“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
It’s hard to believe that it was a year ago that I shared with you that I would be retiring on May 31, 2026. Here it is now, May 2026 and I am writing my last Pastor’s Pen. Many of you ask me if I’m counting the days. Or you remind me that I just did my last…Love Feast…Christmas Candlelight Service…Deacon Meeting…etc.

I haven’t been counting the days, not in the sense that I’m anxious to finish my days of employment; but more in the sense that I am aware that a transition in my life is coming and I have things to complete and things to begin as my service as your pastor comes to a close.

I am aware that my responsibilities of planning weekly and special services, attending meetings, providing pastoral care are coming to a close. That leaves me with a feeling of sadness, but at the same time, I look forward to an old familiar freedom of worshipping with a congregation and participating in special events and services…without the responsibilities.

I am excited to have more time to be with Don. For 34 years, he has been by my side as a faithful pastor’s spouse, which is not an easy task. He has made many sacrifices through the 34 years of my ministry. Now he will get to put up with me every day. It will be a life filled with new adventures, Babe, and I am looking forward to it.

At the same time, I will not stop listening to God’s voice. A friend from the Westminster Congregation whom some of you know, Jeffrey Scott, used to remind the congregation that there is nowhere in the bible that says when we reach a certain age we get to stop serving God. I agree with that. But, there certainly will be things I will not be able to do here at Hagerstown COB, because you will have a new pastor to carry on pastoral responsibilities…but…in time…I will be free to work side-by-side with you through some ministries.

God has truly blessed me with the call to serve as your pastor. You are an amazing, faithful, serving, playful congregation…and your next pastor will be blessed and privileged to lead you, as I have been. During the interim, Pastor Eddie, will have that honor. I am praying for Pastor Eddie and for the Pastor who will be called to serve this congregation. Don and I will be looking forward to remaining members at HCOB…continuing the journey as brothers and sisters in Christ…to grow our faith and follow in obedience to God.
God Bless You,
Pastor Twyla

“After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. “(Matthew 28:1)
Jesus was gone…it was over. That’s probably what Jesus’ disciples and loved ones thought. Even though Jesus spoke of his resurrection prior to his death, what they saw with their own eyes, told them it was over. The world did not stop upon his death. There continued to be new days. Life would go on.

At dawn on the first day of the week after Jesus’ death, two women journeyed to the tomb where they placed the body of Jesus. It was the first day of the rest of their lives, and things were looking and feeling very grim to them. The pain and emptiness that they felt inside was overwhelming. Maybe they were secretly hoping that when they got to the tomb they would find that all that had happened was just a terrible nightmare. Maybe they cursed the dawn of a new day and wished that they could go back in time to a happier day. But that was not to happen and thank goodness it didn’t.

Things did get better for them. When they got to the tomb, they found it empty and they saw Jesus alive. Thank goodness that a new day had arrived. With it came new life and uncontainable joy. The agony and grief that darkened their lives was gone.
Thank goodness for our new days too.

Our lives may get caught in the mire and muck of life, leaving us feeling like Job. When we are hurting or empty, we may curse the dawn of a new day. We may be tired of the repetition of life and fear the unknowns that await us. But wait! The good news is that life does not need to be this way. Just as the women discovered, we too can find hope and joy for our lives. All we need to do is look for Jesus…who is alive! Remember his painful journey and the glorious new day that came for him. It is because of him and what he did that we can have the same newness of life. Look for Jesus and he will show you the way.

Bring on the new day. With our eyes focused on the living Jesus we can face what- ever the new day brings. Hallelujah! Jesus lives!

Have a Blessed Easter, Pastor Twyla

Jesus said to Satan, “Away from me, Satan!” (Matthew 4: 10a)

We find ourselves in the season of Lent. It’s a time of self-examination and repentance. We think of ourselves walking with Jesus towards Jerusalem where he will suffer and die…paying the ultimate price for our sin. While we know as Christians that confession and   repentance of our sin should not be just a once-a-year practice, we recognize the opportunity more clearly during lent.

We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. There are many reasons why we sin. Sometimes we do it without thinking about it, and other times…well, we know what we are about to do is not pleasing to God and may cause problems…but we do it anyhow. The old saying, “The devil made me do it” can be our default excuse for our sin. We find ourselves at the booth of temptation…sometimes mesmerized by what is available there. It can look so good…so right, and Satan will gladly let us have it…saying it is free…but in reality, we sell our souls for the purchase of sin. We separate ourselves from God and the glorious gifts and promises he has for us when we cave-in to temptation.

We read temptation stories in the Bible. Adam and Eve gave into the serpent’s temptation. David gave into the temptation of lust; and there were others. Even Jesus, before his ministry began, found himself in the desert for 40 days and nights, where he was tempted by Satan.

Temptation can be understood as…and should be understood as…in most cases of New Testament scripture as testing. To test, according to the dictionary, means “to take measures to check quality, performance, or reliability of something or someone, especially before putting it into widespread use or practice.”

Did you ever think about the fact that the only way we even know about this experience is because Jesus had to tell the story to someone…most likely his trusted disciples. Remember, he was in the wilderness alone. He makes himself vulnerable later, then, by  laying open his heart and inmost thoughts to tell this story. He tells us what he…God’s own Son…went through. In telling his story, he commiserates with us and says he can help us through similar experiences. He gives us an example that encourages us so we too can turn away from giving into evil.

We learn that Jesus will not use whatever powers he possesses to satisfy his own needs; he instead relies on God to nurture and support him. Jesus wasn’t willing to compromise his relationship with God and God’s purposes for the enjoyment of using his power for his own glory. He chose obedience to God’s plan. We learn then from Jesus’ commitment to these ends that he is God’s Son who can be trusted. He faced challenges that invited him to embrace an easier path, to buy into a worldview that idolizes power and guarantees official recognition. The story ends on a positive note. Jesus rejects Satan. He tells him to get lost…he has no power over Jesus.

Satan returns again and again with attempts to put us to the test…in hopes we will fail, so that evil can gain power over us. But the secret in keeping the tempter at bay is out: it is in being faithful to one’s calling to be God’s child…clinging steadfastly to that divine calling. We simply need to say “No” when evil comes knocking at our heart and mind’s door. Thank goodness we have Jesus’ help to do this.

Blessings and Peace, Pastor Twyla