Pastor's Report - July 2014

Pastor’s Report – July 2014

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my

witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

           

          Our “God and Country Day” celebration last week was an excellent opportunity to remember our heritage and to consider our ongoing mission to represent our faith in a clear and convincing way to our neighbors and the world.  I have enjoyed our current preaching series in the Book of Acts on Sunday mornings. The central theme in Acts revealed in the verse at the top of this page focuses on our calling to be His witnesses.  As a church family we have agreed that our mission is to “Know God and to make Him known.”  As we enter the summer season with visitors and seasonal residents flooding into the area we will have ample opportunity to bring light into the darkness.  Those around us desperately need to know Jesus! One exciting outreach coming up this month is our Vacation Bible School. A great team of volunteer workers is coming together to reach out to children and their parents by presenting the gospel through Bible stories, music, and recreation. A small group of volunteers participated in the Windjammers parade and handed out hundreds of invitations to VBS. Your prayers for this outreach and your willingness to help, and to invite neighbors, friends, and family to bring their children are vital to its success.

            I continue to be encouraged by the sense of “family” that is developing within our church. Our vision statement says that “We envision a community of Christ followers, rooted in the Word, treasuring God as supremely valuable, and proclaiming the riches of His grace to the world.”  I am convinced that an involvement in a small group is an important means to deepening our relationships internally, and also a key to preparing us to more effectively share Christ with those in our sphere of influence.  As we look ahead to re-start many of our small groups in September, would you prayerfully consider your involvement?  We would love to see an even greater participation in small groups. If you have not been a part of a group we would love to help you to get connected.  It also may be that God would have you host or lead a group in the fall.  If you are interested in the possibility please talk to me or to one of the other elders.

            The realities of life in a fallen world mean that inevitably we will have times of struggle and conflict in our lives and relationships. I continue to be available to counsel individuals and couples as needs arise.  Our Wednesday night prayer time led by Sam Michael has been an opportunity to spend some time in the Word and then to bring our petitions and prayers before the throne of grace. Bible, prayer, fellowship: that is a combination that the Lord will bless.

Your co-workers in Christ,

Pastor Steve and Mary Ann