Woodsboro Evangelical Lutheran Church
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Further Gods Mission
A Message from Pastor Sean – “Peace! Be Still!”
Matthew 4:35-41
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
“Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” Jesus asks this of his disciples after he was awaken from his rest during a storm while crossing the lake. It may feel as if you are caught in the raging windstorm that we know as the COVID 19 virus as you try to stay calm and navigate your way through the waves of the unknown. But just as Jesus commanded the sea to be still and the wind ceased and all became calm, this too shall pass and once again calm will be restored and our “normalcy” will return, so do not be afraid and have faith in God.
Having faith does not mean however, that there will not be rough waters that will have to be navigated. In fact, we are in the midst of the storm and the waves very likely may get stronger and higher before they subside, but beneath the surface, below the rough waves, the water is calm. Have you ever been in the ocean at the beach and a wave is approaching? If you stand there, the wave will crash over you and send you tumbling topsy turvy as you try to make your way back to the surface and catch your breath. But if, as the wave is approaching, you dive under the wave, you find that the wave washes over top of you and in fact, the water under the wave is calm. As we are all urged (commanded) to practice social distancing and to stay in our homes, I think of that analogy. The COVID 19 virus is like a wave that is crashing over us, but we can dive under that wave by staying in the relative safety and calmness of our homes (I know some of you have children at home so it is not so calm – but you get the idea). It is in the calmness, away from the crashing waves, that Jesus offers us stillness and peace.
I urge you to take some time each day while you are home to engage in a spiritual practice or two that will help to bring you stillness and peace. Turn off the news and read some scripture or inspirational literature, pray, meditate, get outside and enjoy the fresh air, immerse yourself in the beauty of God’s creation, sing, listen to music – do whatever it is that brings you “the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.”
At the conclusion of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus leaves us with these words – “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
May God’s peace and blessings be with you all,
Pastor Sean
About Woodsboro Evangelical Lutheran Church
Our Mission & Vision
Together in Jesus Christ we are freed by grace to live faithfully, witness boldly and serve joyfully.
Vision
A world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ makes for all people and creation.
Values
Our values are grounded in faith, in our biblical and Lutheran confessional sources and our love of God and neighbor. They speak to the way this church lives and practices our faith, and they will guide how we journey forward in Christ as church together.
Forgiveness and reconciliation
We are reconciled to God by God’s forgiving mercy. Forgiveness and reconciliation flow from what God has made us to be in Jesus Christ and what God is doing with us in the world. As a people of God, we embody forgiveness in speech, action and relationships, and our ministry in reconciliation is foundational.
Dignity, compassion and justice
Each person is created in God’s image. We respect this God-given right to dignity and, inspired by the life of Jesus, show love and compassion for all people. Through proclamation of the gospel, through worship and as servants of God working for healing and justice in the world, we uphold and seek to protect the dignity and human rights of all people.
Inclusion and diversity
As Christ’s church, we value the richness of God’s creation and offer a radical welcome to all people, appreciating our common humanity and our differences. We are a church that does not view diversity as a barrier to unity. We recognize and will challenge dynamics of power and privilege that create barriers to participation and equity in this church and society – for women, people of color, minority ethnic groups, people with disabilities, people who are marginalized or living in poverty, and the LGBTQ community.
Courage and openness to change
Because we trust in God’s promise and understand faith to be a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, we are emboldened to embrace learning and change in our spiritual and institutional journey as church. This means we are open to new ways and willing to take risks to discover God’s plan for this church.
Faithful stewardship of God’s creation and gifts
As church together, faithful stewardship is about holding to God’s purpose and ensuring the responsibilities and resources that God has entrusted to us are used with great care and with accountability to God, to each other and those served by this church.
The Power of Prayer
Keep these people in your daily prayers
Carolyn Abrecht, Arvella (Artie) Anders, Kelli Angleberger, Shirley Baker, John Black, Amanda Blank, Jessica Bowers, Juanita Bowers, Mack Burdette, Joan Chesser, Ruby Darner, Sophie Castro-Davis, Peggy Carey, Nancy and Donald Creager, Buck and Bonnie Dixon, Faye Fogle, Stephanie Hammond, Philip Hockman, Bob Hyde, Jana Inskeep, Butch Lewellyn, Robert and Sandy Measell, Kasey Melville, Sue Millione, Millie Miller, Patrick Moseley, Genie Neugebauer, Charlotte Shaffer, Gary Smith, Nancy O. Smith, Mike Stottlemyer, Lincoln Tiemann, Donald Trimmer, Pastor Harry Wolpert, and Tom Yealey
Office Hours
Thursday | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
P. O. Box 27 • 101 S. Main Street • Woodsboro, MD 21798