Great God our Hope,
We know our journey takes us to mountain tops and through valleys. Often those moments, either of joy or despair, are fleeting. Sometimes we linger there. Sometimes we stay for an extended time. Naturally the wonder and hope of the mountain top is where we would choose to be, where there are beautiful vistas, amazing experiences and life is good, but we know human experience cannot always be a “high”. The dark, shadowy valley’s are also a part of our travels. We find ourselves there because of troubles, illness, grief, and separation. Life’s meaning and purpose are clouded, sometimes even absent. Help us to know, Loving God, that You are there with us in the valley’s and on the mountain tops. May we know Your love and feel Your embrace. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.
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Fig Newton is having surgery tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on the rotator cuff that was repaired a while back and then reinjured as a result of a fall. Please pray for Fig as he recovers and Barb as she cares for him.
Our Extravagant Generosity program begins this Sunday with new Sunday School lessons and a sermon series. We are seeking to move from a culture of fund-raising to a culture of generosity. Please pray for our church during this important time. Culture shifts don’t occur overnight, or even after one program. They occur over a period of time. This is another step toward that goal.
You will be getting a letter this week with a “Heart Card” enclosed. It asks you to share “Things You Love About My Church”. Please write a response and bring with you Sunday. They can be placed in a basket at the Welcome Center. There will also be additional cards there, if, for some reason, you didn’t get one. We are then going to display these in the loggia. They should be fun to read.
The Fall Prayer Vigil is continuing. New people are dropping by. Please take a few minutes to come to the church to pray in the small chapel by the offices.
Central Christian has always been a strong supporter of the Week of Compassion Offering. Our own Carolyn McLemore served on that denominational committee for a number of years. Here is a link outlining the 3rd quarter Response Fund expenditures. It is very informative. http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=ogbla7n6&v=001BpBBz7jUJgBczokXTT8YvgVPJrqcNatMkCqQyZy2L2YSxIzUeNkke6vy6KAItIaOa8LunTSJu7ceWx7gOzoMdR3t8ypCCxtqqxG32dheXiFqzqpn6TgGkw%3D%3D
The scripture for today is 2 Timothy 1:1-7:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.
For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
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