Hi Friends,
What wonderful worship last Sunday! It was great to see so many of you there, including students back in town. I know you enjoyed Shawn and Jamie’s music as much as I did because I could see it on your faces and in your enthusiasm. We talked about how God’s Holy Spirit is our Comforter during life’s struggles…that it’s a unique kind of comfort. Divine Comfort isn’t meant to numb us from the pain or even remove the difficult circumstances that we face. Although sometimes God heals and all the time God’s peace enfolds us, many times God coaches us through the pain to get us to the other side. Indeed, all of Creation is going through this kind of transition…from struggle to greater glory. We read from Romans 8 (a great chapter about the Holy Spirit, by the way) where it says the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and helps when we don’t know how to pray. What good news for every single one of us who feels weak in life and even in prayer.
Another New Testament letter that speaks about the themes of comfort, struggles, and future glory is 2Corinthians. Read what is says in Chapter 4:
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
I encourage you to spend time reading either of these two chapters I’ve mentioned and praying for God’s glory to be revealed in your life, our church, and all of Creation. And if it’s hard to find the words to pray , don’t loose heart! The Holy Spirit is uttering something for you right now.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Amber
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- An October/November newsletter will be on it’s way soon. The folding team will meet this Friday at 10 am! It’s not too late to “Go Green” if you want to receive your newsletter electronically. Also, if you know someone who would prefer to be on a “Special Events Only” mailing list, we are starting a new postcard service to be used 3-4 times per year, including holidays. Just email the church at cruni@bellsouth.net for any of these options.
- For this year’s Country Fair we are having a special Prize Drawing to encourage personal connections with our neighbors and local businesses. If you know of a home business that would like to donate free services or products please contact the church office. We can provide an information letter and/or letter of receipt.
- Tech Support Needed! We are looking for some help with technology at the church in both website management and multi-media for worship. If both areas are undertaken together, this could be a paid internship, but would require Sunday morning responsibilities. If you know of anyone who would be interested please have them contact Pastor Amber.
