May 1, 2025

Dear Central Church,

Happy first day of May! If your house is like mine, this month means flowers are popping up in your garden and your refrigerator is filling up with graduation and wedding announcements. This year’s fridge collage hits a little different: one of the graduates is our son! In just a few days, Paul will join with other Central Church seniors and walk across a stage to receive his diploma.

It’s one of those moments that marks a season of transition. Something is coming to a conclusion and a new reality is beginning. We often have these moments that clearly signal a change of seasons: the birth of a child, the completion of a degree, switching jobs, or celebrating our retirement.

There are other moments, however, for which we are much less prepared: a catastrophic storm causes damage to our home, an unexpected loss of employment, an accident, or an unfavorable diagnosis. These are the moments of transition we never saw coming.

The Bible declares that we can go through all of life’s expected and unexpected challenges because GOD IS FOR US! Nothing is a surprise to him and nothing is impossible for him. We have a good future ahead of us!

This Sunday, we’ll honor our graduates and spend some time in prayer for them. Many of them will have a table set up in the lower lobby to showcase their accomplishments and share a little of their life story. I hope you’ll take time to visit with them and wish them well in their new adventure.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we continue this series that invites us to live in the peace and assurance of knowing “God is for us!”

In Resurrection Hope,
Pastor Mark