Weekly Devotion
The Second Reading for Sunday, May 18 (Holy Trinity) is 2 Corinthians 13:11-13.
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
I cannot image a better text for the end of Spring Semester 2008. After finals this week and graduation, the LCM community is dispersed to our various summer destinations, until by God抯 grace we regroup in the fall. When that happens, some old friends will be missing and some new ones will come to take their places. This kind of community is a reflection of the triune nature of God. Like the Trinity itself, life in the LCM community is a dance of inclusiveness and grace that is grounded in love and ever moving outwards into the world.
This will be the last Weekly Devotion for awhile. From May 27-June 9 I will be leading a tour of Bethany College alums to Germany, where we will visit cities and locations associated with the lives of Martin Luther and J.S. Bach. In the middle part of June I will be spending time in Kansas helping my elderly parents make decisions about their future living arrangements and what to do with their personal belongings. At the end of June, Stephanie and I will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary with a personal vacation.
Peace and blessings to you all, wherever you happen to be headed this summer. I will see some of you again in July. Some will be back in August, and to others I bid a found farewell. To all who read this devotion, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
-Pastor Rob