FEAR, FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP
Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are now at a juncture with COVID-19 to adopt major changes at home, at the workplace, and at church. Let’s consider the following as they relate to returning to congregational worship on Sundays and Bible study on Wednesdays.

FEAR
Fear is a universal natural instinct. It arises with the threat of harm, either physical, emotional, or psychological, real or imagined. We fear natural disasters, thunder & lightning, heights, flying, the oceans, darkness, crowds, pain, diseases, and viruses like COVID-19. When it comes to COVID-19, we are nervous and anxious about symptoms like headache, fatigue, sore throat, nausea, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Our anxiety becomes more heightened if we have been diagnosed with medical vulnerabilities (i.e., chronic medical conditions like autoimmune disorders, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) because medical science indicates that people with the aforementioned illnesses are at the greatest risk for severe disease if infected with COVID-19. 

But now, we are all knowledgeable about the best ways to protect ourselves from this coronavirus (and other viruses) which include: washing your hands frequently with soap and water, not touching your face, practicing social distancing, and especially avoiding close contact with people who are sick, coughing and sneezing. We can avoid spreading germs by coughing into the crook of our elbow and staying home when we feel sick. Here are some truths that I feel comfortable sharing with you at this time:

• All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be safe and effective at preventing COVID-19. Get vaccinated as soon as possible!
• Based on what we know about vaccines for other diseases and early data from clinical trials, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine also helps keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19. Get vaccinated; it won’t hurt you.
• Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 (Center for Disease Control and Protection, May 2021).

It is true that fear causes people to live far below their ability or optimal level of functioning. If we are not careful, a thousand fears will attack us when we awake in the morning. Following the safety protocols, you should feel comfortable enough to return to congregational worship at church on Sundays at 10:00 am.  I believe I have the backing of medical science and scripture to say, don’t give in to fear. Scripture contains the phrases, “Don’t be afraid” and “Do not fear” more than 300 times. The Bible repeats the command, “fear not” exactly 365 times, or one for each day of the year (Dr. C. Livingstone Allen: 1913-2005).

FAITH OVER FEAR 
Faith is the assurance that the things revealed and promised in the Word are true, even though unseen, and give the believer a conviction that what he/she expects in faith, will come to pass.  Faith is an active trust in God, a belief in what God says is true that results in action. Our faith allows us to trust God and ask Him to lead in the affairs of our lives. In times of crisis, it means everything to be able to trust God…not your own knowledge or strength. It is comforting to feel the strength of the prayers of our brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Corinthians 12: 26-27) and to know that you are not alone.
Faith makes it possible to accept that nothing happens outside the knowledge and permission of an omnipresent, omnibenevolent and omniscient God. During a crisis people often ask, why? Why do things like this happen? More pointedly, where is God in all this? In the Old Testament you find lots of scriptures crediting or blaming God for their suffering. For example: “It is good that a person should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Yahweh…For the Lord will not cast off forever. For though He causes grief, yet He will have compassion according to the multitude of His loving kindness” (Lamentations 3:26-32). The aforementioned passage indicates that, people of Israel believed in the sovereignty of God over all creation. They believed that, since God all-powerful, nothing could happen apart from God’s dominion. This led them to believe that, if you’re hurting God, that must have caused it, either to punish you or teach you a lesson. Is there a spiritual lesson you learned from COVID-19?

Faith is absolute reliance on God. In the New Testament, when Peter walks on the water toward Jesus--a demonstration of solid faith, but his faith wavered in sight of the great waves and he sank (Matt. 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21). We learn from this story that life is a product of thoughts and thoughts reflect our faith. The way of faith is the supernatural way—it is trusting, obeying, and relying on God. Peter failed when he started to trust in sight, senses, human wisdom and strength. Join me in trusting God with our lives—in all things. Don’t be afraid! Faith makes it possible to believe what seems impossible. “Imagine never letting a bad moment ruin your day ever. Imagine being so resilient that finding the silver lining in any given situation becomes second nature. Imagine switching out feelings of panic and stress with feelings of confidence and capability” (Social Media).

