Circuit Rider Letter
April 2011
by Pastor John DiGiamberardino

From the Pastor’s Desk:

I was baptized in the Mantua United Methodist Church as an infant; the hope being that one day I would come to personally see my sin and need for forgiveness found only through Jesus Christ, God’s son. As a young person my parents would drop my brother and I off at Sunday School. I cannot remember a lot about what was taught in Sunday School but what I do remember are the teachers and their genuine love and concern for me.

It was at Delanco Camp between my sixth and seventh grade years that I went to an altar and asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins. When I returned home that summer there was a renewed spirit in me to learn all I could. My attitude about Sunday School had changed and I had a desire to also attend morning worship. At first I noticed in worship that things were very different. In Sunday School there was a lot of interaction and in worship there was a lot of sitting, being quiet and listening. For a 13 year old, with no parents with me in worship, that was tough. I was reprimanded by adults many times for talking during the service. But that did not stop me from going because I enjoyed spending times with my friends. I was growing but very slowly. I thank God for the patience many had with me during those early teen years.

By the time I turned 15 I realized that worship was my natural response to what God had done for me through Jesus Christ. It now was something I wanted to be part of and not just sit through. I learned how to worship. It is not something you watch but something you do and I knew I needed to do it and wanted to do it, I wanted to be there. I truly believe that our natural, first, genuine response to understanding what God has done for us is to worship Him. There is something about publicly coming together with those of like minds and worshiping God. We have been called to praise God and we do that through worshipping Him.

One of the things I appreciate about our church is that we can gather as families to worship. It is great to see such a cross section of ages in our church. God has blessed us with many people who love to serve others. We have wonderful Sunday School teachers here at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. I hope you take some time to thank them for their commitment and love for those they teach.

During the first service many of you enjoy the chance to worship with your children as well as have a few moments to reflect on your own relationship with the Lord. I continue to praise God for Matt Kay. Each week as I listen to the Children’s Message I am encouraged as well on many levels. It is a blessing to see the children listening and learning about Jesus as well as watching the adults doing the same. The children see that they too can worship and they too have a place in the church of Jesus Christ. The adults see that like children we all have room to grow in our understanding of God’s word. I appreciate Matt’s love and care for others.

Worship is not something we simply watch but something we participate in and do. As we move toward Easter, spend some time reflecting on your worship of God, both privately and publicly. Recognize the privilege and opportunity we have in this nation to freely gather and worship. Don’t miss what God has made possible. How does your family publicly and privately worship God on a regular basis?

See You In Worship, 

Pastor John