Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father's glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow flood the nations with love and mercy;
Send forth your Word, Lord, and let there be light!
Maybe you know this modern hymn. It is one we sing every Epiphany Season. Epiphany is the season of light. In the darkness of January and February it is good to seek light, especially the light that only Jesus can shine in our lives.
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Epiphany starts with the story of the Wise Men arriving in Bethlehem searching for the Christ child. It goes to hearing about the baptism of Jesus by John at the River Jordan and as He comes up out of the river the heavens are torn open as the Holy Spirit descends on Him like a dove, and the voice of God announces that Jesus is His Son. We continue hearing how Jesus brings light into the world during His earthly ministry giving us hope and light. Then the climax comes, as Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain with Him and they see Him transfigured into His heavenly glory with Moses and Elijah. They speak together about what awaits Jesus in Jerusalem and then a great light shines as God speaks to them from a cloud saying again that Jesus is His Son and adds "Listen to Him."
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Epiphany shows that no matter how much darkness comes into our lives God's light will shine through and will guide us to the brightest light that comes from God himself. As we head into the darkest days that begin this new year, let us look to that light that shines from God and follow Him.
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I invite you to come and hear more about the light of God at worship on Sunday mornings at 9:00. It would be a joy to see you there!
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Blessings,
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Pastor Nila Cogan
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Many of you have seen me over the years throughout the mission district in various ways; as a pastor, a member of the mission district council, an assistant to the Dean, as coordinator of youth activities and as camp director, but let me introduce myself. I was born and raised in Somerset County on a large dairy farm. My maiden name was Shaffer, hence my German Lutheran roots. I married my high school sweetheart, Larry Cogan in August of 1974, yes, I have been married for 49 years. We are the proud parents of three daughters and one son and have been blessed with ten grandchildren.
I felt a call from God when I was fourteen years old but had no idea what that meant at that time. I have always been involved in my church and I was very involved (prior to 2009) in the Allegheny Synod. Larry and I have always been involved in agriculture. In his younger days Larry worked for Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and then in 1984 we purchased a large greenhouse and floral business near Somerset. In 1999 I attended classes offered by the Allegheny Synod to be a Lay Worship Leader and then attended Gettysburg Seminary in a program to be authorized as a youth minister. I started my seminary studies in 2005. While doing my seminary studies I served a small congregation in the outskirts of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Dunmyer Lutheran, and received a call to continue serving them when I was ordained in 2009. Dunmyer was one of the original churches of the NALC. When St Thomas Lutheran joined the NALC in 2011, their pastor stayed with the ELCA so Dunmyer graciously extended help to St Thomas by offering to have me serve them until they could call a new pastor. Ten months later I was installed as that called pastor. St Thomas Evangelical Lutheran is a rural congregation in northeast Somerset County, surrounded by farmland and is also the home of the location of our In-Tents Camps.
In 2018 Larry and I bought a small farm north of Somerset and we raise sheep and pigs and make hay. My passions are first – GOD, second – family and third – farming.
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