In this E-pistle:

HAPPY SAINT PAT’S
HOME FROM THE FRONT
GENERATION TO GENERATION

Did you remember to wear green today? How ever you celebrate the “Irish” holiday, happy Saint Pat’s Day. Saint Patrick (though never officially canonized by the Catholic Church) is a fascinating historical character who had nothing to do with driving the snakes (which were never there in the first place) from Ireland. Patrick was a godly man used greatly by God in Fifth Century Ireland. Patrick was born in what is now southern Scotland and kidnapped at age 16 and forced to go to Ireland. But God had other plans in mind for him. You can read Patrick’s Confession here: Saint Patrick’s Confession to get a feel of his life from his own hand.

Patrick is also remembered for a prayer, the Breastplate of Saint Patrick, attributed to him and used frequently in our worship services. The Breastplate of Saint Patrick:

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.
Of Whom all nature hath creation:
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

We’ve been praying for Dave Linkimer as he joined a presbyter-wide work group traveling to Gulfport, Mississippi, March 3-12. Dave is now home and the stories he tells really are stories from the front. Dave has written a superb summary of his time on the work mission and it will appear in the April Branches. You’ll also have a chance to hear him when he reports to the congregation in worship on April 2.

Dave writes, Six months after the storm, the devastation is still indescribable. Entire towns are gone, the beautiful beaches are not swimmable because debris washed out to sea during the storm is still washing back onto shore, including whole trees and cars. The need is still great and Dave will challenge all of us to do what we can to help alleviate the suffering. (Dave and Ann will be out of town the next two Sundays, but be sure to talk with Dave when they return.

Did you know that every time we gather for worship at Park Presbyterian Church, there are six different generations present? Each of the six generations has had different experiences in life, each values different things, and each looks to God in slightly different ways, yet each is there to worship Jesus Christ, “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” On Sunday we’ll talk a little bit about our generational soup and how the gospel, which is foolishness to Greeks, is God’s wisdom to each of us no matter what our generation.