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Each month, on the fourth Wednesday afternoon, I fulfill the pastor’s hours at Solanco Neighborhood Ministries. I am there from 1:00 – 4:00 pm and am available to meet with anyone who would like to talk with a pastor and ideally pray for them. Some months, I have several individuals/families I can talk and pray with and other months maybe just one. This Wednesday though I didn’t have anyone. I have found though that time at Solanco Neighborhood Ministries is valuable to encourage their staff and be available for anyone who has a pastoral need. When it is slow (like this Wednesday), I pray and read and reflect on the work of God in my life and in the community that I love.

Ruth got back from her trip on Monday and was glad to be back home. We left yesterday afternoon for Harrisburg to spend some time with our daughters. Tonight is Trunk or Treat at their church, and we have participated in this as a family for years so the tradition lives on. Last year I played Gru from the movie “Despicable Me” and it was such a hit that I am reprising my role. Ruth and the girls are preparing to be minions. This is always a fun event for our family, and we get to see many of our friends from Harrisburg.

This week I wrote my Thanksgiving message that will be shared at the end of November on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Next week I will begin working on Advent messages. And yes, Christmas is officially two months from today but with the stretch of warm weather, it has been hard for me to even think about Thanksgiving let alone Christmas. Nevertheless, we will be celebrating each of those holidays before we know it.

Charlotte Miller got moved to QPRC this week and I was glad I got to visit her in the hospital before she was transferred. Please continue in prayer for Charlotte as she lives with her cancer diagnosis. Pray also for Ray and Kim Sullivan and for Beverly Ray who lost her mother last weekend. The memorial service for her mother is today. Pray also for Ben Wenger who has to have additional surgery in the days ahead. Tyler Walsh, Keith Houtz, and Connie Rutt for her work in North Carolina have been heavy on my heart this week as well.

I was glad to see the giving numbers from Sunday and am excited that some of you are stepping up to the challenge of matching funds for our building renovation costs. On Monday, there is a meeting about the new rooms and how they will be furnished and so forth. This assures me that we will be able to use these rooms very soon. Our strategic vision was to build on our small group ministry and especially our strong Sunday School program. With more accommodating space soon available, we will be able to grow our small group ministry not just Sunday mornings, but throughout the week as well.

Pastor Appreciation month is wrapping up and Ruth and I are so thankful for the many cards and gifts and words of encouragement shared throughout the month. And I know the staff feels the same way too. Ruth and I feel blessed to be a part of such and loving, caring and generous church family. 

This week the November/December newsletter will be out. Please get your copy and see all that is happening in the last two months of 2024. In addition, you will read the report of the Annual District Conference from delegate Karl Auker. Also, the new Upper Room devotionals are available in the gathering area so consider picking that up as well.

Let me close with this: With my “quiet” afternoon at Solanco Neighborhood Ministries, I was reading a book on our Christian walk by Maxie Dunnam. I had read this in seminary over twenty years ago and enjoyed reading it again, particularly my notes that I had made in the margins. In one of the chapters, Maxie talked about the Apostle Paul who often used the phrase “in Christ.” In fact, the phrase is used by Paul in his letters at least 169 times. The most familiar use may be in 2 Corinthians 5:17 where Paul says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” To be “in Christ” means to become a new creation. So, after reading that chapter, I remembered praying, “Lord, help me to live each day in Christ as a new creation.” My life’s ambition is to be in Christ each and every day.

So new creations, enjoy your weekend, take in the beauty of the changing seasons, but most of all continuing living as one “in Christ,” a new creation that God is continually changing to become more and more like Jesus. That is worth celebrating and I look forward to joining with you again this Lord’s day as we worship together as one “in Christ.” 

I will look for you this weekend but for now, remember it is Friday…but Sunday’s coming!

Pastor Kevin