Hey Philpott family and friends,

It’s safe to say I won’t forget my first Easter at Philpott church…the Easter we celebrated by all staying home. But as I sat in my living room yesterday morning, I was profoundly moved by our Lord’s nearness. I was swept up in worship as we entered the different homes of our worship leaders. I experienced what I was about to preach later in that service:

“May we see Jesus clearly; may our vision of unseen eternal realities overshadow the disappointment of our temporal circumstances.”

What I felt most at the moment was thankfulness – gratitude for the gift of God’s grace in my life and the life of my family. And, I was especially thankful for the gift of pastoral ministry. God seemed to use this strange Easter weekend, and especially our Easter morning service, to remind me of just how special it is to pastor a church. The Apostle Paul, in 1Timothy 1:12, gave thanks to Christ for appointing him to gospel service.

“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service…” (1 Timothy 1:12).

Paul was amazed that God would consider him worthy of His trust. And in this strange time, I was moved freshly by God’s grace in appointing me to gospel ministry but also in appointing me as pastor of Philpott church. After travelling a winding road over the past couple of years, I’m thankful to have landed at Philpott: “A community of Grace, rooted in the Gospel.”

Like all churches, we are a work in progress, and I’ve been pastoring long enough to expect that some growing pains are ahead. But, right now at this moment, I’m just thankful. I’m thankful for being awakened to the gift of God’s grace in my life, thankful for God’s faithfulness to my family in what continues to be a huge transition and thankful for the privilege of being a pastor.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Russell