Pastor’s Message

My Dear Friends,

One of the greatest needs of people today is the need for a sense of belonging. Our lives are so fractured and disjointed with schedules that are running at light speed, children who are into just about everything, families flung out to the farthest reaches of the globe, jobs that call upon us to wear many different hats, concerns and cares that weigh down our spirits and our souls.

Where do we get rest for our souls? Where do we find some breathing space in the frenetic pace of our daily lives? Where do we gain a footing and a grounding so that we can stand and feel secure even while other things seem to be spinning out of control? Where do we find the reassurance that there is something of permanence, something lasting, something we can count on?

Chapel Lane Presbyterian Church believes that the answer to these and other questions about our need for a sense of purpose and meaning and our need for community can be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and in the midst of God’s people as they gather for worship and service, for support and encouragement, day by day and week by week.

There is a reason why God says in Genesis: “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him as his partner.” (Gen. 2:18) It seems God was into “fitness” long before we joined any club or started any diet! God is into equality and relationships of mutual trust and love. Such relationships may be found in many areas of our lives. Here at Chapel Lane we believe that these kind of relationships can be found in a church family. We hope and pray that the desire to build such relationships with God and with one another lies at the heart of all we say and do.

Jesus said, “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matt. 18:20) The immediate context had to do with decision making in the church, but the larger context is also an echo of Genesis and the reminder to us that it is not good to be alone and that God is with us. We need one another. Together we grow in our understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. We gain a more mature awareness of what it means to be a good steward of our lives and life all around us. We learn that life does have purpose and meaning and that God sent Jesus the Christ to show us how to be fully alive and alert to God’s presence in the world and to free us from the anxiety that all too easily takes over our hearts and minds.

The Psalmist calls us to: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10) Our culture has pushed Sabbath-keeping to the sidelines and would seek to fill every available moment with activities. Finding time and space for God is a daily challenge. The benefits of simply resting in the knowledge that we are loved by God, saved by God’s grace and set free from the need to prove ourselves in God’s eyes are immeasurable. Developing the habits of prayer and regular worship and study reap huge dividends that are often impossible to measure unless and until we take the plunge and decide to get out of the rat race for a while and give some priority to our spiritual lives.

Breaking old habits and making new ones is not accomplished overnight. Falling out of attending a church and falling into attending a church usually begins with one step into or out of a church. If you are looking to make new habits and connect with a Christian faith community for the first time or after a time away, I would urge you to consider Chapel Lane. My prayer for us all is that this may be a place where all God’s people will find Christ present, gain a sense of belonging, and enjoy spiritual rest and refreshment – “food for the journey of life”, one might say.

Here at Chapel Lane we rely heavily on the grace of God. We try not to add to the burdens of anyone but strive to shoulder the burdens of everyone so that each one’s load might be lightened and the journey of life made easier and more enjoyable. We try not to take ourselves too seriously or fall into the trap of believing that everything depends on us.

All things depend upon God and God alone. Presbyterians affirm the deep truth that God is sovereign. God is in charge. The fact that you are reading this note and visiting this webpage says much about you. Please don’t think that this is a random act. God is a part of your reading and reflecting and we trust that God will guide you to the faith community that you need to find so that you may live with greater spiritual satisfaction and deeper joy.

If I may be of service to you as you consider your next spiritual steps, I hope you will be in touch with me. In the meantime, please know that the doors of Chapel Lane are open to you today and always.

Faithfully yours,

David Young
Pastor