Dear Church Family,
God’s blessings be upon you.
As you read this we are likely at COVID Purple, level 4, ‘Public Emergency: severe exposure and spread, only leave home for supplies and services.”
No one wants to stay at home, shut down a business or not gather together for worship. I would guess many are like myself, tired of all the restrictions and news reports. While praying about all these things this hymn kept coming to mind.
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace;
in ev'ry high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.
His oath, his covenant, his blood support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.
When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found, dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.
This hymn was written in 1834 by Edward Mote, a Baptist pastor. It captures the heart of the gospel; reminding us all that our only real hope is in Jesus.
The second verse seems most fitting for our current situation, “When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace; in ev'ry high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. "
Is Jesus your “anchor”? Jesus came to give all a sense of hope and peace. No matter what unfolds in our world or in our lives, God sent his Son so that we can experience a relationship that will lets us know that God is with us.
We will make it through these difficult times. God tells us to not be afraid. This is the gift we can depend on. In this season God’s peace be with you. For this is the time to grow closer to God as there is nothing in our world that anchors us against the storms of our time.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Mike