FELLOWSHIP
Fellowship is a relationship of inner unity among believers expressed outwardly. Our fellowship with others is only as good as our fellowship with Christ. No matter where we are in our faith, fellowship provides us with strength. Being around other believers gives us the chance to learn and grow in our faith. Fellowship is doing God’s will together. It’s time to return to church, if you are physically able to do so. Some people have been away from church for more than a year. What are your lingering fears to return to congregational worship? Somebody writes, “It was a wonderful experience to return to church after being away for more than a year. There was just something about being there that calms me down, makes me feel connected and whole, and simply allows me to breathe again.”
Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, June 2, 2021

Today being Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, which is the most sacred time of the year for Christians. Palm Sunday recalls an event in the Christian scripture (The New Testament) of Jesus entering into Jerusalem—and being greeted by the people waving palm branches. Their praise was lifted with remembrance. They remembered all the mighty works they saw Jesus do such as the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 1217-18). They told of the great things God had done in their lives.

For Christians, Palm Sunday is a reminder of the welcoming of Jesus into our hearts and of our willingness to follow Him When we welcome Christ into our hearts, He must have the freedom to change our lives, and through the Holy Spirit, convict us of sin. When we welcome Jesus into our hearts and homes, we receive Him by seeking after Him with real effort. We receive Him by humbling ourselves.

Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities in which he had done many of his miracles, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgement than for you! And you, Capemaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No you will be thrown down to Hades! For if the miracles done among you had been done in Sidon, it would have continued to this day. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgement than for you!"

On Palm Sunday, St Luke 19:41-44 records that as Jesus came near the city of Jerusalem. He saw the city and wept over it, because a great number of the residents rejected His message, lordship, and claim of being God the Son. This was a deeply moving moment for Jesus. His tears were not for His own fate in Jerusalem, but for the fate of the city itself. Scholars believed that the word “Wept” might be rendered 'wailed'; Jesus burst into sobbing as he lamented lost opportunity.
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Jesus predicted five specific aspects of the Roman attack upon Jerusalem:

• The building of an embankment.
• The surrounding of the city, laying siege.
• The destruction of the city.
• The killing of the city's inhabitants
• The complete leveling of the city.

Jesus weeping here showed the heart of God; how even when judgement must be pronounced, it is never done with joy.  Even when God’s judgement is perfectly just and righteous, His heart weeps at the bringing of the judgement.  This week especially, we are challenged to cultivate and seek after the mind of Jesus.  Each one of us ought to pray, "Break my heart God with what breaks Yours.”  My friends, sin or acts of unrighteousness break God's heart, and so as Christians, we

• Say no to idolatry
• Say no to hypocrisy
• Say no to hatred
• Say no to pride
• Say no to greed
• Say no to disobedience toward Jesus, the Messiah.

Each one of us should ask ourselves the following questions: Do I get upset at the same situations that angered the heart of God? Do I turn a blind eye at what moved Jesus to tears or failed to notice the people and situations that stirred His compassionate heart and caused Him to take action?

Good Friday is a reminder to Christians that Jesus has in fact dealt with evil in that greatest act of evil. In the greatest act of evil in the history of the world, Jesus was killed. The Son of God stepped out of eternity to live as a human and to die as a divine sacrifice. His death had nothing to do with His sins (since He was sinless), and in fact, we are told that our sins were placed on Him. He suffered in our place so that God could forgive and redeem His creation.

The Scripture tells us that while Christ has redeemed His people, God is being gracious to allow more time for more people to hear what Christ has done for them before He ends evil in an ultimate act of justice (2 Peter 3:8-10). Now is your day of Salvation; if you hear His voice pleading to you to accept His message of salvation, harden not your heart.

Rev. Dr. Peter Grinion, Pastor

 May the peace of God be yours this day.

I believe this year will go down in the annals of history as a very challenging year for all of us. With respect to current problems, our country is faced with issues related to Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, violent crime, racism, sexism, ageism, economic inequality, drug addiction, unemployment, shortage of food among a wide cross section of socio-economic groups, affordability of health care, and children falling behind in school.

How we confront these problems depends on whether or not we keep our focus on the problem rather than the solution –God Himself. The Christian’s approach is to see the problems as opportunities to exercise faith, to practice trusting the Lord, to prove God’s great faithfulness, and to be proved by Him. Our Christian faith is made stronger when we work together with the Lord to find solution to life’s problems.

