Easter Message from Pastor Cindy

Easter Message from
Pastor Cindy

On April Fool’s Day we will shout all together: “He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!” Some people think that only a fool would believe in the resurrection. I believe Christ is Risen because I also believe God created the Universe and all of creation with all its complexity, diversity, rhythm and equilibrium. If our mysterious and powerful God can create the singularity that caused the Big Bang that created the Universe, then God can resurrect Jesus Christ. The Universe within our own individual immune systems is so miraculously intricate, it inspires belief in an awesome Creator and Sustainer. 

The near death experiences that consistently show an ineffable power of love present at the time of death inspires me to believe that the simple message that God is love is true. Despite the random chaos in the world that hits all of us in some way during our lives, God is consistently good and loves us deeper and wider than we can hope for or imagine.

God has created us to help one another when we are hit by chaos, whether it is to support people recovering from fires, provide care when people are ill or dying, or generously give food to the hungry and shelter to the homeless. WE are God’s agents of love to a world in need. God wants us to work towards building the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. But it isn’t complete yet.

We must keep on building and devote energy and resources to God’s purpose for our lives through our church and out into the community. I am so grateful to be your pastor and to be starting my 5^th year here at the PCOR. Your adaptability, caring hearts, inclusivity, willingness to explore new ways of showing hospitality, and your enthusiasm for supporting our Church of the Roses is inspiring to my personal faith! I LOVE being here and feel blessed to have this opportunity to authentically lead, preach, provide pastoral care, and teach the message that God has called me to share here in Santa Rosa.

Easter is the biggest celebration day in the whole church year! We need YOU to participate and attend all the services and activities you can to help us celebrate this Holy Season in a big way. Don’t miss the fabulous choir Cantata on Easter morning, after joining us for the Lenten Wed. night soup and studies, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services. Nothing and no one gives us a more solid foundation for having hope in our lives than Jesus Christ. 

As the hymn goes: “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.” Join us as we celebrate our Solid Rock by making this Lenten season and Easter Sunday the best one ever (second to the first one, of course)!

With Gratitude for God’s Love,  

Pastor Cindy

Springtime is a time for LOVE!

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that God loved us...." 1 John 4:10 

May seems to be a good month to talk about love. There are so many reasons to feel love from God in the Spring. When we look at the blooming roses, feel the heat, smell the Eucalyptus tree leaves and watch the grapes around us grow, spend time with our friends, God’s love is communicated.

         An Upper Room devotional by Dan Johnson, discussed the different definitions of love and how God’s love is distinctive. Johnson said, “Love has been defined in many different ways. One of those ways is that love is something we do. We love. We do. We make a difference. Yet, the apostle John saw it differently. Love, he says, is not primarily something we do but something God does — something God is.

         Our love for others and ourselves is a response to God’s love. We can let go of the notion that love — or anything else — starts with us. It begins with God, who is the alpha and omega, the beginning and end, the first and last.”

         Johnson calls God’s love “great news,” Because: “We can relax, knowing that love doesn’t originate with us, but comes from an endless, abounding, overflowing, and incredible supply. We can draw on God’s love and let it overflow to and through us. God’s love may lead us to some surprising places and circumstances, but God will already be there. God sets an example of sacrificial love for us. Because God’s love is sacrificial, we often need to make some sacrifice to love others well. We love because God first loved us.”

         So in the spirit of God’s love, let’s sacrifice some time and energy to help our church’s mission and activities grow and flourish to show God’s love in our community and beyond. Here are some ways:

1. Attend worship services and show your love of God in worship.     

2. Participate in our garden maintenance and care of the earth.

3. Come to the Boy Scouts BBQ on May 7^th to help our Troop 135.

4. Bring lots of friends and neighbors to our Spring Fling May 21^st.

5. Embrace our new members with your love by getting to know them and invite them to church programs you are a part of.

6. Pray for our church and help it grow by wearing your t-shirt, talking to your friends about coming along with you to worship, and inviting your children and grandchildren to join you on Mother’s day to celebrate your Mom and their Mom.

         God is good all the time and God is love ALL the TIME! I’m sure you can think of even more ways you can show love by loving and giving and caring for your church and our mission in the world. I would LOVE to hear your ideas and plans.