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As we begin the month of October, I am excited for so much that is happening here at Mechanic Grove. We had our first Roots night on Wednesday, and it was great to see families and children back on Wednesday evenings as we begin a new programming year together. In addition, we return to our “normal” schedule this Sunday with 8:15 am traditional worship, 9:30 am Sunday School, and 10:30 am contemporary service. In addition, we have our Love Feast service Sunday evening at 6:00 pm as we observe together World Communion Sunday.

Tonight, I will be at the wedding rehearsal for Alexus Ravert and Wade Davis who are being wed tomorrow. I am honored to officiate and have been blessed to get to know them better over the last year. God has answered our prayer as the weather looks ideal for their outdoor service tomorrow afternoon. Congratulations to Alexus and Brad as they begin their life together as husband and wife.

Of course, next week there is yet another wedding which will happen right here on the church grounds. One week from today our daughter Tessa will wed Everett Ulrey outside the church followed by a reception (picnic) in the pavilion. There is still much that has to be done and out of town guests will start arriving at our house on Wednesday. We are excited for our daughter and fiancée and want to do everything we can to make their day special. We are hoping that the weather cooperates for their wedding as well.

This week I was able to make some visits including seeing Emma Dubble, Glenn Kreider, Mary Poe, and Sheila Mull. I also visited Loren Bucher in the hospital after his fall on Tuesday. Much of the week was busy preparing for Sunday Services including our Love Feast service. In addition, there was last minute preparations for the wedding this weekend plus the ongoing preparation for our daughter’s wedding next weekend.

I have been leading a Bible study on 1 Peter on Wednesday nights. We completed chapter two this Wednesday and will move in 1 Peter 3 this coming Wednesday at 6:30 pm. 1 Peter was written about thirty years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is written to persecuted Christians to encourage them to continue to live holy lives in the midst of persecution. Peter gives a strong emphasis of the joy and blessing of salvation through faith in Jesus. He comes across with a passion for Jesus and the church and he writes from a more pastoral letter of encouragement. He seems to be far different from the verbose, brash fisherman that denied he ever knew Jesus. I dare say he grew in his faith and became more like Jesus and became the apostle that Jesus knew he could be. In 1 Peter 1:8 he says to the persecuted Christians, “Though you have not seen him (Jesus Christ), you love him; even though you do not see him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” We will touch on this a bit more on Sunday as we consider “The Hope-Filled Heart” of Jesus in our preaching series, “Just Like Jesus.”

As I close, let me encourage you to be in prayer not just for your church but for our nation and the world in which we live. The violence that continues to become so common speaks of the growing need for Jesus to rule in the hearts of all people. Pray for revival in our churches, communities and our nation. Pray that Jesus would redeem the lost and that we would serve the least among us with the love, compassion, and forgiveness of Jesus. May we continue to have a hope-filled heart just like Jesus.

Have a blessed weekend—enjoy the weather and get ready for an amazing Sunday that will wrap up with Love Feast and the remembrance of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We got much to celebrate so I look forward to seeing you at 8:15 am or 10:30 am this Sunday as we continue to worship as the body of Christ at Mechanic Grove and seek to become just like Jesus. Remember, my friends, it is Friday…but Sunday’s coming!

 Pastor Kevin