Vacation — for a change

I may be dressing a little better in weeks to come.

I buy new clothes only when I go on vacation. (I have to have enough clothes to wear for two weeks.) I haven’t taken a vacation for many years now, so my wardrobe is a bit bedraggled.

But I just bought out the store.

I am about to go on vacation after this Sunday.

Rev. Eric McKinney and Jane have invited us (me, my sister and preacher friend Rev. Meissner) to stay in their cabin in Vermont. They have invited us for three years. We finally said yes.

I will preach this Sunday.

After that, Mary will preach for two weeks.

We have a concert on Saturday, Oct. 14—three days after we get back. It is all planned. Blake and I will be singing.

And, yes, I am reluctant to sing on a program with Blake. Who wants to hear me with Blake there? (I don’t.) But I can’t put the whole concert on him.

So, there you are. We will actually sing together on one old hymn: “Softly and Tenderly.”

On the Sunday after that concert—Oct. 15th —the Rev. Beverly Tye, a part of our church family, will be preaching. She will share her spiritual journey in a sermon called My Walk with God.

So, we’ve got wonderful things coming: Mary, the concert with Blake, then Beverly.

And our choir starts up soon—with some new members.

Isn’t it great to be in church?

And to know that “we are loved, we are forgiven, we are forever.”

See you Sunday.

Hello dear friends,

I am grateful for the cooler weather, even as I drive through my neighborhood and see all the huge trees downed in last week’s storms. With the blessing of lower temperatures, a little rain must fall.😃

COVID is still moving like a snake through our community. I cannot stress enough the importance of wearing a mask if you have any immune system issues or take any medication that suppresses your immune system. WEAR A MASK. And everyone, please wash your hands often, take your vitamins, and stay home if you are sick. A case of mild COVID calls for 10 days of isolation after testing positive. Let’s keep each other safe.

My love to all. I look forward to spending time with you this fall. Mary

We discussed the wonderful creation of God. We have discussed the creation of different plants and animals that inhabit the earth. In Sunday school, the kids were sure He was happy with His creations; then he created man to care for the earth. What if we took time to really appreciate God’s creations and care for and appreciate the wonders of creation through the eyes of a child? God created people to be different and unique, just like God created the rest of the world. After God had created the garden full of beautiful plants and trees, God realized the garden needed a caretaker, so He created a person named Adam. The animals in the garden were helpful to Adam but God became aware that the garden required more work than Adam could maintain. The next person God created was called “helper.” This reiterates God’s divinity within humanity, and our call to work together, side by side, to care for all of creation. God created another person who could work side by side with Adam. Adam named that person Eve. Eve was created to be a partner to Adam, to be in relationship with him and share equally in caring for the garden and the earth.

God used creativity to create beauty and a world of wonder. Help your children know that they are God’s children and help them to create beauty in the world around them. None of us can do this alone; by working together, we can be creative helpers of God. See you in church Sunday.

Blessings

This Sunday

Sermon: A Bigger Barn Won’t Help
Scripture: Luke 12:16-21

About the Concert

We would like to have had a few more people; but it was an “off” week, with lower attendance on Sunday, also. But that’s the way it works in church. The nice thing is that the concert seems to have gone as I hoped it would and I believe people found it meaningful.

You know, the “concerts” that I put together are a bit like revival services. They are intended to be worship experiences—starting somewhere and leading to the cross—which is where all worship leads.

And our other concerts are great because on those we have great singers doing wonderful music.

I think you should always make a point of attending all of our monthly concerts. The next one is on October 14. It will be me and Blake.

I know!—I know!—if Blake is singing, I am hardly necessary. But I don’t want to drop the whole thing on him. Still, the concert will be exciting because “the voice” will be in it.

By the way—thanks to Jason Hardy, Mel Creason, Linda Parker, Veta McCulloch and everyone else who worked to make the concert and dinner possible.

GOD BLESS—-MB

Lists. Making lists is a special talent of mine; completing my lists is another matter entirely. But I “press on toward the mark” as Paul would say, always hoping to experience the feeling of accomplishment. The author of Peter wrote a list for the persecuted Christians living in areas of Asia Minor. I learned today that Asia Minor, now Anatolia, is the part of Western Asia that touches Europe. Peter’s letters, and lists, were important to the new church. Keep these things in mind this week as you move forward in your relationship with God: Onto your faith, add virtue. And to your virtue add knowledge. To knowledge, self-control (good luck with this one). To self-control, add steadfastness or perseverance (NIV translation). To perseverance, godliness; to Godliness, mutual affection for each other. And finally, church, add love. I am grateful to be on this journey with you. Faithfully and as virtuously as I am able, Mary