Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples…” – Matthew 28:18-19 

This Sunday was not Rebekah’s last as interim pastor at Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church, but (as next week is Memorial Weekend and at least half the congregation will be in the mountains or at the beach) we did have her after-church “thank you” reception and Rebekah packed an extra level of power in her message.

It was a good day.

I will write more about our time at HMPC after next Sunday, but today I want to acknowledge the amazing depth of love and generosity of spirit demonstrated this weekend. The search team that invited Rebekah to Tarboro late November 2023 (Lillie, Debbie, Jim and Jerome) offered kind and encouraging words at the end of worship, as well as presenting Rebekah with a beautiful gift.

Hope & Promise for the Future:

Rebekah’s sermon (I have it cued up if you click on the link) focused on Christ’s Great Commission, and what it is that Jesus instructs us to do as faithful disciples.

It is, essentially, a message about the future of the church. Not just this church but any church. If we follow the directives Jesus gave to his disciples then tomorrow looks very bright because God is an invitational, welcoming, redemptive God and the Gospel is exactly the message of life and promise that this world needs more than ever before.

It is, essentially, a message about the future of the church. Not just this church but any church…

I think the truth of it is held in the art the church gave to Rebekah. The painting represents not just the birth of Jesus, but a Nativity scene in Haiti. Following Jesus is the only answer when it comes to light and goodness and promise and possibility – especially in a nation that knows so much of darkness and disappointment and injustice and despair.

There was a lot more that made this past weekend beautiful and inspirational, but I will leave it here for this particular post; I want to focus on the love that touched us so deeply Sunday morning.

Listen to Rebekah’s teaching from the scriptures. Then ask God to use you – every day – as an invitation into light and goodness and peace and hope. – DEREK