Dear Peace Members,
Yesterday, we had another gathering of older adults at church. It was terrific! I’ll say more in a moment.
But first, let me remind you: Moses would have had a hard time getting a management job these days.
As a matter of fact, he might have had a hard time getting any job. Why? Not simply because he was a murderer and a fugitive from the law, but he himself admitted he was a lousy speaker. Instead, God called him to be an envoy to Pharaoh, the most powerful person in the world and, ultimately, a liberator and a leader of his people (Exodus 1-5).
Other Biblical characters that most of us think of as Bible “all-stars” were unlikely suspects for a part of God’s mission. Abraham, the one God chose to find a nation, was 75 and childless when God called him (Genesis 12:5). Esther was a powerless member of a powerless group (a woman and a Jew) and yet, reluctantly, she stepped up when the time came and saved her people. The whole Bible is full of unusual and surprising candidates whom God chooses to do extraordinary things.
This coming Sunday in worship (9:30am), we’ll begin a new sermon series, “Ordinary People,” that will focus over the next weeks on some of these lesser-known characters in the Bible. We’ll begin with two unnamed women we hear about early on in the book of Exodus; two young girls who made a difference. I’ll tell you more about what they did—and what we can do, too—to make a difference for God’s kingdom in a message, “Girls in the Reeds.”
We’ll also hear a children’s message from Pastor Joe, share in Holy Communion, pray for the youth headed off to New Orleans for the churchwide youth gathering, and gather following worship for fellowship.
As I mentioned earlier, we had an older adult gathering yesterday at church. It was simple. We played some games (99 year-old Lee Truhlar bested my table 3 times in a row!), at lunch together, and talked and laughed—a lot! I was reminded once again how wonderful it is when God’s people gather together. I’m grateful for our all of our over 80 year-olds; grateful for all of you.
See you on Sunday!
Mark