Friends-
This is being written in May, and the natural world is just exploding with new life! We know spring and summer won't last forever, but we often act as though we think they will. And why not? Every day is a gift and an adventure. It is an honor to God to live each day fully, and unto him. St. Irenius wrote: "God's glory is man fully alive." Man in the generic sense. Man like "all of us". We all should allow him to make us fully alive.
I was recently at a banquet, and while waiting for my entree, I began to eat my chocolate cheese cake dessert. My friend laughed and said, "Couldn't wait?" I replied, "A comet could come crashing through the roof at any moment, and I would have wasted this amazing treat."
Really. Let's learn to live each day fully: fully alive; fully surrendered to Jesus; full of his Spirit; not saving the good stuff for later. And not just in spring or summer. Even in the dead of winter, there is much wonder. Even in the dead of winter, we can live fully.
But now it is summer. No excuses. Live! Fully! Doing all to God's honor and glory!
Have a great month!
Gary
Calendar
Sundays - Every Sunday, Worship Service - 10:30 AM in person and via Zoom.
6/1 - Communion Sunday
6/15 - Worship outside under the oaks
Wednesdays - Every Wednesday - Bible Study via Zoom - 7 PM
Thursdays - 6/5 - Church Board Meeting via Zoom - 7 PM
Saturdays - 6/7 - Wedding of Jamie Kramer and Teresa DeRolf
6/21 - Wedding of Hannah Foley and Shawn Bailey
Other News-
Zoom - Contact Gary at [email protected] for the Zoom link.
Outdoor Worship - 6/15 - Summer is great for occasionally worshipping outside. If the weather is right, we will try to worship under the oaks on Sunday, June 15. If the weather does not cooperate, we will try for a later date in June. We are so fortunate to have a perfect outdoor worship setting. Bring your chairs, or use a folding chair from the church. Outside services require a little more work, so extra help is always appreciated.
Thanks - We want to thank Luke Walker for playing the keyboard for us the last few years. He has been such an asset to our worship band. We won't be seeing him nearly as often as he is moving to Madison. He will be an Ultra Sound Tech in Maternal Fetal Medicine at SSM St. Mary's hospital.
We also say thanks and good by to Mike McGinnis. Mike has been a part of the worship band for many years and has helped with Zoom on Sundays. He has served as a Deaon and has filled in for Gary occasionally. We will miss him. Please pray for Mike as he moves to Texas. His son, Joel will continue to help us with Zoom.
Congrulations to the Graduates - Congratulations to the following graduates: Joel McGinnis from Honenegah High School, Jesse Kramer from Belvidere North High School, Luke Walker from the Blackhawk Technical College and Eli Walker from UIC. Eli received a Dr. of Medicine Degree and a Masters in Public Health. Eli was also recently engaged to fellow medical graduate Roosha Mandal. They will be moving to Bronx, NY to start their medical Residency programs. Congratualtions to all of these graduates! Please pray for all of them as they move on to new chapters in their lives.
Flowers for the Altar - Now that it is garden season, please consider sharing some of your flowers on Sunday mornings. Bring a vase of your flowers and place them in the front of the church on any Sunday. If we are worshipping outdoors, bring them and we will set them on a table outside.
This is being written in May, and the natural world is just exploding with new life! We know spring and summer won't last forever, but we often act as though we think they will. And why not? Every day is a gift and an adventure. It is an honor to God to live each day fully, and unto him. St. Irenius wrote: "God's glory is man fully alive." Man in the generic sense. Man like "all of us". We all should allow him to make us fully alive.
I was recently at a banquet, and while waiting for my entree, I began to eat my chocolate cheese cake dessert. My friend laughed and said, "Couldn't wait?" I replied, "A comet could come crashing through the roof at any moment, and I would have wasted this amazing treat."
Really. Let's learn to live each day fully: fully alive; fully surrendered to Jesus; full of his Spirit; not saving the good stuff for later. And not just in spring or summer. Even in the dead of winter, there is much wonder. Even in the dead of winter, we can live fully.
But now it is summer. No excuses. Live! Fully! Doing all to God's honor and glory!
Have a great month!
Gary
Calendar
Sundays - Every Sunday, Worship Service - 10:30 AM in person and via Zoom.
6/1 - Communion Sunday
6/15 - Worship outside under the oaks
Wednesdays - Every Wednesday - Bible Study via Zoom - 7 PM
Thursdays - 6/5 - Church Board Meeting via Zoom - 7 PM
Saturdays - 6/7 - Wedding of Jamie Kramer and Teresa DeRolf
6/21 - Wedding of Hannah Foley and Shawn Bailey
Other News-
Zoom - Contact Gary at [email protected] for the Zoom link.
Outdoor Worship - 6/15 - Summer is great for occasionally worshipping outside. If the weather is right, we will try to worship under the oaks on Sunday, June 15. If the weather does not cooperate, we will try for a later date in June. We are so fortunate to have a perfect outdoor worship setting. Bring your chairs, or use a folding chair from the church. Outside services require a little more work, so extra help is always appreciated.
Thanks - We want to thank Luke Walker for playing the keyboard for us the last few years. He has been such an asset to our worship band. We won't be seeing him nearly as often as he is moving to Madison. He will be an Ultra Sound Tech in Maternal Fetal Medicine at SSM St. Mary's hospital.
We also say thanks and good by to Mike McGinnis. Mike has been a part of the worship band for many years and has helped with Zoom on Sundays. He has served as a Deaon and has filled in for Gary occasionally. We will miss him. Please pray for Mike as he moves to Texas. His son, Joel will continue to help us with Zoom.
Congrulations to the Graduates - Congratulations to the following graduates: Joel McGinnis from Honenegah High School, Jesse Kramer from Belvidere North High School, Luke Walker from the Blackhawk Technical College and Eli Walker from UIC. Eli received a Dr. of Medicine Degree and a Masters in Public Health. Eli was also recently engaged to fellow medical graduate Roosha Mandal. They will be moving to Bronx, NY to start their medical Residency programs. Congratualtions to all of these graduates! Please pray for all of them as they move on to new chapters in their lives.
Flowers for the Altar - Now that it is garden season, please consider sharing some of your flowers on Sunday mornings. Bring a vase of your flowers and place them in the front of the church on any Sunday. If we are worshipping outdoors, bring them and we will set them on a table outside.
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