church to the community, the city and even to the world. Are we allies to the LGBTQIA+ community, to the Mental Health Community, the NA / AA recovery community? Do we welcome them into our congregation to worship, to serve, to seek peace, to be, to leadership & fellowship? Are we willing to have tough conversation on issues such as “Systemic Racism,” “Immigration,” “Violence,” and there are more with each other and others.
For us to truly be in the “Fruit of the Spirit” and to be within the true vine of Jesus then we need to be truthful to ourselves with those questions and act in a way in which we are sharing the love to all. May the Lord guide us all & bless us as we move forward in who we truly are at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church.