Thank You all so much! The Anniversary Celebration on August 1st was such a blessing to me and all my family. Your kindness, love, and thoughtfulness warmed my heart. (Some of those warm feelings may have been the work of the delicious food from our first potluck meal in a long, long time! So great!) I thank God for all of you and I thank you. I smile when I see the pictures of the day and the sweet necklace given to Krysia. The trumpet is amazing and I’m so thrilled to put it to work in praising God right away during hymns at Zion and in this week’s evangelism performances of Mariachi San Pablo in South Dakota.
One of the first songs Pastor Jose Ruiz taught me after he was ordained and I asked about important hymns of Mexico is the song, “Cien Ovejas” (One Hundred Sheep). It tells the story of the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine in the sheepfold when He discovers one of his sheep is missing He goes out searching for the one who is lost and in danger. The song, as Ruiz arranged it, ends with a back and forth echo between the singer and speaking of the shepherd and the trumpet responding as a grateful, rescued sheep, echoing the tune of the shepherd’s love. “La tomó en sus brazos” (He took her [the sheep] in His arms) [trumpet echo] “Curó sus heridas” (healed her wounds) [trumpet echo] “y al redil volvió” (and returned [with her] to the fold).
We are all His beloved, rescued and redeemed, brought together by our Savior to share life eternal in His grace. What a joy to be carried by Him, be healed by Him, and echo His love for us by loving each other! Thank you for your love. I pray you and all of God’s people will continue to find healing and inspiration in our worship and service gatherings and that more and more of God’s beloved who are lost will be wrapped up in Christ’s loving arms as we echo His Gospel words where and when they can hear them.
In Christ’s peace,
Pastor Stephen
