Announcements
Who
Are We?--
We
continue to explore our roots this month! We'll be studying the
story of Noah this coming Sunday!
Wednesday
Bible Study--
Will
begin September 25 @ 6:30. Come at 6:00 with a brown bag supper if
you'd like to eat in community.
Labyrinth
Questions--
The labyrinth at the church is in bad need of some TLC, as well as
individuals willing to invest some time in ongoing maintenance. The
session is trying to determine how best to be good stewards of the
labyrinth. If you're willing to be part of an effort to maintain the
labyrinth, please get in touch with Keith.
Community
Kitchen Spot
There are a lot of hungry and
homeless children of God and the community needs some help feeding
them. If you would like to help out, please bring the following
items to church this Sunday & put them on the bookshelf.
#10 cans - mixed vegetables /
peas
#10 cans fruit
Dinner napkins
Plastic forks / spoons
Dry milk
New
Hope News
Sunday
School—This Sunday, we'll study the 3rd chapter of Matthew.
Session—This
Sunday @ 6, session will meet.
Sack
Packs--
Next
Tuesday, Sept. 17 from 9-11 at the Food Bank.
Pray
For:
We
pray for Christians in Syria & Egypt who are being violently
persecuted
We
pray for the church in the US to live as a people sent into the world
Links
Keith's
Random Thoughts
She's perfect.
These are the doctor's words,
not mine! If it was me, you'd just think it was another biased dad
talking about his child. But since the doctor said it was true, you
can trust that it's an unbiased opinion on my daughter.
Danielle Lillie was born at
6:52am last Thursday, September 5th. It was a long and strange night
for both of us, since we were entirely unsure exactly how this was
going to work. We knew Rachel would be induced, but we didn't know
when. We knew she was going to have a baby, but we weren't sure how.
By 6:30, the baby was about
ready to come. The doctor hadn't shown up yet. The nurse assured me
that doctors have ways of getting places quickly. Babies do, too.
Around 6:45, the doctor walked
in, and a few minutes later Danielle arrived.
Angels must sing at the birth of
each and every child. That first scream, a sound that several months
later might bring wearied sighs, is greeted with delight and relief.
Each and every child is a miracle crafted by the hands of God. Each
and every child, made in the image of God, precious to him.
I don't know what awaits
Danielle. Rachel and I will love and nurture her to the best of our
(limited) abilities. Caleb will (hopefully) be a responsible big
brother and shepherd her through what awaits. At times, she will cry
and we will be unable to console her. This will happen at 10 months
old, at 10 years old, and well beyond that. The world can be a harsh
place. It is our job to remind her, to teach her, that the world is
a good place. It has been created good and called good by God, and
we are to highlight that good, to lift it up and remind her that it
is our responsibility as humans to influence one another for good, to
encourage and love those with whom we share this planet. It it my
hope that she grows in the knowledge and love of Christ and calls
upon him as Lord and Savior, for only Christ will never let her down.
Only Christ will keep every promise. Only Christ is fully good.
So I pray.
I pray for Danielle and for
Caleb, for Rachel and for myself. I pray for the city and the
country and the world in which we live. I pray for wisdom and sanity
for those who lead us. I pray for peace to break out in this world.
I pray for the uncertain future that is known only to God, and I pray
for the present, for this tender and delicate moment, in which we
live and move and have our being, that it might somehow reflect the
glory of God through the stained and fractured lives we lead.
Tomorrow, I know not. But
today, right now, she is perfect.
Text
for this Sunday
New
Hope on iTunes
Keith's
Blog
& Devotionals
for your Kindle
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