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On Sunday, we announced the homegoing of Pastor Earl Ziegler on Friday, May 29th. Pastor Earl served the Lord so well over many years including 13 years as Pastor here at Mechanic Grove. Here is the link to his obituary and details about his celebration of life service. Outside of Rufus Bucher who served here for fifty years, no one has had more of kingdom impact at Mechanic Grove, than Earl Ziegler. Many of you have shared stories with me of Pastor Ziegler and how he and his family blessed you and the church. Every pastor since Earl has stood on his shoulders and I am so glad that God has called me to follow in his steps here at Mechanic Grove. In October 2022, at our 125th Anniversary celebration, Pastor Earl and his sons Randy and Mike were in attendance. I am so glad I took this picture of them that day.
 

This week was filled with meetings starting with our staff meeting on Monday, our Monday evening prayer time via zoom, Tuesday evening strategic vision committee meeting, and Wednesday evening Deacon’s meeting. In addition, I was able to visit a few folks this week in addition to normal sermon preparation and administrative responsibilities. Ruth and I are in Harrisburg today but will be returning this afternoon.

Our daughter Molly teaches second grade and was excited that her year was done this week. She is looking forward to her summer break. She is just over halfway through her master’s program and thinks that she will be complete around the end of 2027. She has a lot of plans this summer including vacationing with us, a trip to SC, and helping us with some things around our home. Our daughter Tessa is busy with her career as an operating room nurse, and with her husband Everett working on their home. We look forward to seeing more of them over the coming months.

Ruth has started driving some as her foot heals. We will return to the doctor on Tuesday and hopefully she will be out of the boot before long. We have vacation starting June 18th, so she is hopeful to be fully recovered by then. She is anxious to begin doing some of the things she loves like working in the flower beds, going for walks, and mowing the lawn. 

Last Sunday we kicked off our summer preaching series “Great Stories in Genesis” as we looked at the creation account in Genesis 1. This week we will be in Genesis 3 for the story of the fall of humanity. It is hard to call this a great story, but it is a pivotal story which begins God’s redemptive plan. In addition, this Sunday, we start our summer Sunday School with the three adult electives beginning. Be sure and plug in somewhere as we need to continue to grow spiritually even during the summer.

Ruth and I noticed that our summer schedule is quickly filling up with vacation, family reunions, and events. We are still struggling to squeeze one more week of vacation in come August. Summer is such a great time of year and always seems to go fast for us. I am looking though for a bit slower pace over the coming months in order to read, reflect, and dream again of what God has for Ruth and I and the church we love.

My devotions this week included Proverbs 3:5-6 which have always been favorite verses of mine “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.” I noticed that some of you highlighted those verses in the bibles we gave our graduates. That’s a wonderful promise that has grounded me in seasons of transition in my life. How blessed we are when we trust in the Lord with all our heart.

A new members’ class is beginning on Wednesday at 6:30 pm in room 14, and will conclude on Wednesday, June 17th at 6:30 pm. Additional new members classes will be offered in July (8th and 15th), and August (12th and 26th). A baptism is being planned for Sunday, June 28th. If you are interested in baptism, please let Janae or I know this week so we can include you in the baptism training class. In addition, don’t forget the Disaster Relief picnic is June 18th at the Platts.

My thanks to all of you who wore red last week for our picture and for Janae and Lane Dillow who helped coordinate the effort. We hope to have the picture available for viewing soon. Please don’t feel you need to wear red this week - two weeks of red is enough. I am looking forward though to a great summer with you as we consider some great stories in the first book of the bible and to our Sunday School electives. God has much for us in the days ahead. May we indeed trust in the Lord with all our heart. Have a great weekend and remember…it is Friday but Sunday’s coming.

Pastor Kevin