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Last Sunday we announced the passing of Carson White and Bill Welch. Carson’s funeral was yesterday here at the church. Bill’s service is tomorrow with a viewing from 10:00 am until noon followed by the service. A meal will follow after the committal service in the church cemetery. We also learned on Wednesday that Mel Shaub passed away. Mel’s service will be one week from today, Friday, May 30th with visitation starting at 10:00 am and the service at 11:00 am. Your prayers for all three of these families are encouraged.

Since I was busy with sermon and funeral preparations this week, I was not able to visit church members. I did learn that Linda Shoemaker’s procedure went well but Barry Smith’s procedure was postponed for one week. Continue to pray for our homebound members like Emma Dubble, Bunnie Bledsoe, Glenn and Anna Mary Kreider, Charlie and Edna Wagner, and Anna Jane Glisson. Prayers for Ginny Rineer, Ken Herr, and Ralph Kreider are still needed as well. If you can, send them a note of encouragement after you pray for them.

This week my devotions had me reading through the book of Job. What a righteous man he was and even when he was tested, he never blamed God. He faced hardships and loss and yet with a confident faith declared, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15). I confess that when things aren’t going well for me, I am not sure my faith is like Job’s. Job suffered much and yet he is introduced in chapter one as the greatest man among all the people of the East (v. 3). Job had everything going for him but then lost everything and yet still confessed his love for God. May we all have a Job-like faith not just in the difficult seasons of life, but in every season. 

It is hard to believe that this is the last Sunday until we begin our summer schedule. Starting Sunday, June 1, we will worship together at 9:30 am with some of the Sunday School classes meeting before worship and others after. This is a great opportunity to get to know some people beyond your Sunday School class. The bulletin will have all the details about the Sunday School options. But remember this Sunday we are still at 8:15 am for first service, Sunday School at 9:30 am followed by the second worship service at 10:30 am.

Speaking of Sunday, I will wrap up the “Questions from Young Disciples” series attempting to answer the question, “Why is there so much sin and suffering in the world?” Our kids have some great questions that have stretched my sermon preparation skills. And this Sunday’s question is another question without a simple answer. We will be in 2 Cor. 4:16-18 for our text if you want to read ahead. In addition, there will be special music and as always the great joy worshiping our risen Savior Jesus! 

Our final Roots night until fall happened Wednesday evening and the meal served as a fundraiser for the Junior High youth for their trip to their conference next month. It was great to see them bringing devotions and serving the food for the meal. If you couldn’t make the meal on Wednesday, you can still support them through the Sunday morning offering by marking your gift for Junior High Conference. 

With Monday being Memorial Day, as a reminder that the church office will be closed as staff will be off as well. Next week’s schedule looks to be a bit lighter with the service for Mel Shaub a priority next Friday. Ruth and I are looking forward to some time off next week. Two of Ruth’s aunts from Butler, PA will be with us all week. Hope you all have a good weekend and Memorial Day holiday. Looking forward to worshiping with you again on Sunday. Remember it is Friday…but Sunday’s coming!

 

Pastor Kevin