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Shepherd's Corner ...
with Ruling Elder Ted Fines
Excerpts from Ted's March 2026 letter:
"Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As your Shepherd, I am writing to you from a place that is both deeply personal and profoundly
theological. Illness has a way of narrowing one’s vision. It presses in on the heart. It whispers
fears in the middle of the night. It raises questions we would rather not ask.
And yet, as Christians — and as Presbyterians shaped by the rich Reformed tradition — we are
not left without anchor.
Our faith, first and foremost, reminds us of God's sovereignty. This does not mean that God
enjoys our suffering, nor that every diagnosis is divinely scripted in ways we can comprehend. It
does mean that nothing we face is outside God’s knowledge, presence, or redeeming power.
Illness may overwhelm us, but it does not overwhelm God.
Scripture assures us: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” When our
bodies weaken and our certainty fades, the character of God does not change. He remains
faithful."
"Beloved friends, overwhelming illness narrows the world, but faith widens it again. We live
between Good Friday and Easter morning — in the tension of suffering and promise. And in
that holy tension, we are never alone."
Click here to read Ted's March 2026 letter in its entirety.
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