Pastor's Pen July 2026

Sunday’s sermon began with a conversation about gardens. What is required to have a great garden?

The foundation begins with good soil. The soil must be tilled and fertilized to nurture what will be planted. A selection of healthy seeds or seedlings is then planted in the soil.

Water is essential in the proper amount - not too much, not too little. Regular attention to removing weeds keeps the weeds from choking out the seeds or stealing the nutrients from the growing plants.

Timing is everything as different crops have unique seasons.

Finally, the crop is ready to be harvested.

From this description of an actual garden, we discussed what our Spiritual gardens might look like. The foundation begins with faith.

Faith development is personal. Our experiences till the soil of our beliefs. Our understanding of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is the fertilizer that leads us to a point of commitment. To declare Jesus as Savior and Lord is the beginning of a life long journey of spiritual growth and development.

Bible study provides the seeds for our garden. Prayer is like the water. Too little prayer brings little growth. I’m not sure too much prayer is a thing, unless we become so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good.

God present as the Holy Spirit helps us keep the weeds under control. False teaching, misunderstanding of scripture, and our human desire to be in control are some of the weeds in our spiritual garden.

When we ask the Holy Spirit to help us to know truth, we can trust that truth will be revealed. Just as one plant does not make a garden, we need to be with other Christians to have a healthy garden. We grow better together:  studying scripture, worshiping God together, praying with and for each other, having people who know us well and hold us accountable, and serving others.

Just as each crop has its unique season, each one of us will grow in our faith in our unique season. To love each other is the last element of growth. 

In the next weeks, we will be studying the book of 1 Peter in our Sunday sermons. 

I am thankful to be your pastor as we grow together.

Blessings!

Pastor Teresa