Greetings in the Name of Jesus!
Autumn has officially arrived and we enter into the season of change. The weather cools; the leaves change colors; the trees become bare. In the process of God enacting the seasonal change, He will provide us with beautiful panoramas and landscapes. No doubt we will also experience some beautiful sunsets and sunrises. Thank you, O Creator, for filling our visual senses.
As we enter the month of October, we also will witness once again, the reality of a “holiday” that has become synonymous with Satan?that being halloween. I don’t even want to capitalize the word (even though my spell-checker says I should), because it would give the day a sense of legitimacy. I do not, however, suggest that families cannot have fun with halloween. When our children were small, Brenda would dress them up as angels, as hoboes, or as, like, you know, Valley Girls?gag me with a spoon and all that. We would go to the doors in the neighborhood, and on many occasions, have brief “catch-up” conversations with people we knew. I always looked forward to it?especially the party we would have at the church. I would like to see us host a Fall Celebration party, where our children can dress up in costumes (perhaps concealing their identities in order to make me guess who they are). I would like to participate in games and refreshments with them and to continue to build relationship with them.
The Youth Group (UMYF) will be going on a hayride sometime this month. Perhaps we?ll even have a bonfire, roasting marshmallow, making smores (my spell-checker doesn?t recognize the word ?smores?, but the youth know what they are). As for our children, I need your help. I need 3 or 4 of you (maybe 2 or 3 couples with children or grandchildren) to plan this party. The mornings of October 22nd and 29th are open for such a party?whichever works best for you who will step forward for this God-opportunity. Last Sunday?s service with the baptisms and the children?s story show us that God is doing something with children in our church. It?s time that we do something for them beyond Sunday mornings. Please join me in prayer for our children. Will YOU be willing to help me with my hope? (Please call me ASAP / 277-1347).
I hope to see you in church this month. I pray that we become like-minded in the importance we place on being in Worship Sunday mornings. It?s not a matter of law?but a matter of gratitude?a matter of showing the One who loves us so that we love Him?a matter of teaching our children?modeling an example to them?all the while, guiding them to a relationship with Jesus Christ. God is placing a great burden on my heart for people on the periphery of church. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you move inside.
Always in Christ’s love,
Pastor Mark