If hope was ever a necessary coping mechanism for contemporary Christians, it is presently vitally necessary for both our mental and spiritual health. To live without hope is to cease to live. Someone said, “What oxygen is to the lungs, such is hope to the meaning of life.” Hope is the belief that something beneficial is to come, the idea that what is currently seen is not the end of the story, but something greater is ahead. Hope in itself is faith that God does have plans for us and that they are good indeed. In all biblical stories, hope is an integral component of the journey. My major concern has to do with how each one of you will respond or continue to respond to the present condition as outlined above; therefore, I offer the following suggestions:

First, avoid wrong reactions to the problems. Your primary questions always should be, “Am I willing to follow God’s will when I know it? Friends, we have an obligation as Christians to be a witness to our faith in a God who loves and cares for all His people. Avoid hatred and malice. Control your anger aimed at others. Paul exhorts us, ”… examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, abstain from every form of evil (1 Thess. 5:21-22). 

Second, follow the example of Jesus. During the last 4 years, I led the church through numerous studies of St. Paul’s letters and the Gospels, and we looked at different aspects of the hope that Jesus brings to the world today.  Like Jesus, be a God-pleaser, not a self-pleasers or a people-pleaser. People-pleasers are those who try to please people even if they have to compromise their own conscience to do so. Paul tried to please people as long as pleasing them did not cause him to displease the Lord (Galatians 1:10,
1 Corinthians 10:33). Follow Jesus by loving your neighbors, regardless of race, ethnicity or creed.

Third, work to achieve unity, not division. St. Paul pleads that every effort be made for unity with these words: “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19). Guard this unity by being sensitive to your brothers and sisters in Christ and not offending them unnecessarily (Romans 14:20–15:1). Each of us should ‘please our neighbors for their good, to build them up’ (Romans 15:2).

Fourth, avoid solving your problems with human efforts alone. God has the power to remove our burdens and rescue us in our distress. His intent is for His children to face their problems in the power of the risen Christ. God says, “I removed the burden from their shoulders … In your distress you called and I rescued you” (Psalm 81:6a–7a).

Finally, Rejoice and give thanks. Don’t allow yourself to complain about everything. Thanksgiving has great power to bring you joy and break the power of the enemy. Whenever we give thanks to God, despite the most difficult circumstances, the enemy loses a big battle in our life. Satan is defeated when we have a thankful heart because thankfulness during difficulty is a sacrifice pleasing to God. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:16-18).
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
 
In His Service,
Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, Pastor

​Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Summer has come and almost gone and for many of us, we have done nothing relative to prior summer activities. For many of us, summer vacations used to mean highway miles in cars or minivans, 3-4-night’s stay in beachside condominiums, family cruises, canoeing and rafting on the lake, and other thrilling outdoor activities. This year, many of us did not enjoy just sitting around; we wanted action and exhilaration; we wanted a combination of excitement and relaxation; and we reminisce about our favorite food and drinks on our vacations.
Notwithstanding, anyone who has lived in the age of COVID-19 has experienced an adventure of a lifetime. The aforementioned sentence assumes that many people with this experience have already passed, unfortunately. The adventure that I am thinking about entails experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, fear of being sick, living with fear of dying, social distancing, quarantines, job losses, inactivity, loneliness, dealing with personal adversities, coping with stress, experiencing changes and adaptation to changes. The only thing that is constant during this time is change itself.
 
Do you find yourself weighed down by your seemingly unfortunate lot in life? Or do you embrace the struggle? Life is demanding a “course change” from all of us. We do not control the world; we only control ourselves. Given the aforementioned realities, I share the following points with you: First, practice being ok with the present discomforts of life. As we prepare for General Elections this November, do all you can to calm your inner voice of fear or resentment. Since we live in a democracy with people being free to have differing opinions, watch your thoughts, your words, and your activities on social media. Tell yourself, that even if you are uncomfortable with differences, you have a moral obligation to respect people who share opinions that are different from yours. Maybe, some of us could use an adjustment of attitude.
 
