Grace and peace in the name of Jesus Christ!
I must confess I enjoy these cooler days as we enter into September. At the same time, I mourn the shorter daylight hours and the thoughts of winter just around the corner.
Still, all of these seasonal changes remind me that change is a part of God’s creative hand. We see that creative nature of God revealed all around us every day. This is also true as we look into the life of the church as the leaves begin to glow with the coming of Autumn.
September seems like a whirlwind of activity… a kind of “kick-off” for the programmatic side of the church. I’d like to encourage all of you to invite someone to come to worship as we continue to move through the liturgical year. People often get the urge to return to worship at this time of the year and only need to be invited by someone.
Our local mission outreach will continue through our “Fellowship Feast” which offers a home cooked meal to the church and community free of charge. The Feast happens on the second Saturday of each month beginning at 5:30pm. We can always use more help in serving and cleaning up after these important meals… Also keep our Chef Brian Grassi in your prayers as he recovers from back surgery… Brian creates some wonderful meals for us each month.
On September 17, I will be leading a study called, “What Are We Fighting For? Coming Together on What Matters Most”. This six-week study will help us re-focus on why we exist as the church and where we might be headed as we look to the future. Written by Bishop Tom Bickerton the study will challenge us to decide what really matters most as we serve Christ. I especially encourage our leadership to commit to this study.
Sunday School is beginning to organize looking to classes beginning in October this year. Watch for more information. We can always use a few more teachers and helpers… maybe God is calling you!
We are also gearing up for our Halloween “Trunk or Treat” to be held on Saturday, October 26th from 1-3 pm. We are always looking for more “trunks” and encourage everyone to consider becoming a part of this event. With an annual participation of over 300 people, this safe and fun event continues to be a staple for our community neighbors and friends.
On the spiritual side, let me encourage you to really focus on some individual prayer time in the coming months as well. With all that is happening in the world around us, prayer becomes a lifeline assuring us of God’s presence in the world. Prayer works… it changes lives… it builds and sustains hope, and offers all of us a sense of relationship with the One who has given us life and breath in the past, and the promise of everlasting life in the future.
Thank-you for praying for your church, our leaders, our staff and each other.
Now take a look at the other articles in this edition of “The Journey” and enjoy the colors, smells, sights and sounds of the coming of Fall!
Until next time…
Rev. Mike Bealla