2024 Week 31

Hello, Springers!

My heart remains full of gratitude for the time we shared last Sunday afternoon at our Southern Style BBQ. It is good for us to gather both in corporate public worship and around a table of good food. Thanks for the generosity of many of you who prepared food to share.

Welcome back again to our Mexico Mission Team, who spent their time and energy building two houses and helping run a Vacation Bible School for children. We’ll hear more about it this Sunday during worship. The best way to learn more is to find a team member and ask them to tell you their story.

The news of the 2024 presidential election took a surprising turn this week. In light of that, I want to emphasize the importance of a three-pronged approach to this year’s election. The approach is simple: Pray. Vote. Love. First, pray for the United States of America. Christians must pray for God’s kindness to preserve our union. Second, vote your conscience. For the American experiment to work, Christians in both major parties (and other parties and independents) must participate in our nation’s political process. Third, love your neighbor. This is not optional. No matter how your neighbor votes their conscience, Jesus requires you to love them. They are made in the image of God, whether you agree with their voting record or not.

This Sunday, at 4:00 PM, a Concert of Prayer will be held in the Chapel. We’ll focus our prayer on missions. I never know how best to describe these other than to say that if you haven’t come yet, you should try it.

Finally, leadership training is available! Do you want to learn or improve your skill in how to facilitate a table discussion, lead a Bible study, sermon discussion in a small group, or teach a lesson? I am leading this training for you. I’d love to see all officers, men, women, and youth volunteers.

This training will be Friday, August 2nd, from 7:00 – 9:00 PM and Saturday, August 3rd, from 8:30-10:30 AM. An identical session will be offered later in August on two weeknights.

As I close my note to you this week, I’m reminded of 2 John 12 which says, “Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”

in Christ,

Pastor Tag