What a great August we’ve had in worship as we have considered what it means to build up the temple and to build up one another as the body of Christ!
This past Sunday was a highlight, with worship including scenes from Godspell, as we explored what it means to build up a “Beautiful City” that reflects God’s intentions for us. A huge thank you to our music and production staff, especially Ben Owen and Aimee Stockdale, along with directors Jason and Amy Burgess, and everyone who gave their time and energy to making it such a wonderful worship experience.
This Sunday, while we will not have extra cushions in the pews (that was just for Godspell!), we will have another opportunity to “build up” our children and educators through a special “Blessing of the Backpacks” that will take place during the 9:30am & 11:00am services. If you or someone in your family is beginning a new school year, we invite you to bring your backpack and participate in this special time within our worship service.
As we are thinking about back to school and blessing our students, please consider picking up some snacks, small toys, wash cloths & towels, and socks and underwear for Rothenberg Preparatory Academy. We often think of school supplies at this time of year but being clean, having basic clothing items, and something in your belly make a big difference in learning. You can drop these off in the bin by the office door. Our support of students and educators at Rothenberg through donations and tutoring is one way that we are building up our city as a church.
Our message focus for this Sunday is “A Holy Dwelling” based on I Kings 8:22-30 and Romans 14:13-19. We will think about how the temple is a place of focus for our faith but that our faith doesn’t just stay there. It is meant to expand as far as God’s love and grace do, which is far beyond our understanding and imagination. Solomon reminds us of this in his prayer of dedication for the temple in I Kings. He says, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart…But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house I built!”
May our hearts join Solomon’s as we proclaim awe at the way that God continues to build us, the earth, and the heavens up in grace, mercy, and love. May we do the same.
Blessings!
Pastor Suzanne