Bishop's Message February 14, 2007

There are Three Things That Last:  Faith,  Hope and Love; and the Greatest of These is Love

A number of positive changes have been made during the past two years, and whatever has been achieved during the last two years in this diocese have been the results of team ministry. We were able to work together amidst our differences. More importantly we were able to experience and share God’s love, not only with each other, but also with those across our borders.

To sit around the table to find a solution or to plan an activity takes time, patience, vision, but most of all it takes love. There have been scores of times when we did this, felt the presence of God, and experienced amazing results, some of which I would even go as far as calling them miracles.

Because of that love we were able to respect and to listen to each other. Not only was our ministry more effective, but we also found healing within and among ourselves. We still have our differences, but we are able to put that aside and become flexible while we focused on the diocesan goals and seeking the will of God.

Though we can be proud of what we have achieved, we need to remember Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (13:1-13) in which he says that it is good to have all the gifts, but we should seek higher gifts and even further, to seek love, the love that comes from God to us in Jesus Christ. At this juncture of our history we must open ourselves to that love and allow God’s love to be active in us as we continue our journey.

Our journey has always been filled with challenges, and there are yet more to come. We will certainly be in need of persons with gifts, but those gifts will need to be put into practice with love, that special love that comes from God. We have witnessed how so many brothers and sisters gave of themselves, out of love, to the ministry that was needed in this diocese.

I want to thank those persons who walked the extra mile serving on different committees, those persons who gave generously of their treasures to help those in need, those persons who shared their talents when we most needed them, and also those persons who held us up in their prayers.

Paul ends chapter thirteen with these words: “In short, there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.” These words ring out loud and clear for us today as we continue our service to Him, in Him and for Him.