Good morning,
2024 has begun much like 2023 began. The world seems to be a mess. There is still a war going on in Ukraine and some folks are saying it could last another couple of years. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict rages on and rumors of additional wars are in the news all the time. Stateside, grocery prices are still sky high and seem to keep rising. It’s been an especially bad cold and flu season, and many people are struggling with illness. The rancor that has marked our national discourse isn’t getting any better and will likely only get worse as this is an election year. To make things worse, the pastor at Andrews Bridge just reminded us of all of that in what is supposed to be an encouragement email!
All jokes aside (we need a little humor now and then to help us cope), I hope that everyone is staying safe and staying as healthy as possible. I have tried to count my blessings and name them one by one over the past week or so. I’ll admit that some days that is harder to do than others. But even during seasons of disappointment and discouragement, the blessings of God are abundant. This morning I was reading the Book of Lamentations. That isn’t the most popular book of the Bible, and I doubt that it is anyone’s favorite, but it is a very important one for us to study, because it contains many truths about the providence, grace, and mercy of God.
I was especially drawn to Lamentations 3:31-33:
For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.
At times God brings judgement and correction into our lives. Other times He simply allows us to experience grief, heartache, and discouragement. But it NEVER brings Him pleasure to do so.
For reasons that belong to Him, God decided to not intervene in Ukraine and in other parts of the world in 2023. He has also decided not to intervene in some cases of illness and when folks are struggling financially. That His right as God, and we must accept the truth that He is sovereign and is using all things in the world for His purposes. God is great, and God is good. He is both of those things all the time.
AND, because He is great and He is good…because He is full of love and grace and mercy and desires to pour out His goodness upon us…I am hopeful and have great anticipation for what will happen in my home and in your home and in homes all across this country and indeed this world in 2024 . I believe that God is going to reach people who would never think to come to a church building, and I believe that God is going to be present in our homes in a way that we never could have imagined.
The tomb is still empty…Jesus is still victorious…and countless people are going to hear that message in the coming year. Praise be to God!
Here’s what’s happening:
- Our 25th Anniversary Banquet is rescheduled for next Friday night at 6pm. Please plan to arrive a few minutes before 6 pm. There is no seating chart…just find some friendly faces (there will be plenty) and enjoy the evening.
- Beginning this Sunday we will pass the offering baskets during the 1st song after our welcome/announcements time, remaining seated for that song and then standing for the 2nd and 3rd If you would prefer to use the offering box, please do so.
If you would be willing to serve as an usher for the offering, please see myself or Gerald Rohrer. It is important to note that we will evaluate this after a few months (as we do all with all our worship practices and ministries) and may make changes.
- Men’s Breakfast is on Saturday, January 27 at Hometown Kitchen at 8 am.
- Sign up to help Nancy Ranck here: https://www.carecalendar.org/logon/312666. Calendar ID is 312666 and the security code is 5047. We could use someone early next week.
- Vison docs and arrows are in the church lobby if you didn’t get them and would like them.
- Senior High Youth are heading to the Great American Outdoor Show on 2/3. See Gary Barrett if you would like to go and myself for a parent permission form.
- Junior Youth meet on Sunday 2/4. Senior High meet the following Sunday, 2/11
This Sunday we will continue our sermon series on the parables of Jesus by looking at the Parable of the Cancelled Debt found in Luke 7. Showing emotion in public is hard for a lot of people, even when it’s in a worship service. But showing emotion is a good thing, because nothing great happens without great emotion. We’ll look at what truths we can learn from a very formal meal, a very uninvited guest, and a very public show of emotion and love.
Scott