Continued from page 1 – enjoying the journey
Well done, church!
I’ m also grateful for how you engaged with our August series,“ Good Fruit.” Watching you wrestle with love, joy, peace, patience, and the rest of the Spirit’ s fruit in real time was encouraging to me … y’ all bless my life! Keep living it out. The fruit isn’ t just something we study on Sundays; it’ s how we treat one another in the grocery line, at work, around the dinner table, and in the hard moments when no one is watching.
Now we turn the page to a new series:“ The Goodness of God.” In a world that often feels uncertain and restless, this fourpart series is inspired by the Bethel Music anthem that declares,“ All my life You have been faithful … so, so good.” We will walk slowly through the entirety of Psalm 23, journeying with the Shepherd who provides, leads, restores, protects, and pursues us with goodness and love. From green pastures to the darkest valley and finally into the house of the Lord forever, we’ ll celebrate God’ s constant faithfulness. The series titles are: All My Life You Have Been Faithful, Held in Your Hands –
2
Daily Provision, Through the Fire – God’ s Presence in Trials, and Goodness Running After Me – God’ s Pursuing Love and Hope.
The series begins on September 6 with Laity Sunday- one combined service at 10:00 a. m. Right after worship we will gather for a potluck lunch at 11:15. The church will provide the meat and drinks; you bring your favorite sides and desserts. Come hungry, come ready to linger, and come ready to catch up with people you may not have seen in a while. These gatherings are about relationships- building real connection and supporting one another through the highs and the lows. We need each other. When you are not present on a Sunday morning, in a small group, or in Sunday School, something is missing. We are incomplete without you.
One more practical note. The Parking Lot Capital Project is now complete- Praise God! Thank you to everyone who has already given and pledged. If you still have a pledge outstanding, would you aim to fulfill it by the end of September? And if you are able to give a little extra, that would be a gift and a blessing.
Completing the project without dipping deep into our capital reserves is important. Those reserves are what we lean on for ongoing maintenance and unbudgeted expenses like repairing or replacing HVAC units that have already reached the end of their life cycle. Protecting those funds now is simply wise stewardship for the future.
I love being your pastor. I love watching this church family care for one another in ordinary, faithful ways. Let’ s keep showing up— for worship, for one another, and for the work God is still doing among us. The invitation extended by Jesus to his earliest disciples continues to be offered to us,“ Follow me.” Will we extend that invitation to others? We may not always know where we are going, but we know who we are following. God is faithful. Therefore, we expect great things, and we are certain we will enjoy the ride!