As many of you are aware, here at Grace we offer the country store four times each year, and this weekend is the time. If you can help set up or drop off donations on Friday at 6 PM, please do! If you can help serve on Saturday morning from 9 to 11:30 AM, that would be great! This is an opportunity to offer people in our community access to cleaning supplies and related items that they cannot get at food pantries. The outreach is a blessing to those who serve just as it is for those who receive the items.
Our Sunday worship this week includes the scripture passages of Psalm 147:1-11 and Mark 1:29-39. The message is entitled “Lifted Up to Serve.” Notice from the reading in Mark’s gospel that Jesus continues his ministry outside the synagogue just as focused and energetic as he started in the synagogue. The church walls do not limit or define the movement of God’s healing work in our world. As always, I hope you will meditate upon these scriptures prior to worship and pray for all who are leading worship each week. We depend upon your prayers.
I have a question for everyone to consider this week. What practices do you make a part of your daily routine to stay focused on your walk with Christ? Do you read scripture daily? Do you have a devotional that you read? Is there someone with whom you regularly share your prayer concerns? It is tempting to neglect healthy spiritual habits. God wants as much time with us as possible so that the Holy Spirit can work in our lives. It is up to each of us to be intentional about our prayer and devotional time. I know that even with ministry as my vocation, I sometimes get off track with my spiritual practices. Getting back to the basic spiritual practices is necessary to live as we are called to live.
Please remember to share our online worship with friends on social media. It is so easy to give people new invitations to worship without leaving home! This is a positive aspect of the many challenges we face these days.
As always, please let me or Pastor Beth know if you are aware of pastoral needs in the community. It is an honor to serve as your pastors.
Pastor Steve Hart