This month I would like to remind you of the letter Paul wrote to the church in Rome. This was not a church that Paul founded or even knew any of the members. He wrote to them as a means of offering hope. Something we could all use right about now.

Paul was seeking support for his missionary trip to Spain and wanted to encourage his Roman brethren to be faithful. Writing about 57-58 AD he includes this phrase, which will be our discussion today: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 5:1-5a) It is this litany: suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, character produces hope and hope does not produce shame.

Encouragement and support. It also works in reverse: the lack of shame allows hope to abound, that hope builds character and a strong character supports perseverance. And that perseverance endures through all suffering!

Paul may have not been an original Apostle, but his understanding of faith and hope far outweighed his shortcomings. Were he alive today, his ministry would be honored and talked about on every commercial and social media. How we could benefit from Paul’s wisdom now!

With our current situation, officials trying to define precisely what and how to worship, the basic principal of our founding fathers vision is largely ignored. The freedom to worship what we want, when we want, and in whatever manner we want is at risk. We are the “people.” We are the ideal social, political and religious body that was envisioned 250 years ago. I pray we don’t lose our way.

On a lighter note, I just returned from our United Methodist Annual Conference. Three days of gathering, worship, fellowship and taking care of Denominational business. It is always a fun time to see old friends, make new acquaintances, and be in an environment of agape’ love.

I have been a pulpit minister some 23 years and this year I entered retirement status along with 19 of my colleagues.

Churches have been on the decline for many years and the COVID lockdown did not help. Many churches closed, some left to become independent or merge into new alliances. Here in West Virginia, the United Methodist Conference is down to 650+ churches. Our congregations as well as our ministers are aging. Some are ageing well, others not so much. We continue to worship in the Wesleyan tradition, continue to offer an open communion table and welcome any and every one to our worship services with no restrictions.

If you are seeking a place to worship, come, join us some Sunday. Or find a church near you and express your right to worship. If you suffer, remember Paul’s letter of hope and support.

On the journey with you.