Newsletter Article September 19, 2007

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

With the summer over and school in session, the fall planning of our ministries is in full swing. We are constantly evaluating the effectiveness of the ministries and looking for ways to improve them. Our missions are stepping back up, with Mexico, Kenya and two scheduled trips for the Gulf Coast which are still needing team members. Upward basketball and cheerleading planning is moving upward and Bible studies are abound.
One change that is happening is our Sunday night happenings are moving to Wednesday nights. This will allow all of our age groups to meet on the same night. Dinner will be from 5:45-6:30 and from 6:30-7:30 will be Children, Youth, Bible studies and then Choir at 7:30. We hope that this will make it easier for everyone, and we hope that this will also increase attendance to our church activities.
On another note, this Sunday is Laity Sunday where we will be celebrating the laity of the church. Remember, the laity is the church. So come this Sunday and support the services, they will be great. We will also be commissioning the four people from this church who will be going to Mexico on Sept 28, they are Janis Woods, Sharon Vinson, Rick Peggs, and Michael Dunbar. We are a very busy church and there is always a place for you to get connected. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Pastor Michael

The Presence of Christ

Jesus Christ, who “is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being” (Hebrews 1:3), is truly present in Holy Communion. Through Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, God meets us at the Table. God, who has given the sacraments to the church, acts in and through Holy Communion. Christ is present through the community gathered in Jesus’ name (Matthew 18:20), through the word proclaimed and enacted, and through the elements of bread and wine shared (1 Corinthians 11:23-26.)
Holy Communion always offers grace. We are reminded of what God has done for us in the past, experience what God is doing now as we partake, and anticipate what God will do in the future work of salvation. “We await the final moment of grace, when Christ comes in victory at the end of the age to bring all who are in Christ into the glory of that victory” and we join in feasting at the heavenly banquet table. (Revelation 19:9.)
This Sunday is the first Sunday of the month and as always we will be celebrating Holy Communion. Before Sunday I encourage you to read and reflect on the scriptures that talk about communion. I encourage you to be in prayer for this Sunday that God’s grace will be felt by all who come. This is a community celebration and I pray that we all come into the House of the Lord with joy and excitement. God’s grace will be awaiting you.
Pastor Michael