Category: Blog

REFLECTIONS ON THE SUNDAY SERMON

Pastor Nana Poku

In Due Time

By Linda Waltersdorf Cobourn, EdD

June 29, 2025

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 2:9

It was over.

The older kids had gone home, back to their own lives. Allen had dashed upstairs, leaving his suit jacket and tie in a trail behind him. And now it was just me—alone.

I wandered into the kitchen and put on the kettle. It was really too hot for tea. The July heat pressed around me. But I needed something to do. After nineteen years of caregiving, of juggling jobs and navigating one medical crisis after another, it was over.

Ron’s body now rested at Lawncroft Cemetery. But his spirit had returned home—to heaven.

I fixed my tea in my favorite beach gift shop mug and returned to the living room. Placing the mug on the end table, I dropped to my knees.

“Thank God,” I breathed. “It is finished.”

As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease.
—Genesis 8:22

God has a timetable. There is seedtime and harvest, reaping and sowing, grieving and rejoicing, each appointed by Him.

My season of caregiving had come to a sudden halt, but other seasons were just beginning. I never imagined I’d be standing at the front of a church sharing God’s Word, writing blog posts to encourage others, or finishing a book to support fellow caregivers. And yet, here I am.

God still had fruit for me to bear. And I believe He has fruit in store for Atonement Methodist Church, too.

With Pastor Amy’s retirement, a new season begins. But as Pastor Nana reminded us last Sunday, growth doesn’t always look clean or hopeful. Most of it happens underground.

Growth is messy.

A seed is buried in dirt—hidden, forgotten, pressed down by darkness. It decays before it grows. But God is at work even there. Slowly, imperceptibly, the seed begins to stir. A green shoot breaks through, and life begins again.

From death, God brings life. From loss, He brings purpose. From a buried seed, He brings fruit.

Growth can be stinky, disorienting, and painful. But in due time, it brings a harvest that  nourishes many.

As we walk through this season of transition at Atonement, let’s remember that God is not finished with us yet. If the seed has been planted in good ground (Matthew 13:3), it will grow.

Atonement is good ground. We will grow.

What fruit are you ready to bear?
How might God use you in His vineyard?

Closing Prayer

Lord of the Harvest,
Thank You for the reminder that every season has its purpose. Even when we feel buried by sorrow, change, or uncertainty, You are still at work beneath the surface. Help us trust the process of growth—messy as it may be. May we not grow weary in doing good. Let us be open to the new fruit You are growing in our lives, our church, and our community. We trust that, in due time, the harvest will come.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

        Herding Cats… and Israelites

“In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.’”
— Exodus 16:2-3

Teaching has often been compared to herding cats. Cats have a reputation for being independent and resistant to direction. Put thirty strong-minded students in one classroom with one harried teacher, and chaos will follow.

As a teacher, I have nothing but empathy for Moses and his situation with the Israelites. Reluctant at first to lead God’s chosen people, Moses eventually got them out of Egypt—no small task! He even convinced the Egyptians to send them off with gold, silver, and clothing. He led them safely across the Red Sea and escaped Pharaoh’s chariots.

Finally, they were free. On their way to the Promised Land.

Grumbling in the Desert

Moses and his sister Miriam sang praises to God, who led them to an oasis with twelve springs and seventy palm trees. God promised to provide for them if they obeyed Him—and He did. He sent manna from heaven and quail for their sustenance.

But then came the complaints.

• It’s too hot.
• The sand hurts my feet.
• Manna? Again?
• We should’ve stayed in Egypt.
• Yeah, we had it good in Egypt.

Isn’t that the way it often goes? Even when God leads us toward something better, the discomfort of the unknown makes us long for what’s familiar—even if what’s familiar wasn’t great for us.

No one really likes change.
Even when it leads to what is good.

Moving Forward with the Holy Spirit

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
— John 14:26

When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He knew His disciples would face challenges. There was no going back to their old lives. Following Jesus had changed them forever. They would need the help of the Holy Spirit to move forward into what God had next for them.

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…”
— Acts 2:1-4

There was no going back.

Where We Are Now

We’re not Israelites wandering the desert. And we’re not thirty unruly students in a classroom.

We are a church that has followed the Lord for 156 years. We might not always like change, but we know God is leading us forward.

Now, with Pastor Brandon stepping in to lead us into a new season at Atonement, we have a calling to support him as he shepherds this congregation. We believe God has brought him here for this purpose.

And just like we once decided to follow Jesus as our Savior, we choose again to move forward with Him.

As we step into this new chapter together, let’s choose faith over fear and unity over comfort. Pastor Brandon cannot lead alone—he needs all of us, standing together, praying, serving, and trusting God for what’s ahead.

Let’s move forward, together, with no turning back.

Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all His benefits.
Psalm 103:2

Leaving was hard.

I looked around Room 108 one last time. For seven years, I had invested myself in this little blue room by the staircase, creating a haven for my English as a Second Language students. Now, personal items were packed away. Teaching tools were passed on to other educators.

I had said my goodbyes to students and staff. The last 37 years of my life had been dedicated to teaching and learning. And now?

I wasn’t sure what the future held. But I knew God was calling me to a new chapter. He had made that clear.

On the blackboard, my students had written a farewell message:

“We love Miss Linda.” Each name signed brought a smile. I would never forget these students. I would never forget all that I had learned here. I walked away with far more than I had given.

