A friendly reminder that the church office will be closed Monday, September 2, 2013 in observance of Labor Day.
The Warning Label
This Sunday, I’ll be preaching on Hebrews 11.29-12.2 with a sermon titled: “The Warning Label.” We’ll celebrate Holy Communion at both services and Crayton Andrew Taylor will be baptized during the 10:30 service. Hope to see you there!
Help Wanted — Wednesday Night Meals
Carol Williams has taken on the task of organizing the Wednesday Night Meals for the 2013-2014 season and is looking for “a few good volunteers.” If you would like to offer your services as a cook’s assistant, server or just help out cleaning up after the meal-please call the church office.
The first Wednesday Night Meal will kick-off at 5 pm on September 4th with a cook-out in the East Parking Lot (weather permitting, if it rains we’ll go inside to Wright Hall).
Sermon — August 11, 2013
Below is my sermon of August 11, 2013. Jenny was scheduled to preach from this passage, but when she was unable to do so because of an illness in the family, I filled in at the last moment with this sermon.
Children's Choir Bell
Received from Clark Williamson:
“We have 4 children/youth interested in ringing handbells this Fall. We need four more participants to make this a musical reality for the Youth Bell Choir. Practices are tentatively scheduled for Mondays at 4:00-4:45 in our sanctuary to begin on September 16, 2013. There are no requirements or costs to playing handbells and notes can be color-coded to help learn parts. Please contact Clark at church if your child or youth (3rd-8th grade) might consider joining this instrumental ensemble. Once the group gets going they will ring their music during the Prelude of the 10:30 worship service.”
We Should Give Asylum to Egypt’s Coptic Christians
I’m in agreement with Megan McArdle that we should grant asylum to Egypt’s Coptic Christians. As a Christian, I’m concerned about them because they are my brothers and sisters in Christ. As a citizen of the United States religious tolerance, freedom of conscience, and providing refuge for the oppressed are some of my core values.
Sunday School Class Picnic
The Collins family had a great time at the Sunday school class picnic tonight. (I’m not sure exactly which Sunday School class it was.) Thanks to Dave and Cindy Rempe for the house, the patio, the kitchen, the grill, and the pool. Thanks to Dave and Cindy and everyone else for the company.
Youth Group Kickoff
The annual Youth Group Kick off will be held Wednesday, August 28, 2013, beginning at 6 pm. Wendy Robinson promises “Hot dogs Water balloons and fun!”
Thanks
The third funeral is done, and I am home. Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers. I’m going to take a nap.
Prayer Request
I writing to request your prayers. One this coming Friday and Saturday, I will preside over three funerals. I’m finding myself worn out and exhausted in a way I haven’t been since we moved to Abilene more than two months ago. I would ask God for the strength to adequately honor the deceased and proclaim the gospel in the days to come.
Ode to Joy Flashmob
Pam Jackson brought this to my attention. On Sunday mornings we know this as the hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.”
We Have a Story
Below is my column for the September newsletter.
So often the words that move me most are the ones that articulate my own thoughts. That recently happened as I came across a quote from the book Unapologetic: Why, Despite Everything, Christianity Can Still Make Surprising Emotional Sense by Francis Spufford (to be released October 15, 2013). He writes:
“We don’t say that God’s in His heaven and all’s well with the world; not deep down. We say: all is not well with the world, but at least God is here in it, with us. We don’t have an argument that solves the problem of the cruel world, but we have a story.”
We have a story, and the story and God’s presence are sufficient. I think that Christians like myself often spend too much time trying to explain things that cannot ultimately be explained to a skeptical world that isn’t really interested in our explanations. But a story is a powerful thing, and our story is the most powerful story ever.
Our story tells of a God who created all that is and called it good. A God who created humanity to mirror and reflect God’s love into the good creation. A God who remained faithful and loving even when we turned (and still turn) away in rebellion. A God who created a holy people for the redemption of the world and then became flesh and lived among us in Jesus Christ when the chosen people also turned away in rebellion. A God who accepted the suffering of the crucifixion in order to defeat evil and bring to a halt the ongoing cycle of humanity’s fall. A God who raised Jesus on the third day that humanity might rise again (both literally and figuratively). A God who has promised to be with us until the end of the age in the power of the Holy Spirit. A God who will set all things right in the age to come.
When I place myself within this story, I still don’t have a good explanation for evil. I still cannot explain it away, but for some reason my need for an explanation of evil is often almost completely subsumed by the story of what God is doing about it. I hope that you experience this same comfort. I hope that the Holy Spirit grants you this same peace that surpasses all understanding.