Pastor’s Email College Devotion, 10-11-15

Pastor’s Email College Devotion

The Week of Pentecost 20

October 11, 2015

      I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:2, NRSV)

 I was up at Penn State this weekend to watch the Blue Band and Alumni Blue Band perform in Beaver Stadium. There was a football game there, also. Who knew? It was Homecoming weekend. So we were on campus a lot, parts of every day from Thursday through Sunday. And as we walked around campus, watched the parade, and attended the game I saw a lot of people behaving badly … and not just college students. There were poor choices evident in the way people dressed, and the amount of alcohol they had apparently imbibed, and the language they chose to use, along with some other activities that will remain unspoken. Part of it is the freedom of living on a college campus away from families. Some of it is the narcotic effect of a weekend like homecoming, and the almost frenetic spirit that is intentionally created around the variety of activities that are offered. But I found myself wondering if some of the people I observed would be proud of their choices a few hours later, or a few days later.

You have an amazing opportunity during your college years, to experience and explore all kinds of things that may not have been easily available to you while you were living at home. Never forget that such exploration is a privilege gifted to you by your loving God … we call it “free will.” Remember that choices which tempt you to step away from your core values and morals, are what the Bible would call “idolatrous” … things that get between you and God. As always, make choices that you and your loved ones will be proud of.

 

Dear God, give me strength when I am weak and courage when I am afraid. Give me wisdom when I am confused, and strength when I falter. Keep your presence and your gifts to me at the center of my life. Amen.

 

 

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Rev. Craig Ross

Senior Pastor

The vibrancy of life here at St. Peter’s makes my service on our staff a joy and privilege. Visitation, teaching and preaching are the ministries that feed my pastoral identity, as together our staff and lay members share in our missional calling … Building a community of faith by God’s grace.