Greetings, All!
It's August already! I find this quite hard to believe.
Thank you to Deacon Lavone Bond for setting us up for communion yesterday. Anna Lee Schuster is scheduled for next month's communion service.
We had a number of prayer requests, so let's start with that:
Travelers, Ryan in particular
Students getting ready for school
Thanksgiving that Kyle and Cade (Bond) are COVID negative
Tom Anderson
Kurt Goldston
David Beardon
Donna - gall bladder surgery, then other health concerns
Madeleine (Kenna's cousin) - difficult pregnancy
Jeff Lewelling - broken hip, surgery today
Glenda Coles - Physical therapy, then hopefully surgery on neck
Those struggling with depression or other illness
Those affected by the hurricanes
Those affected by being out of work
Our leaders at every level of government
We continue to have Fellowship Hall under lockdown for approximately one more month. Therefore, I have a couple of pastoral visits scheduled this week already. If you desire a visit, please let me know! I have a few more spots available, including Friday lunchtime, when I'd be happy to bring and break bread with you.
This Sunday, August 9th, after church, the Session has our August meeting. I'm working on that agenda.
Our Lectionary text for yesterday was the feeding of the 5,000, in Matthew. As I broke the bread and poured out the juice into the cup yesterday, I thought about the compassion we were told that Jesus had for the people whom he fed that day. The body of Christ and the cup of salvation, poured out for us. If it were not for God's great compassion for us, He would not have poured His wisdom into human form. He came for us, to be with us (theologian John Calvin), because we are utterly in need of Him (theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher).
Friends, let us never forget the compassion that God has for us all. Jesus came to declare sight to the blind and set the prisoners free. May this week you discover that personally for yourself! God bless you and keep you.
Love,
Rev. Amy