My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As I am writing this, I have just returned from a short holiday off the coast of Maine. I have been brought to mind of the great importance of rest for the refreshment of our heart and our soul for the busy days ahead. Our bodies need refreshment, or we will otherwise burn out physically. We are required by God to eat well, to sleep well, to exercise well. Without these our bodies will fail and we will be of diminished use to our Lord. This time of rebuilding is vital. But it must not take place solely in a vacation period.
God commanded that there be a day of rest each week, where we can
focus upon Him and refresh ourselves for the coming week our souls need refreshment as
well. We who work hard, and in that list I include those who are ‘retired’, need to take the time to refresh our souls. This is best done by our attendance in church every Sunday. We need the refreshment of the Eucharist, in community, to lift us up for the stress of the week
to come. We also need to spend some time with the Lord in prayer and in listening to His voice (in the Holy Word) on a very regular basis.
I once knew a pastor who often stated that he “would rather burn out than rust out!” The problem was that he sadly burned out, and then, because he had nothing left to give, he rusted out. Our God wants neither for us. He wants us to be well-oiled spiritually and physically so that we may serve Him in joy and peace.
As we begin this new season of the Church year, let us do so with the conscious desire and will to remain refreshed so that we may more effectively serve in His Holy Name.
Blessings to you all.
Your brother and Bishop,
+Hendy Webb
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