Who Is Holding You?

“Who is holding you?” Robbie asked his daughter, Ella, as she carried her in his arms.
“You are, Daddy,” she answered as she rested in his embrace.

That is how Robbie Ytterberg concluded his message on Sunday morning as he preached his candidating sermon. He urged us all to remember who is holding us- our heavenly Father. May we trust in our Lord as we venture into the future or face our personal challenges.

I had a deep sense that we were being held in the arms of God last Sunday. It came in the deep prayer, diligence and love of the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee over these last several months. It came in the powerful and clear sense of call that the APNC felt about Robbie and that Robbie and his wife, Abby, felt about Bethany. It came in the loving embrace of the church -you- as you welcomed them with open arms, including their children, Wesley and Ella.

It came with the prayers Robbie offered in worship, prayers emerging out of a life of prayer. It came in the vibrant and joyful spirit in worship. It came in the overwhelming affirmation through your unanimous vote to call Robbie Ytterberg to be our Associate Pastor of Discipleship at Bethany. It came in the joyful tears and embraces of the pulpit committee members after the vote, the great satisfaction of seeing God at work. Everywhere I looked I could see before me what Robbie preached, that we are held in the arms of our Father.

After the service Melany and I took Abby and Robbie, Ella and Wesley, out to lunch. You will be glad to know that I promptly began lessons on Pittsburghese…promised them the patented Hamilton tour of Pittsburgh, including the “big four”, my favorite four hills in the city…and instructed them on the finest sammiches in town. Oh, I have so much more to teach them! I also promised to be lifting Robbie and his family up in prayer as they make their transition. I would ask you to do the same. Please pray for them daily as they work on the practicalities as well as the goodbyes and the adjustments. Robbie will be officially starting on March 1, while Melany will continue her interim duties through the end of February. This will help greatly in the transition from one Associate Pastor to the next.

Meanwhile, thank you for your prayers- and ribbing- as we were stranded in Orlando because of the weather in Pittsburgh. We were at a conference called Fellowship of Presbyterians, along with 2100 other Presbyterians ( our witnesses that we were not at Disney World…darn it! ).

Finally, as I write this, the news has come in that the body of Jimmy Slack has been identified. Please keep the family in prayer and watch for details of services and visitation. And always, in joy and in sorrow, may we remember who is holding us…our Father.

See you on Sunday,

John Hamilton