

The Pastor’s Page™
The Pastor’s Peace™
Inspirational thoughts from Pastor Brian for your reflection and consideration, published monthly during the year, available in our printed Beaver Church Chatter newsletter and on our web site.
2025
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January
It will soon be 2025; that is hard to believe. It seems as if 2024 has just flown by, even though I know that it hasn’t. For me it was a hard year; I lost both of my remaining grandparents and others whom I loved and cared for. I would say that we should hope for a great 2025, and I do hope it is great, but I know there will be some difficulties as well. There are challenges every year, no matter how wonderful it is. This is life as we know it, at least. That said, there were also many joys for me in 2024, for instance— I’m no longer pre-diabetic, yippee! There were some wonderful experiences including getting to go to Hawaii for the first time. I was blessed this year, and I know and pray that 2025 will have joyful experiences as well. This combination of Joys and Concerns, like our prayers on Sunday, represent the duality of life we live every day.
One could look at this and feel disappointment that sorrows are sure to happen, but you could also look at it and feel hope that even though there are challenges, you know there will be celebrations at some point as well. Maybe one could describe this as a glass have empty or half full type of scenario, but with our faith in Christ, this changes in an important way. The disciples had to witness the death of Christ on the cross. For them this was the most difficult thing they would see in their lives. What they did not realize, however, is that it would lead to the resurrection of Christ, and the most amazing moments of their lives. If this act was just the death and resurrection of Christ, then it might just be an extreme example of the seesaw of life that we live, but it was more. Christ defeated death and sin, not just for himself, but for all of us. The life and salvation of Christ is one we share through him. This means that even though we will experience both joy and sorrow in life, the seesaw will eventually stop for eternity on the joy side of things, with a joy so grand we can’t even imagine it. This is the good news.
I don’t know what will happen in 2025, or 2026, or each year after that. I do know that when it is our final year on this earth, we will be with Christ. When the world itself ends, we will still be in God’s glory, and nothing, no event in this coming year or the next, can take that away from us. I pray that all of us have more joys that sorrows in 2025, and that we remember what is truly important and see the blessings God has placed in our lives. In this way may it be a Happy New Year for all of us as we walk this road of life together.
Peace, Blessings, & Happy New Year!
Pastor Brian -
February
Many of you know that the church is still taking care of the giant and beautiful oak tree that fell down by the gazebo. We have given the go ahead to let anyone who wants to, take any amount of it that they want for fire wood or anything else. I think it would be good to point out that I can’t think of a better Valentine’s Day present that a good hefty piece of oak. Perhaps not, unless you valentine is a wood worker, but it was worth a try. Interestingly enough as I write this, someone is already taking part of the tree, thankfully. There is probably enough wood there to heat a home or two for the entire winter. I hope others will take advantage and take some wood for themselves as well, because I like the idea of little-by-little people coming to help in a large project. It shows what can be done when many people come together to work on something.
The church in all of its forms has always been about people coming together. From John baptizing people at the river, to the Sermon on the Mount, people have gathered to experience Christ and the Holy Spirit. Yes, God does talk to us as individuals, but when Jesus started his ministry, the first thing he did was to gather a group of Disciples together. Even the existence of God is in a multitude in the form of the Trinity. We learn in Genesis that it is not good for man to be alone and we know that wherever two or three are gathered in Christ’s name, the Spirit is there also. From this I think it is clear that we are meant to be with others in our life and in our faith.
There are often problems we encounter that seem too big to possibly handle or overcome, kind of like the giant oak tree in the back of the church. Perhaps, however, we were never meant to overcome these things alone. We of course have God with us always, but God has also placed people in our lives to help us and care for us. Big difficulties are not usually taken on all at once, but slowly piece by piece, with others helping us in the process. Every little way in which we help others might not seem very significant at the time, but together it all adds up to the love of God working in the world, which can accomplish great things. Never doubt the calling we have to do God’s work in the world, whether it is simply giving a hug, or taking a few pieces of an oak tree, it all comes together, as we do every Sunday, into something larger than ourselves.
Peace and Blessings,
Pastor Brian -
March
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April
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May
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June
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July
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August
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September
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October
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November
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December
The Pastor's Peace Archive™
Read Pastor Brian's thoughts from past years.
The Pastor's Sermon Archive™
Listen to Pastor Brian’s sermons from past years.
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