To the Church of God that is in Douglas County:

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from the One who was, the One who is, and the One who is to come! Amen.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, during this season after Pentecost, I am reminded of Peter’s sermon based on the prophecy of Joel, in which he proclaimed, “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17).

We live in a world full of broken dreams, violence, and disappointment: gay marriage, abortion on demand, the breakup of Christian families, and the sins—both public and private—that shame, humiliate us, and destroy our relationships. Many of the people in our community and congregations struggle with chronic pain, loneliness, mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, or some other addiction. In circumstances like these, it is all too easy to give into the temptation of the evil one and resign ourselves to despair.

Yet as the people of God, we still hope and dream, as Peter made clear in his Pentecost sermon. Christ the crucified is risen! He offers eternal life, salvation, freedom, and full forgiveness to all who believe in his name. On the Last Day he will return and make all things new (Revelation 21:5). So as Christians we have a hope that the devil, the world, and our own sinful nature cannot take away from us. Jesus is Lord! And that makes all the difference here in time and there in eternity.

Do not be afraid to pray and hope and dream again! God is faithful and good in all things. He is about to do a new thing in our community. So “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).

“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Amen.

Your dear brother in Christ and fellow worker in the Kingdom,


Pastor Chris Matthis
Epiphany Lutheran Church (LCMS) of Castle Rock

Published: 2016-05-22

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