Pastor Devotions – Jesus is the Light of the World

By Pastor Mark Woodward

Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith

Churches (and Lenora)

On October 2, 2024, my beloved wife, best friend and partner in ministry passed away from an undiagnosed heart condition.  I was shocked and devastated by her passing.  Pastor Deanna Woodward was truly a ray of sunshine and light in my life and she will be forever missed.  She touched the lives of many, many people and brought happiness and joy in countless ways.   She emulated the light of Jesus Christ in her daily living.   

It has been a while now since her passing and I have had some time to reflect and think about her life and the ways she brought happiness and joy into the lives of others and how as a disciple of Jesus she lived her life with compassion, kindness and love.  Deanna was the kind of person who radiated the Good News and Light of Jesus in beautiful ways – she always brought encouragement,  forgiveness and grace  in her life and ministry.  She was a faithful servant who served the church in beautiful ways in the course of her ministry. The Light of Jesus always shone in her life.

As I write this devotional, I am so very proud that in the very near future the cross on top of Spring Valley: Faith United Methodist Church will be illuminated at night in memory of Pastor Deanna Woodward.  It will serve as an ongoing reminder of the Light of Jesus that shines in our world today.  God’s Word reminds us that  “Jesus is the Light of the world and that the darkness will never overcome the Light of Jesus Christ.”  It is the Light of Jesus that shines in the darkness reminding us of God’s unending love.

So … I write this article out of love for Deanna – my wife, best friend and partner in ministry.   May the Light of Jesus shine in you and me today and may we walk hand in hand with Jesus living and sharing God’s grace, forgiveness and love.  No matter how dark or bleak the situation might seem, let us always remember that it is the LIght of Jesus that shines forever and the darkness will never overcome it.  Let the Light of Jesus shine in us today!

I am blessed to be able to serve four love-filled churches … Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston and Spring Valley: Faith.  All four of them have crosses that light up at night reminding us of the Light of Jesus Christ!  Praise be to God!

God’s blessings always!

Your friend,

Mark Woodward