October: Clergy Appreciation Month

  

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14

This scripture is the verse of the day on BibleGateway.com, which I often use to look up Bible verses. The first part is familiar to us as it's similar to the words spoken by our pastors in the prayer before the sermon in worship services.

October is Pastor Appreciation Month and we're asked to take action to let our pastors know how important they are to us. It doesn't have to be much-just telling them we appreciate them can be enough. Any of us who are employed probably wish we were thanked more often for our work. We have the chance to let our pastors know we're grateful for them.

I found a poem by Judy Crowe for pastor appreciation month, and the first and last verses state (with a little editing):

Have you ever walked in our pastors' shoes,

And gone where their feet have trod?

Have you ever thought of what they mean to us,

And on your knees, given thanks to God?

Eastridge is blessed with two pastors who have different gifts to share with us. Let us remember throughout the year to give thanks to God for their service with us.  

(And even though there is no staff appreciation month, let us remember and give thanks for the staff members who support the pastors.)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for sending Melodie and Thomas to serve our church at this place and time. Help us to remember each day that they are here to guide us on our journey. And help us to let them know we are thankful for them. Amen.

Robin Hadfield (reprinted from 2018)

The Lord Will Guide You

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. Isaiah 58:11 

Trust

When the way forward feels uncertain, trust the one who already knows the path. 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Words from Isaiah

Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? Isaiah 40:26 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans for welfare and not for evil to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Plans I have for you – not for evil but to give you a future and a hope. In the last year and one/half I have clung to this promise. A future and a hope. My family and friends have joined in helping me to see that this could be possible.

But then as I read the news, I falter. I talk to my blind friend who is always upbeat but whom I know is slowly running out of funds. I pray for an ill friend and try to ignore the chair that stands by me but remains empty. I wonder, what is the future? What is our hope? Together we must join our hearts in helping to make this happen. 

Leaving church one morning, I looked down to see a small child clutching a blanket square grinning at me. My heart lifted. Later that same day, I was trying my best to make the heavy garbage can roll into the correct position. Suddenly the teenage girl across the street appeared at my side and easily moved the garbage can. At the library, a small boy held the door for me; I said "thank you, sir". He grinned widely and said, “Mama, she called me sir”. 

Where is our God in all of this? It is hard to search for goodness without thinking of God. But there are books in our Bible where all are slain or captured or destroyed.  Can this be what waits for us? What can we do? Open our eyes to see others. Recognize their problems, hold out a hand, band together, try to make life easier for someone. Listen to one another and actually hear one another. Pray together in place. Know in our hearts that God is here. Believe in the plans he has for us. As Pastor Thomas said one Sunday, “See one another with our hearts.” 

Carolyn Olsen

Second Chances, New Beginnings

"He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:10-12

Unlike the way we deal with other people, God does not keep an account of the impolite comments, sins, and transgressions we make. The little lies we pass on, the judgmental opinions we share, and the intentional slights we commit affect our personal relationships, but they are forgiven by God. We are guilty of mentally recording the faults and failings of friends and acquaintances only to revive them later. 

God does not reward or punish us based on the severity or number of sins we have committed. He accepts us where we are and reveals His plan for our lives offering the knowledge that we have a second chance to measure up to His expectations.  For those who fear God’s judgment and recognize His authority, should never worry that God will demand suffering equal to the severity of their failings. The possibility of God’s eye-for-an-eye punishment is so unlikely that David, the author of this passage, compared it to the distance between the earth and the farthest planet and the east to the west.

A “logical” person might ask, “Why doesn’t God deal with us in accordance to the severity of our inequities?” The answer is that He already “wounded” Jesus “for our transgressions” and “crushed” him for our sins (Isaiah 53:5).

Prayer: Lord God, give us the confidence to fear you and appreciate the gift of forgiveness you offer each of us. Help us hold ourselves to the plans you have for our lives. We thank you for the chance to experience a new beginning. With God’s assurance that our sins are not collected into ever-increasing bundles of inequities, help us to dive into God’s plan for our lives. Amen.

Carol McClain (reprinted from 2025) 

Words from Psalm 25

Show me thy ways O Lord, teach me thy paths. Psalm 25:4