Dear Friends in Christ,

     We've heard all those stories, yet each time we hear them again, we notice something we've not noticed before. When I read those stories of Jesus relating to the sick and outcast, the weak and desperate of his day, I often catch a glimpse of something I've not seen before. Every new reading of the Bible offers each of us the possibility of that same surprising new insight when we spend time with the Word. Can you imagine what a wondrous new beginning the lepers had when Jesus cured them with a touch? Their lives of suffering, alienation, and despair had come to an end and a new life had started for them because of Jesus. Imagine the burden that was lifted and the guilt and shame that ended in a person's heart who had just been forgiven his or her sins by the miracle worker of Galilee? A fresh new start had been given by the Lord. Endings and new beginnings are the stuff and substance of life.

     Sometimes new beginnings are hard to embrace, for even such things as the loss of a loved one or a critical illness frame the course of our lives with endings and new beginnings. The enjoyment of good health that has been ours for years, or a relationship that has defined who we are comes to an end, and we face illness and a death and feel overwhelmed by these endings and the new challenges they create for us. The Scriptures say this about God in Christ: "I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end." Not only does this mean that God is there at the beginning of all that is, and will be there at the end of all things, it means also that He inhabits our endings and new beginnings as well. For those who are critically ill, and for those who have lost a loved one, God is there in the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit. And that same Holy Spirit who goes with us through our trials and difficulties is the same Holy Spirit who brings us our new beginnings.

     As a church, we also experience endings and new beginnings. I'm excited about our new Episcopal Leader, Bishop Larry Goodpaster (don't you just love that name?). Newly assigned to our Conference, he is a man of deep personal faith and conviction, who prays "in the strong name of our risen Lord," and who feels it profoundly important to celebrate and build upon our Biblical and Wesleyan foundations. He has previously served as the Bishop for the Alabama-West Florida Conference, and he and his lovely wife Deborah will come to our Conference in September. Pray for Bishop Goodpaster as he comes to lead us.

     Another exciting new beginning is our inclusion in the newly formed Lake Norman District. One of the fastest growing areas in North Carolina, the Lake Norman District will be led by the Rev. Dr. Lillie Jones, our new District Superintendent. Pray for her as she embraces the new challenges before her.

     In all of these things we acknowledge that nothing stays the same in life. It is full of endings and new beginnings and every new beginning gives us an opportunity to see something of God's love and Presence that we've perhaps not experienced before. May God bless us all as we move forward together in this, the start of Linda's and my third year among you.

Yours in the Service of Christ and the Church

Bob

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