Friday, April 19, 2019

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. Have you ever heard how a pearl is formed? It is truly fascinating. A foreign object, often a grain of sand, somehow makes its way into the tightly sealed crack of an oyster. Instead of spitting out this irritating object, the oyster covers it with layer upon layer of a substance secreted from its own body. After months or even years, a beautiful pearl is formed. The longer the pearl stays in the oyster, the more valuable it becomes. What a picture of God's mercy toward us! The Lord doesn't spit us out when we come to Him! "We are accepted in the beloved!" God has every right to cast us out because of our sin, but instead, He brings us into His body and covers over our sin with His beautiful covering! Today we celebrate Good Friday as we remember the death of Jesus upon the Cross. Through his sacrifice, we are made right with God, and he proved how valuable you are. Come and Celebrate this Easter Sunday with us at Central and reclaim your name as a follower of Jesus.