Secondly, pray with dependence on God’s sovereign grace. When so many things are uncertain, we are reminded how utterly dependent we are on God. Our starting point is God—the source of our being and the God who loves everyone. God so loved the world speaks to the scope of God’s love---the whole world. He loves not just a nation; not just good people; not only people who love Him. He loves the unlovable and the unlovely. Pray for our political leader; pray for your pastor and church family; and pray for your family and local community.
Finally, after months of being unable to meet during this pandemic control measures, many churches have recently re-opened or are planning to re-open. It is understandable that a commitment to safety is necessary and a Christian duty. Undoubtedly, this virus is extremely contagious and as pastor I am hesitant to bring you back to church for congregational services. In short, I don’t want anyone to contract or spread the virus at our church. That being said, we want to resume Bible Study and Sunday morning worship service in compliance with New York State COVID-19 restriction measures. People with comorbidities, preferably should not attend these services. We will continue to provide you with our worship service posted on our church website, YouTube and Facebook. You will also receive a hard copy of the sermon.
 
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love!
 
Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, Pastor
 

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ

God has designed His church and put us together for His purpose and direction. St. Paul teaches that we the members of our local church are members of the body of Christ. When you belong to Christ, you are part of His body. He is the head. He leads the body, and He orchestrates its movements. And you are connected not only to Him, but also to every other part of the body as well. As we read in Scripture, "God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be" (1 Corinthians 12:18, NIV).

COVID-19 has really changed our lives in ways we could never predict. We’re more than 4 months into quarantine life, and at this point, it’s hard to remember a time before COVID-19 that doesn’t seem like that was long ago.  It leaves us trying very hard both to make sense of it and to get used to the radical lifestyle changes the virus has brought. Most pressing on my mind is our loss of congregate Sunday morning worship services, bible study and other weekly meetings.

I miss worshiping and fellowshipping with you! I haven’t seen some of you since March of this year. I believe that God is using this time to speak to His people. He is using this crisis in life to wake us up and help us see what truly matters in life. While we love the fellowship at church, we really don’t need a building to worship God. He wants us to spend time in prayer and reading of His word (the bible) at home. He wants you to sing your favorite hymns and songs at home. He wants us to make every moment to matter, be happy, find our purpose, and value the privilege of being alive.

If you would agree with me that God is intentional and purposeful about all that He does, then you would have to agree that God has a purpose for each one of us at a time as this. His purpose is that we individually or as family units, representing West Henrietta Baptist Church become a shining light for the testimony of Jesus Christ. The question on my mind, is how we may best serve God’s plan and purpose at this time? I encourage you that whatever else you feel called to do, you will reach out with a word of encouragement to others. Some of us are by nature encouragers, while some have to make special effort. Nonetheless, it is required of us to encourage one another to become our better selves.

Many people are experiencing a challenge of faith resulting from sickness, financial problems, marital and other family problems, loneliness, and inability to connect with congregate church worship services. Connecting with members of your church family or any other Christian with a word of encouragement can help them move from fear to faith. Reaching out to each other daily is how we beat loneliness and deepen our relationships—even if we are sitting at home alone. Praying for one another is real spiritual warfare that actually changes things, and it is worth all the time we can devote to it. Pray daily for your church. Make intercessions daily for your pastor, moderator, deacons, choristers, committees/boards, families, and our political leaders at local, state and national levels.

Let’s face it—life can be rough at times because we live in a broken world plagued with diseases and other natural disasters, sickness, economic struggles, relational problems, and sin. We sometimes find ourselves right on the edge—ready to give up on our marriage, give up on a child, or give up on our faith. We might get to the point where we feel like we can’t take it any longer.

When this happens, sometimes the only difference between us going on or giving up is a simple word of encouragement. Encouragement here is not to feel sympathy for someone or feeling bad for them. Rather, encouragement is to inspire with courage, and help someone to persevere. Simply put, your encouragement may be delivered with a visit compliant with COVID-19 restrictions, a phone call, a letter, and/or a prayer. With God’s enabling, we can!
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Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee!
Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, Pastor

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy and peace.
Coronavirus has disrupted so many of our normal activities ranging from sports events, social gatherings, including church services, voluntary isolation, quarantines, and social distancing. In short, we have given up our normal routines and practices; many of these being our comfort zones. The situation we are facing due to coronavirus has physiological, psychological, social, economic and spiritual repercussions.
While the new realities vary from one person to another, some common experiences involve taking care of children or parents, homeschooling children, inability to attend a funeral or visit a loved one in a hospital or nursing home, and financial stress maybe due to loss of job. The truth is that, at this point we are simply trying to manage our daily lives.  History teaches us that people respond to crisis in both adaptive and maladaptive ways, so I want to offer you some recommendations to aid adaptive and positive ways to adjust to the new realities you are experiencing.

