We are going to cancel Sunday School until further notice. We are doing this for several reasons. There has been a rise in the number of Covid cases in our area. This has effected many people including some of our own members. Although we have been very careful to practice this safely, it seem in general, that many people are not ready to return to small groups out of safety concerns. We understand.
We will return to our original schedule of worship services at 9 and 10:30 am. Those Home Groups that choose, will continue to meet, including our Wednesday evening group that meets at the church.
There is a real hunger for fellowship among us. Along with worship, evangelism and discipleship, fellowship is a key element within the church. We will be looking for ways to create that fellowship during this time.
MOURN WITH THOSE WHO MOURN
Our brother Antonio David has gone home to Jesus. He died from complications due to pneumonia and the Covid virus. Our hearts ache for his wife Audina and his daughter Pleshette, both who serve our church in the preschool and children’s division. Arrangements are still pending at the moment as to a memorial service at our church. Please keep this family in our prayers.
We have had other church members who have lost family members in the past several weeks. One of the greatest things you can do for one another is pray for one another. Your prayers are very valuable at this time.
WORSHIP SERVICES
Again, I want to thank our music team and technical team who do such a wonderful job week in and week out. Our worship services have been great. I hope you will join us either in person or on-line. There will continue to be preschool care during our worship services. I will continue to preach on the teachings we hold dear as followers of Jesus. I call this series I Believe. It is so important for us to know what we believe and to hold firmly to those beliefs in challenging times. To that point, it has been said that a belief is something we hold. A conviction is something that holds us. My prayer is that we will all know what we believe and those very beliefs will hold us.
PROMISE KEEPERS
There will be a simulcast of Promise Keepers Friday, July 31 from 6 – 9 pm and Saturday, Aug 1 from 9 am – noon. Grace Point Church in Portland will be the host. The Conference features among others, Pastor Tony Evans. There is no cost for the event. You can register on line at https://promisekeepers.brushfire.com/simulcast-2020/471765. There will be plenty of seating and distancing should be easy. I am planning to attend and take my son, perhaps others. Who could you invite?
THE STOCKDALE PARADOX
I recently listened to a friend of mine talk about the Stockdale Paradox. This is a phrase coined by Jim Collins in his book Good to Great. The Stockdale Paradox was named after Admiral Jim Stockdale, the highest ranking military official in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” POW camp in Vietnam. Stockdale survived 8 years imprisonment and numerous tortures.
How did he deal with such torture and circumstance?
Stockdale says, “I never lost faith in the end of the story. I never doubted that not only would I get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining moment of my life.”
Who didn’t make it out?
“That’s easy,” he said. “The optimists. They were the ones who said, ‘We’re going to be out by Christmas…We’re going to be out by Easter…They died of a broken heart. Never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end – which you can never afford to lose – with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”
I know many can’t wait for things to “get back to normal”, whatever that may look like. We can’t say things are going to be better next week or next month. We don’t know what might happen. That type of optimism might not help you.
Instead, let’s remember we will prevail in the end and confront our current reality in the strength and power of the Lord. How is God using this time for my good? What can I learn through this time?
I am praying for you. You pray for me. Let’s pray for one another.
