May 14, 2022

I'm excited about tomorrow's worship service. As usual, the music is going to be inspiring. The opening hymn is Morning Has Broken followed by a new hymn titled, Come, Let Us Dream. We'll close the service by singing Amazing Grace to the tune of The House of the Rising Sun. Doug Povie is bringing his new Gretsch Archtop Guitar which will be featured on the last hymn. The choir will be singing Mark Miller's, Draw the Circle Wide, an anthem of unity for all people, all cultures, and all generations. 

My sermon this week is titled, Birth Pangs: Love and Newness. The Biblical text is Acts 11:1-18, when Peter tries to explain why he has done the unthinkable: allow gentiles to be part of the faith. We will begin the service with a Call to Worship that is based on Revelation 21:1-6 when we hear about a new heaven and a new earth. 

One: How wondrous! A new heaven and a new earth!

All:  The old - bruised and angered, fearful and alienated – will pass away.

One: In its place, God will offer new hope and peace.

All:  God will dwell with God’s people forevermore.

One: Worship the Lord who is about to do a new thing.

All:  Praise God who establishes God’s reign in the heart of God’s
       people. Amen.

This is a big week for my family as my mother turns 93 on Tuesday, May 17th. Two of my children and son-in-law are flying in from New York City this weekend; my niece is flying in from California, and my sister and brother-in-law from New Jersey for the birthday. Mom is trying her best to come to church tomorrow, so we look forward to singing to her. I may be hard to reach Sunday through Tuesday because of the festivities and trips to the airport. If you need me and can't reach me, please call the church office. Claudette, Candace, and Randy are great at tracking me down!

Helping the people of Ukraine was the intention of our special Easter Offering this year. Thank you for your gifts and generosity. We are just about to write a check to "United Help Ukraine" and to "Church World Service." But we will wait one more Sunday to see if there are any late arrivals to the party. So tomorrow will be our last Sunday for receiving donations. Thank you to all of you who have contributed.

If you are looking for a church home, we'd be honored to have you be part of our faith family. We don't have all of the answers, but we enjoy being on the journey together. In the coming weeks, we'll offer a New Member Orientation Class. If you would like to participate, please talk with Candace Jenkins after the service OR you can watch the service on Sunday!

Below is a picture of my mother as a teenager at a church youth group outing in the 1940s. She is sitting down on the far left enjoying her giant slice of watermelon. The fellow standing up enjoying his own slice happens to be her future husband — my father, Wendell Hester. Bon Appétit!

 

Love and Blessings,
Billy