 Accept your feelings as normal
You need to operate within your strongest self and accept your feelings as normal, because this is a time for both personal and collective crises. Feelings such as fear, anxiety, worry, anger, and sadness are normal because the information receives from the media can be overwhelming to process. However, we often allow negative emotions to get the best of us.  Believe me, you can experience the peace of God in the midst of stress and distress. Trust in God breaks the paralyzing grip of fear, anxiety, worry, anger and sadness. Entrust yourself fully in the caring hands of our Heavenly Father.
Forge and sustain social relationships

Coronavirus helps us to discover what is important in our lies and what is not. We loved to go shopping, visiting with family members, and going to church, the movie and occasional parties. We cannot do any of the aforementioned at this time owing to the social distancing restrictions.  Our voluntary social distancing helps us to see the importance of relationships. By now most people own a mobile phone, and I guess you may own one or two. With the absence of church meetings, it is vital to connect with your social supports using virtual meetings and social media.
It is likely that people being bored at home may be inclined to bad messengers and pessimistic in their outlook on life. Therefore, avoid or limit your time with such people whose conduct becomes toxic. Toxicity may manifest itself in behaviors such as negativity, gossip, unapologetically opinionated, lying, manipulative, being self-centered on their needs vs. yours, and these negative behaviors can take a toll on your well-being. On the contrary, positive and supportive relationships helps you to feel healthier, happier, and more satisfied with your relationships.
 
Focus on the Word of God/Read you Bible
Following the outbreak of coronavirus churches have terminated all public mass gatherings, hundreds of thousands of people around the world are dying, and unemployment and hardships are present like plagues. One major silver lining is that many people are turning to the Word of God for guidance and comfort. They are discovering that Scriptures can help to make sense of the confusion in these tumultuous times. Make scripture reading a major part of your daily activity.

Try to sing some inspirational hymns/songs
I know for a number of us, including myself, singing is not our greatest strength. I am not asking you to enter a singing contest, but simply to make a joyful sound; being yourself when you are singing. You can find hundreds of inspirational songs in any song book, hymn book, YouTube or Google. Singing can help improve your health and weII-being. Singing relieves feelings of depression and loneliness. Singing releases endorphins and oxytocin in the brain which lowers stress and anxiety levels. If you are persistent in singing songs/hymn, by the time we resume worship services most of you will be good candidates for the choir. Praise God in advance!
 
Be steadfast in prayer
Jesus shows that he honors prayer is his wonderful promise: “Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened (Matt. 7:7-8). His promise is a solemn one by which He pledges His divine word. It is a comprehensive and unconditional promise to his people., and
We cannot be selfish in our prayers. The Lord’s prayer (Matt. 6:9-13) teaches us to remember the needs of others. Please remember those who are lonely at home, which includes the elderly in nursing homes, the mentally ill and addicts who are asked to live without their support groups. Remember in your prayers the frontline workers, which includes doctors, nurses, and other medical staff who often stay away from their families because they are afraid of taking coronavirus home. Pray for EMT workers who work the closest with people sick with coronavirus from the point of picking them at home and transporting them to the hospital. Pray for public transport employees, which includes bus and train drivers, and UPS and FEDEX delivery drivers. Pray for all God’s people!
 
Pray for the forgiveness of the Nation’s sins, and a national revival. Listen to God’s word of assurance:
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land (II Chronicles 7:13-14).
Listen to Hosea 6:1-3:  "Come, let us return to the Lord! He has torn us in pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. In just a short time, he will restore us so we can live in his presence. Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him! Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring."

Praise God Unceasingly
Every morning you get up, praise God! Every night you get in bed, praise God for His Goodness! Living a life of praise is not only the most enjoyable way to live, but it’s also one of the most powerful ways to change your life. Your faith isn’t complete without praise. Colossians 2:7 says that you abound in faith with thanksgiving. Praise affects you, it affects the devil, and it affects God. It touches everything and every part of your life. 
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice (Phil. 4:4-8).
Paul didn’t just say it once; he said it twice. He didn’t want anyone thinking he had made a mistake or that there were exceptions to what he said. We are always supposed to be rejoicing in the Lord. It’s a command, not a suggestion to do it if we feel like it.
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O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:
 
Yours In Christ’s Service
Rev. Dr. Peter E. Grinion, Pastor