My first month at Reformation has been an exciting time.
I have been overwhelmed by the gracious hospitality which has been extended to me and my wife Karen as we have been welcomed into the community of Reformation Church. Thank you for your kind and generous welcome.
My first days at Reformation coincided with Vacation Bible School – that was a great introduction to an exciting ministry! I enjoyed meeting the children, their parents, and the dedicated and faithful VBS staff.
I was introduced to the Elwyn ministry by our very talented and capable pastoral assistant, Alina Gayeuski, and enjoyed the worship and bible study experiences which she has been leading. I was given the opportunity to fill-in for her when she was away for a week.
I have been meeting many of the leaders and members of the various ministries at Reformation. I am very impressed with the faithful and creative approaches to ministry which are hallmarks of Reformation’s life.
Reformation is blessed with extremely committed and faithful staff and it has been a joy to get to know them and learn about their passion for ministry these past few weeks.
In a recent 24-hour period I had the great honor of meeting (in separate settings) former Pastors Smoose and Shade and Bridge Pastor Krych – Reformation Church has been greatly blessed with wonderful pastoral leadership. It is a privilege to follow in their very large foot-steps.
Most of all I have enjoyed being with you in worship as we praise God, wrestle with God’s Word for our lives today, and celebrate the joy and mystery of the Lord’s Supper. Every day I thank God for calling us to ministry together. I can’t wait to see what surprising blessings God has in store for us as we continue to invite others to join us in coming together in the power of God’s Spirit to be strengthened, nurtured, and challenged in the faith, and then sent forth by that same Spirit to serve God by serving God’s people in the world.
I hope you are as excited as I am about being God’s people in this time and place. I pray that you are aware of God’s powerful presence in your daily life and that God’s presence makes a difference – in your life and, through you, in the lives of others.
Living in God’s Amazing Grace,
Wayne Matthias-Long