| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 6 |
Page 6 |
Another letter mailed to the people was the annual pastoral greeting sent in September, after the summer vacation was over and workers were returning to their places. These letters never were perfunctory – they seemed a part of Dr. Miller’s self. Here are paragraphs from one:
“Our past is full of splendid inspiration. The way God has helped us has been marvelous. We have increased greatly in numbers. But better far than that, blessing has gone out from this church and has helped many lives.
“More than ever before, our church must be this year a church of Christ. It must be a house of bread. When the hungry come here, they must be fed. When the sorrowing come, they must be comforted. When the lonely come, they must find love and companionship.
“Everyone has a share all his own, in the responsibility, something to do which no other one can do to make the church what it ought to be this year. Every boy and every girl has a bit of work to do. What can we do? We may invite people to come with us. We may welcome those who come, and make them feel at home. We may be always here ourselves. Our place is here. Let us not scatter our work, but put all our strength and influence in right here. This is the best way we can help our Master. We may make every service here a little better by always being present.
“There is something else: We may love one another. That is our church creed. There is no place in the religion of our Master for selfishness, grumpiness, touchiness, bad temper, bitter feeling, disobligingness, ‘Little children, love one another.’
“We want to make the church this year the homiest church in our city. This is our church home. Let us always meet as members of the same family – cordially, cheerfully, and affectionately. In our own homes we are hospitable to everyone who comes to our doors. Let us show hospitality also to all strangers who come to our church. The Bible says, ‘Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’ Let us watch for angels.
“I am deeply conscious of the need of divine help as we pledge ourselves to each other and to our Master for another year. We can do nothing ourselves alone. But the divine help is ready if we will do our part. When Christ sent out his disciples, saying, ‘As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you,’ he also breathed on them, and said, ‘Receive ye the Holy Spirit.’ The Master is ready to send us out, and also to breathe his Spirit into our hearts to prepare us for holy life and blessed service. Shall we receive the Spirit?”
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