Grace Remembered and Relived; Entry 16 (see first Entry here.)
3 October
Psalm 94:18-19:
18 As often as I said, 'My foot has slipped, * your love, O Lord, upheld me.
19 When many cares fill my mind, * your consolations cheer my soul.
What balm these words must have been for me in the midst of parish strife! The faithful love of the Lord keeping me from falling, helping me regain my footing. The consolations of the Lord drawing me up from cascading cares, and reminding me of Jesus' clear-eyed declaration to his disciples on the night in which he was betrayed:
"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" [John 16:33b, King James Version].
Today was my 20th Annual Meeting as the Rector of St. Gregory's, and it was one of the best: a good turnout, encouraging reports, and the renewal of our leadership. And the deep joy and glad recognition that the Lord has also upheld this parish, though its foot has slipped from time to time; and that his consolations have more than compensated for the occasions of conflict and distress.
Our Annual Meetings always includes the Rector's "Report on the Spiritual Condition of the Parish." As I have concluded all twenty of my Reports, so I conclude this blog with these words from St. Paul:
"Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
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