REV. Zachery Sarrault, Associate PASTOR
Pastor’s Corner for January 25-31
On You Has Light Shown
(Isaiah 9:1-4)
“But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish” (Isaiah 9:1). When we come across promises like this in the Bible, we can be filled with hope because when God makes a promise, it’s as good as done, already accomplished for us. The day is coming when there will be no more gloom and we won’t even remember what anguish was like. What a grand and awesome day that will be! While some of us hold onto that promises with joy-filled-anticipation, others of us find ourselves angered by such a promise, only thinking, “But what about my gloom and anguish today?” You may or may not find yourself in that mindset; if you don’t, I’m sure someone in your life does.
It’s hard to grapple with the future promises of God because they can seem so distant from our daily reality. Gloom seems nearer to us than God’s promises. Gloom can be an accurate word to describe our day-to-day experiences, not quite as extreme as anguish and not as uplifting as joyous. Gloom is the cloudy, cold, and rainy day that we slog through, knowing we need to accomplish our tasks yet not feeling up to the calling, always having something else on our mind that distracts us from the promise of what is to come.
The longer we find ourselves in that gloomy place, the longer we “walk in darkness.” That darkness can be the dark of our sin, worldly circumstances, broken relationships, or even little annoyances. Walking in the darkness of gloom can lead us into anger, frustration, despair, and pain. When we are groping around in the gloomy darkness of day-to-day life, we will never find the light on our own. We know light is out there, we know a promise is coming, but it seems too distant to make a difference. But it does.
It does make a difference, and it isn’t too far away, but the promise is already accomplished for us today! “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” Jesus proclaims. His kingdom is already happening among us, in us, and through us. For those of us stumbling around in gloomy darkness, you “have seen a great light” and on you “has light shown.” The promised light of Jesus has already happened to you now. That light comes shining in radiant brightness from the mouth of an empty grave, shouting victory over all darkness and all gloom that tries to weigh us down. The burden of gloom and darkness is real, but it is also defeated. No matter the darkness of your gloomy days, the light of the resurrection shines bright, winning victory of evil today.
Your shined upon brother in Christ,
Pastor Zach Sarrault
Ordination and Installation of Pastor Zachery Sarrault (July 18, 2021):
Sunday was a great day at RLC! We celebrated the Ordination and Installation of our new Associate Pastor Zachery Sarrault. It was a beautiful service with a heartfelt sermon by his father, Pastor Joel Sarrault. Congratulations and welcome, Pastor Zach! Thank you to all who participated in this special day.
Pastor Sarrault Ordination and Installation
Pastor Zachery Sarrault Ordination and Installation Bulletin
From Pastor Zach (July 16, 2021):
Hey Resurrection Family!
Kelsey and I are finally here! We have finished up at St. Louis, seen family in Michigan, and moved into our new home. After all of that traveling and living out of suitcases, we couldn’t be happier to finally be back to something comfortable. Comfort is always something nice to hold on to. All of us have something that makes us comfortable, whether it be a family member or friend, a good book or fishing pole, a quilting machine or a wood shed, we all have our go-to comfort places. This is part of being human! We love comfort!
The thing with comfort is that sometimes we get too comfortable. We can settle in and tell ourselves that we never wish to see any change. “Life would be perfect if I could just stay in my recliner with Tom Sawyer all day.” Or whatever your comfort may be. Sadly, we know that this isn’t how life works. No matter how much we enjoy our comforts, ‘real life’ happens and it disrupts those little joys. But, is it ‘real life’ or is it God, calling us into His mission to do more than just the comfortable?
Jesus never led a life of comfort. From the manger to the cross and even the empty tomb, Jesus’ life was one of challenge and the uncomfortable. When one of the scribes declared that he would follow Jesus, all Jesus had to say was, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matt. 8:20). Kind of an odd response, one that rightly scared away the scribe. Probably would have scared me too!
So, what does this mean for us? Are we supposed to throw away all of our earthly comforts and live lives of asceticism? Not at all! But we are called to know where these comforts come from and who our ultimate comfort is. In all things, comfort or challenge, our Lord and Savior stands before us, behind us, and beside us. As Jesus prepared His disciples for life after His death and resurrection, Jesus told His followers, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
There is our ultimate comfort! Not in our little hide-a-ways or indulgences, but in the One who has overcome all sin and who has promised us peace. Our comfort is in the faith that we have through Christ’s death and resurrection. Our comfort is in the kingdom of God that has already been given to us! That is a comfort that is never changing and never ending. No matter what God has in store the Sarraults in North Carolina, we know that the comfort of our Lord will always prevail!
In the comfortable and the uncomfortable, but always in Christ,
Pastor Zach Sarrault
From Pastor Jonathan (July 15, 2021):
There's a new face at Resurrection! Seminarian Zach Sarrault and wife Kelsey made it down to Cary last Monday, and soon-to-be "Pastor Zach" is already taking part in leadership team activities here at RLC. He will serve as Associate Pastor at Resurrection... meaning he will be working full-time in all aspects of ministry: preaching and teaching, visiting the homebound, discipling others, showing up at youth events, leading school and preschool chapel services, making friends in his neighborhood, evangelizing... and doing it all as one who is privileged to be an Under-Shepherd of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We are very blessed to have him and Kelsey in our midst!
Though the Sarraults hail from Michigan they know a little bit about our area already since Zach served as Vicar at Hope Lutheran Church in Wake Forest from 2019 to 2020. At church you can find Pastor Zach in the Associate Pastor's office, next door to the main office on the left side. I look forward to working with Pastor Zach and seeing him welcomed as warmly by all of you as Juli and I were not so long ago! May God bless and further your ministry among us, Pastor!