From the Pastor…
What a joy it is to experience the cooler temperatures of fall! With Fall we normally think about high school football and family reunions, church Homecoming and revival meetings. Of course, this is not a normal year! 2020 will be a year that we will not forget. But that doesn’t mean that it can’t be a great year in many ways.
We have several mission efforts underway, even during this age of COVID. A small team will leave after church on October 4th and return by the end of the week. We are going to deliver donated clothing, toys and household goods to several churches in West Virginia, where they will be distributed to families who are desperately in need – especially of winter clothes and toys to give their children for Christmas. Thank you for contributing to this effort throughout the year! We will also tackle some small repair projects before winter weather sets in. While we will be prohibited from going into prisons, nursing homes, and the homes of residents, and we will not be able to have massive “yard sales” and block parties, the folks there are in need and we will be able to bless them by our gifts and our mere presence. If you would like to contribute to help with expenses for the trip, just mark your special gift for WV Missions.
We are also well underway in our annual Operation Christmas Child efforts. If you would like to bring your family to pack a shoebox at the church, just let us know when would be a good time, and you can come in with your family or as an individual to help with this project. You can also go online to virtually fill a shoebox or make a contribution, or you can pick up an empty shoebox at the church and fill it up at home. If you have any questions about Operation Christmas Child or would like to know more about the opportunities available, please contact the office or Carmen Hadinger.
It is clear that we will not be able to have our traditional Homecoming service and meal this October. I always look forward to this time of honoring our past and fellowship with our church family and friends. My prayer is that we will be able to have a very memorable Homecoming celebration by next October (if not sooner).
At this time, we must begin thinking about our Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings. I am not ready to guess at what Advent will look like compared to our tradition, but I can assure you that we will celebrate these important touchstones in some meaningful way. Pray with me that whatever we do will honor our Lord Jesus and point others to Him! We all long for the opportunity to return to “normal.” I don’t know when that will happen. What I do know is that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! I know that Jesus is still the only way to God. I know that He has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit. I know that God’s Holy Word is true. I know that Christ is going to return and take us to be with Him. Take heart my friends, we have plenty of reasons to be filled with joy – even amidst the uncertainties of today and tomorrow.
In Christian Love,
Pastor Billy