Dear Rose Park,
You may have already noticed, but just in case you haven’t, there is new lighting throughout portions of the church. Due to a grant from Consumers Energy, we were able to receive free LED lighting throughout our building. These new lights will go up in stages and not only do they reduce our energy bill but they also brighten up our rooms and entryways. This is all to say, if you get a chance make sure to say ‘thank you’ not only to Hank Sybesma who made us aware of this grant but also to Rog Wolters, Jim Boeve, Jack Hartman, Art DeRoo, and Charlie Duistermars who helped install these new lights.
Lighting is a big deal. Ask any stage performer, photographer, or high school senior looking to do portraits. Lighting in film or television adds an extra layer to the story, scene or environment. Lighting can expose something hidden but it can also add shadows to a character making him or her scene menacing, mysterious, or cloaked. Lighting can change the tone of a moment or even direct our eyes to certain people, places, or things.
In the longest Psalm in the entire bible, Psalm 119, we hear these words: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. The word written, the bible, and the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, are lamps unto our feet and lights unto our paths. They illuminate dark places, bring truth where there is confusion and hope where there is despair. We see this theme throughout scripture, but for some reason we too often treat this beacon of light like a dim flame. Instead of turning towards God’s Word to uncover truth and wisdom, we turn to the newest trend, the loudest newscaster on our preferred channel, or even our own gut feeling.
How might our relationships, work, habits, choices, stresses and joys be impacted if we reoriented our lives around the lamp of God? Each and every Sunday we begin worship by lighting the Christ-candle; perhaps this coming Sunday as the light of Christ welcomes us your eyes will be drawn and reoriented around the person of Jesus.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark