We are pairing up adults in the church for some one-on-one time. Men with men. Women with women. This will be a great way to get to know someone new during the quarantine. We will do all the matchmaking and provide a guide for your fellowship together.
Take a walk. Meet at a park. Grab a cup of coffee. Schedule Zoom calls. Whatever works for the two of you. Twice a month, September through December.
We know you want to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic a different person than you came into it. God is working in us and we want to be sensitive to what he’s doing during this time.
Books from godly Christians are a wonderful tool God has provided for our growth. Below is a short list of books the pastors recommend you consider reading during the current crisis. Each one will draw your attention upward to God, help you apply the gospel, and inspire faith as you seek to please the Lord in this season.
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop
“You might think lament is the opposite of praise. It isn’t. Instead, lament is a path to praise as we are led through our brokenness and disappointment. The space between brokenness and God’s mercy is where this song is sung. Think of lament as the transition between pain and promise. It is the path from heartbreak to hope.”
The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
“The greatness of God rouses fear within us, but His goodness encourages us not to be afraid of Him. To fear and not be afraid - that is the paradox of faith.”
How Long, O Lord? by D.A. Carson
“To walk into the unknown with a God of unqualified power and unfailing goodness is safer than a known way.”
On Sunday, Pastor Eric quoted from a beloved hymn, Blessed Assurance. If you’re unfamiliar with this song, listen to this contemporary rendition by Shane & Shane. We’ve included the lyrics below. This song is worth knowing, treasuring, and singing.
Verse 1
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Chorus
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Verse 2
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Verse 3
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
On Sunday Pastor Eric preached on the sacrifice of Isaac from Genesis 22:1-24. This story speaks clearly of the Christ-centered nature of the bible. Abraham is called by God to sacrifice his only son, the one through whom all the promises of God would come to pass. Abraham’s obedience is praised by God, “for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” Yet God did what Abraham was spared from. God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac, but there was no animal or person who could take Jesus’ place. He was the one and only sacrifice for our sins. We now know that God loves us because he did not withhold his son, his only son, from us.
Thanks for joining us on Tuesday evening for round 2 of Summer School. May God give us clarity on what the bible speaks to political issues and love for brothers and sisters who disagree with us on disputable matters.
Below are recommended resources for further study on politics and the conscience.
Articles
12 Principles on How to Disagree with Other Christians:
https://www.9marks.org/article/romans-14/
Books
How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics? by Jonathan Leeman and Andy Naselli
Conscience: What It Is, How to Train It, and Loving Those Who Differ by Andy Naselli and J.D. Crowley
Mark your calendars for 7:30pm on Tuesday 8/25/2020 when we will cover critical theory in our third and final class.
We have a webpage, which we keep updated with our Sunday service plans during the COVID-19 pandemic. This page will be a huge help to you if:
You’re planning to visit for the first time.
You’ve invited a guest and want to make sure they have our service info.
You need a refresher on the guidelines we have in place for our services.
Head to our COVID Sunday Services page.
Check back there any time for the most up-to-date info about our services.
Congratulations to parents Daniel and Nathalie and big brother James!
Summer School is happening tonight! The Zoom call starts at 7:30pm. The topic is “Politics: Matters of Wisdom, Conscience and Love.”
Bring your questions or submit them ahead of time to the church office.
Members and regular attenders should’ve received an email invite. Contact the church office right away if you didn’t.