And then, I closed the door on that chapter of my life.

Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.
Psalm 71:18

Leaving is never easy. Pastor Amy’s departure from Atonement Methodist Church is filled with love and tears. We cherish her. She has accomplished much as our senior pastor.

But her last message wasn’t about grief, but about continuing the work. As she reminded us, eternity has no beginning and no end. God calls us to pause amid our busy lives and rest in His arms. There, He heals us and prepares us for what’s next.

Pastor Amy is in that place of holy waiting. And while she waits, she invites us to remember what God has already done, and what He has promised to do.

A beautiful symbol of this remembrance appeared on Sunday’s bulletins: the forget-me-not. This small blue flower speaks of memory, faithful love, and enduring presence. Legend says forget-me-nots grew on the battlefield of Waterloo in 1815—a tender sign of remembrance amid hardship. Many were worn on lapels this past Memorial Day.

Amy explained that God is the ‘Me’ in forget-me-not. The Great I AM answers prayer. His love is the greatest gift we could ever receive.

God will not forget Amy’s faithfulness. And we will not forget her.

But more than that, we remember our faithful God. And we move forward in the assurance that He remembers us, He leads us, and He is not finished with our story yet.

Closing Prayer:

Gracious and Everlasting God,
We thank You for the gift of faithful seasons and the gentle guidance You give as we move from one chapter to the next. Thank You for Pastor Amy’s leadership and the love she poured into this church family. Thank You for the memories, the healing, and the hope that she has left with us.

As we remember her faithfulness, help us most of all to remember Yours. You are unfailing, unwavering, and unchanging. When we are uncertain about what comes next, remind us You are already there, preparing the way.

Give us willing hearts to sit in Your presence, to listen for Your voice, and to follow where You lead. Strengthen us to carry forward the good work You have begun, that we may declare Your mighty acts to the next generation.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

FEED MY SHEEP

Amy Peters, Speaker

5/4/25

“My Friends Call Me Joe”

A Servant’s Heart and Peter’s Legacy

Written by Linda Waltersdorf Cobourn, EdD

He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

John 21:17

In the Cold of Crisis – The Gift of Presence

My daughter and I were numb with cold and grief. All we knew was that my husband’s injuries were severe—life-threatening. His chest had been crushed by the steering wheel when a truck crashed into Ron’s car on Paoli Pike. Hours later, we sat in a freezing room off the trauma center, waiting to learn if Ron would survive.

Ron’s parents and brother were gathered on the other side of the room, silent and mournful. My friend Chris and her mother were near Bonnie and I, quietly praying.

There had been no update from the operating room for over an hour.

The “ding” of the elevator in the hallway broke the silence. The doors slid open and two men stepped out. I caught sight of their faces as they headed our way.

“Mr. Slawter, Mr. Kounnas,” I said quietly as I rose to greet two deacons from our church. In their hands were thermoses of hot coffee and a packet of sandwiches. “Thanks for coming.”

“My friends call me Joe,” said one with a twinkle in his eye.

“Joe,” I said, and hugged him. Joe was then and after, a God-send.

Peter’s Redemption and Commission

When Peter meets the risen Jesus, he is sorrowful; three times he denied the Savior, and three times Jesus questions him: Do you love me?

“Yes, Lord,” Peter says. “You know I love you.”

“Then feed my sheep,” Jesus tells him.

Peter, once known as Simon the hot-headed fisherman, becomes the “rock” of the early church. He was the first of the disciples to recognize Jesus as Messiah (Mark 8:29) and one of the first to arrive at the empty tomb. He becomes a leader transformed by grace and commission—serving not out of pride but out of love.

In my moment of deepest need, Joe lived out that same commission. Coffee and sandwiches may seem small, but to us in that room, they were the hands and feet of Jesus. Joe fed God’s sheep—literally and spiritually—by showing up and loving well.

A Faithful Life Well Lived

Samuel Joseph Kounnas “fed the sheep” of Jesus in every sense of the word. A family man married to Mary for 71 years and father to three daughters, Joe made his living as a mechanic. But his real joy was in serving the Lord however he could: teaching Sunday School, running the bus ministry, or driving a van full of senior citizens. His impact on others was great.

On Thursday, May 1, 2025, God called this faithful man home to Heaven. While those who knew the amazing Mr. Kounnas called him “Joe,” God undoubtedly greeted him as a “good and faithful servant.”

Joe wasn’t rich or famous. It’s doubtful many people outside Delaware County knew his name. But Joe lived as Peter lived: humbly, obediently, and with steadfast love for the Lord. Whether it was coffee and sandwiches, a handshake and a hug, or a quiet hospital visit, Joe did what he was told.

He fed God’s sheep.

Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the life of Samuel Joseph Kounnas, a man who showed us what it means to serve with quiet faithfulness. Thank You for the ways he lived out Your command to feed Your sheep—through kindness, presence, and love. Help us to follow his example, to see needs around us, and to serve not for recognition but out of love for You. Comfort all who grieve Joe’s passing and strengthen us to carry forward the legacy of faith he left behind. In Your holy name we pray, Amen.

A Note from the Author to the Kounnas Family:
To the entire Kounnas family, thank you for sharing Joe with us all these years. His kindness, faithfulness, and servant’s heart have left a deep and lasting impact. I grieve with you, and we rejoice in knowing Joe is now in the presence of his Savior.

Linda