Pastor Susan's Letter
Heaven On Earth
Pastor’s Letter: Found this online. It touched my heart. So, I’m sharing it with you – because sharing good news is what we do at St. Vincent United Church of Christ.
The promise of heaven awaits all of us who follow Jesus. The moment you step into heaven, everything you carried in this world - every fear, every regret, every hidden weight, and every hurt - will fade away. The burdens you didn’t even realize were there will simply leave you. They have no place in the presence of the perfect love of heaven.
And when you get there, you won't be walking into something unfamiliar – it will feel like walking home - into the home your soul has always longed for. There won't be any confusion, any striving, or wondering if you’re good enough. You’ll be seen fully, known completely, and welcomed with open arms.
And Jesus will be there with you as he always has been – but now you can see him and touch him. He embraces you - and in that moment, every question will fade, every wound will be healed, and every tear will be replaced with peace and joy that is deeper than anything you’ve ever known. You’ll be completely and eternally free of all care and concerns.
It won’t feel strange or overwhelming. It’ll feel “right” – like finally coming home after a long journey. You’ll know that you belong there - not because you earned it - but because God made a way for that to be so.
But you don’t have to wait for heaven for such a blessing. That state of “being” can begin right now for you. If life has you down – keep going – keep letting love be your guide and purpose – love for God, love for yourself, love for others.
Keep the faith and let go of everything that hinders your hope and peace and joy in life – so that “heaven on earth” might become possible for you here and now.
Go forth in pursuit of a peace that passes all understanding because you have chosen to follow the ways of Jesus with your whole heart. Amen.
About Our Pastor
This is our pastor, Reverend Susan Hanson,
She was ordained in the United Church of Christ at her home church, St. John's UCC in Lansdale, PA on January 9th, 1994, during a winter weather event of snow and ice. That storm didn't stop their celebration that day, and she hasn't stopped serving in the ministry since then—no matter what. We appreciate that about her, and you will too when you get to know her.
Pastor Susan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development from Florida State University, a Master of Divinity degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary, and a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Counseling from Moravian Theological Seminary.
She also completed her certification as a Reiki Master in 2013—the same year she came to our church, St. Vincent United Church of Christ. Additionally, she has participated in specialized training through the United Church of Christ to serve as an intentional interim minister, assisting churches during transitions from one settled pastor to the next.
In her early thirty-year career as an ordained minister, it became her calling to support churches during these transitional times, taking her to twelve different settings in local churches and chaplaincy positions in nursing home facilities. She'll tell you that she “has seen it all, heard it all, been through it all” with the people she's met—and even so, she still loves working with them in ministry settings.
That love is what brought her to St. Vincent United Church of Christ—her “lucky number 13” setting, as she likes to call it. When she arrived, it was to serve as a temporary supply pastor during our transition. However, we liked each other so much that we decided to continue together on a permanent basis. In April 2018, Rev. Hanson was installed as our settled pastor.
Our pastor believes that ministry is something we all do when we strive to be like Jesus and follow his ways. Her role, as she sees it, is to help all of us be the heart, hands, and voice of Jesus in our own time and place, to do good, make a positive difference, and leave the world a better place for having been here. She says, “That's the way real ministry happens—one gracious thought, one good word, one act of kindness—one moment at a time.”
Susan and her husband, Doug, who is also an ordained pastor at St. Peter's Pikeland UCC, live in Chester Springs. They have three grown children—daughter Laurabeth and son Eric live in the local area, while their daughter Lindsay and her husband Charlie reside in Alabama, where they are raising two grandchildren of whom Pastor Susan will be happy to show you pictures and share how wonderful they are—just like any proud grandparent.
Come, join us at St. Vincent United Church of Christ and meet our pastor. If you are looking for a worship experience that makes you feel good for having been here, then come and connect with us. We worship together every Sunday to share the spirit, the light, and the love of Jesus, creating a little heaven on earth and empowering us to take that love back out into the world we live in, where our ministry truly matters.