I hope today provides rest from your labors, and a time to stop and remember in prayer all who labor throughout the world. Several years ago, I tore the following picture from a magazine, and it has informed both my prayers and my attitude. So I share it with you!
The unclear writing reads, “My parents ran The Donut Paradise bakery (best maple bars in Spokane) for 40 years. My daddy, Darrell Jones, retired a few years ago at 80, but he’s still quick to share this great old rural pearl. – Katie Youngren, Valleyford, Washington
So, Happy Labor Day, and may you love what you do!
So what are we to do?
This September, we will spend 4 Sundays in the book of James, hearing God’s call to:
Hear. Care. Do James 1:17-27
Show Mercy James 2:2-13
Hush James 3:1-12
Be Wise James 3:13- 4:3, 7-8
We as a church are living as faithful witnesses and sharing the gospel through the Heart to Heart ministry, who visit in homes and hospitals and various facilities. Recently, they have expanded this ministry to extend our communion table into two facilities and interact with residents in various ways that build relationships and foster faith. After Sunday communion, trained leaders take the consecrated bread and juice and share it with our members and with those of the assisted living and nursing home community who would not otherwise receive. It has been humbling to see how people yearn for the body of Christ.
To see the Word go into the world blesses my heart. We are doing what Jesus said do: “Feed my sheep, Tend my lambs,” which James echoes as “Be doers of the Word, not merely hearers.”
May all you do, bring you joy and give glory to God.
grant us grace to desire you with our whole heart;
that so desiring, we may seek and find you;
and so finding, may love you;
and so loving, may hate those sins from which you have delivered us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.”
Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, 1109
Pastor Scarlett