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We have been blessed with beautiful weather this week that looks to stick around for much of the weekend. Tomorrow is a busy day with the Wee Friends Carnival and Ruth and I are looking forward to helping in the morning. Thanks to many of you who are helping or have donated items for this event. What a great day it will be as we celebrate 50 years of the Wee Friends preschool program. Think about the many lives that this ministry has touched over the years and how it continues to bless children and families today.

This morning we will gather to worship God in the celebration of the life of Anna Jane Glisson. Prayers for Dave and Nancy Wimer and their family and Jeff and Kim Glisson and their family are needed. A week from tomorrow we will gather again for the celebration of life service for Jim Showalter. Continue to pray for Cinda as we prepare for that service in the coming days.

Our Church Board met on Monday this week and you will be getting Church Board updates soon. One of the big decisions we made was to replace two of the heat/ac units that are failing. The cost will exhaust our Building maintenance fund in addition to requiring some budget funds. Please consider making an extra donation to the building maintenance fund to offset the costs of the new units. The Executive Committee met as well to set the agenda for the Congregational Business meeting coming Wednesday, May 13th at 7:00 pm.

On Tuesday this week, I was blessed to a part of the Oaks event as we visited Glenn Eshleman’s art gallery in Strasburg. It was fascinating to hear Glenn’s story of starting Sight and Sound and to see his collection of paintings many of which are bible scenes. Glenn gave us quite a tour and it was an excellent outing for the Oaks ministry including lunch together afterward. If you are an older adult and free through the day, consider becoming a part of the Oaks ministry and enjoy the fellowship that we have together.

On Wednesday evening, we gathered for a Roots meal and then had an intergenerational service project evening. A number of projects were completed, and it was great to see the congregation working together to complete our “to do” list. My thanks to Janae and the Witness Commission for organizing the event.

Next week, Janae and five others will be going to the D6 Conference in Nashville, TN. I am unable to go this year but glad that we are sending volunteers from our church. I was blessed to go last year and know that those who are going this year will be blessed by the training and information that is shared. 

Last Friday, Ruth and I were able to gather with our daughters and son-in-law to celebrate our daughters’ birthdays. It was a great evening together and the first time we had been together in weeks. Ruth is to have surgery on her foot on May 8th and she is ready. She is limited now in her walking and was unable to go on the hike last Sunday but was able to ride her bike on the trail.

This week will be week 15 of our Believe series and our focus is on total surrender. Our text is Romans 12:1-2 and as challenging as last Sunday’s theme of single-mindedness was, total surrender is just as challenging. I dare say it is a practice that we all need to work on. Looking forward to engaging in this subject in our Sunday School and worship services this week. This week is also our Mealbarrow Sunday. Let’s try to fill the wheelbarrow to overflowing with non-perishable food items for the Solanco Food Bank so please bring your donated items with you on Sunday. The wheelbarrow will be in the gathering area.

Let me close with this: Much of my devotional reading this week involved the apostle, Paul. When I think of single-mindedness as I was this week, Paul clearly stands out. He was all in for Jesus. His life was laser focused on sharing the Gospel. He was all about Jesus all the time. Paul says in I Corinthians 2:2. “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” And in Galatians 2:20 he says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lies in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Paul went so far as to say in Philippians 1:21 that “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” No question that Paul had a single-minded focus on the Lord. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” That promise keeps me focused as I strive for total surrender like Paul to the Lord I love and serve.

Have a great weekend. I hope to see you at the funeral today or the carnival tomorrow. Let’s ready ourselves for another amazing Lord’s day together as we seek to think, act, and be like Jesus.  It is Friday...but praise God Sunday is coming!

Pastor Kevin