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Last weekend was a beautiful weekend and I was able to bike 8 miles on Friday, 10 miles on Saturday, and then participate in the hike Sunday evening. We had 26 out for our Sunday evening hike and enjoyed our time at Glenroy Preserve, which included precariously crossing a stream twice and interestingly walking through a bamboo tunnel. On Sunday morning, it was great to have our friends Bob and Marty Metka along with both our daughters and my mother and her neighbor at worship. I am thankful for Molly and Bob providing special music and singing with the praise team. It made for a special Sunday for Ruth and I.

 

On Monday this week I was blessed to marry Ray and Suzette Wimer at the church. They have an amazing story of how God brought them together and I was honored to officiate their private wedding ceremony Monday morning. If you see them on Sunday, be sure and congratulate them.

It is hard to believe that this is the last day of July. Now we begin looking forward to August as well as fall. Football training camps are underway. Back to school sales are beginning and talk of the Solanco Fair has already begun. I am looking forward to some great August events including the Stormers game this Wednesday for our Oaks ministry. Sign-up is still there and yes, we will be carpooling for an older adult who would like to attend.

Several special Sundays are coming this month. On Sunday, August 9th, we will receive seven new members into membership. On Sunday, August 23rd, we will have Back-to-School/Bible Handout Sunday! Roots Kids entering Kindergarten, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th grade will receive their new Bibles. Their parents will receive an accompanying resource to help them cultivate the spiritual growth of their children at home. The Bibles will be distributed during the 10:30 am worship service, but both services will take time to pray over the Roots Kids upcoming school year! It is an important Sunday! The month will culminate with Southern End Celebration August 30th with one outdoor service at 10:30 am followed by a fellowship meal. Should be a great month as we begin to transition from summer to autumn.

I was able to visit Carolyn Wenger this week as she continues to rehab at Brethren Village. Carolyn was so appreciative of the cards, flowers, and prayers of her church family. Buddy Waltman was hospitalized this week for shoulder surgery but is now home recovering. Ruth continues to struggle with her foot, and we are hoping that our doctor can find a solution to help ease the pain she has when walking.

Ruth and I are in Harrisburg today. Next week, Molly’s church is having Vacation Bible School and so we are helping her decorate her room in preparation. Their VBS always ends on Saturday at noon with an outdoor picnic/carnival and Ruth and I will be up to help with this next weekend. I was pastor at this church from 2002-2008 and we still love helping them with events.

This week a homeless gentleman was at the church looking for help. He had a car but was looking for gas money and food. I decided to take him to Solanco Neighborhood Ministries and stayed with him as they began to work with him. I learned of his story and why he is homeless and was glad to be able to connect him to a ministry that can help far more than the church can. His name is Rulon and I have been praying for him every day since Monday. 

In addition to praying for Rulon, the needs of the church, and for my fellow pastors and churches this week, I was drawn back to a resource from my library entitled, “Simple Prayers” by Kenneth and Karen Boa. This book is like a devotional with 365 one-page entries with each day having several verses of Scripture, an encouraging thought, and then a very simple prayer. What I love about this book is the prayers that are offered—very simple, everyday prayers to draw you closer to God. An example prayer from one day this week was, “Lord, I thank You for Your abundant good, and for Your protection. Show me how to walk in love each and every day.” 

Let me invite you as well to join us at 7:00 pm on Monday evening for our First Monday prayer time via zoom. We usually meet for about 45 minutes praying for the needs of the church family, our community, and the world in addition to lifting our praises to the Lord. Look for the link in Janae’s column on Monday.

This Sunday we are in the great story in Genesis of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. It is a story of jealousy and betrayal but also of God’s providence and care for young Joseph. In addition, we will worship together as His church, declaring our praise to God as the psalmist frequently declares. Let me leave you with the words of Psalm 150:1-2: “Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.” Looking forward to praising God with you this weekend.

Have a blessed weekend. Enjoy the first weekend of August and begin to prepare yourself for a great Lord’s day celebration. It is Friday…but Sunday’s coming!

Pastor Kevin