Pastor's Notes for July 18, 2010

CITY WIDE YARD SALE, August 6 & 7, will start in our parking lot at 7:00 a.m. Different groups, committees, and individuals will clean various areas of the church building and prepare items for the sale. The Men’s group
has volunteered to do the Annex Basement and the area under the stairwell in the Fellowship Hall. Other areas to be cleaned and gleaned are the kitchen, the choir room, and baptistery rooms. Call the office to volunteer for an area.

A HUGE THANKS to everyone who volunteered in the Picnic booth and to all who came by to visit. Special thanks to Jennie Barrett for chairing the project and Don Wooldridge for set up and transport of items to our space. Eighteen volunteers filled the hours at the booth so that our congregation could have a presence at the picnic.

OUR YOUTH, facilitated by Lisa Cochran, parked cars during the picnic to help supplement the camp tuition and replenish the youth fund. Appreciation to Lisa for her oversight and to Kendall Voris for painting the parking lot. Also our thanks to Quentin Walsh for mowing the lot and bringing the sawhorses to hold the signs.

During the picnic project the story of the loaves and fishes kept coming to my mind. The little boy brought his little bit and offered it to Jesus and Jesus expanded it to be more than any of them could have imagined! And so it was with our picnic/parking lot project. We each brought our little bit--an hour here and an hour there. We trust Jesus to bless and expand the little bit we brought to him to accomplish his purposes.

Last Sunday, July 11, our worshiping attendance was 58. Today, the Sunday after the picnic (traditionally a much lower attendance) Doug counted 58! That in itself is beautiful and encouraging, but after the count 2 or 3 people came in, so the unofficial count for the Sunday after the Picnic is 60 or 61. We give our little bit--an hour here, an hour there. We trust Jesus to bless and expand the little bit we bring to him to accomplish his purposes.

Reflecting on the Scriptures: The Hope of GLORY
Colossians 1:15-28. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God—but Christ in you is the hope of glory! Jesus brought reconciliation, forgiveness and hope—a mystery hidden for generations revealed to the saints!

Luke 10:38-42. In his life Jesus pointed away from the worries and distractions of this world. His teachings call us to listen and learn from him. Christ in us shaping our values and priorities is the hope of glory. Choose the better part.

Amos 8:1-12. R rated due to violence! God’s judgment is promised to those who reject God’s word, ignore God’s warnings and continue to use, abuse and cheat others.

Psalm 52. When evil prevails our only hope is a faithful God in whom we take refuge—a faithful God revealed in Jesus Christ! Christ in you, the hope of glory!