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Last Friday Ruth had her foot surgery, and it went well for her. She had a follow-up visit with the doctor on Tuesday and all is going well. She is scheduled to have her stitches removed on Tuesday. Her foot is improving some each day, but she is still rather limited in what she can do. I was sticking closer to home earlier this week to assist with her care. We are so grateful for the many cards, thoughts and prayers and meals that have been shared with us over the last week. Hopefully, Ruth will be well enough to return to church in the coming weeks.

On Wednesday this week, we held our Spring Congregational Business Meeting. Our bylaw changes were all approved and there was much to celebrate. Nevertheless, we have challenges to the growth of the church that we need to be working on, and the Strategic Planning Task Force has begun meeting to bring together those concerns in a three-year strategic plan with clear action steps. The Task Force will be meeting over the summer months to finalize a draft of the proposed strategic plan.

Next week is our last Roots night until fall. Wednesday evening adult bible study will wrap on Wednesday, May 27th before our summer hiatus. There is a new member class happening on Wednesday, June 10th and 17th at 6:30 pm for anyone interested in becoming a member at Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren. You must attend both nights to complete the membership class, and other new member classes will be offered in July and August. In addition, a baptism service is scheduled for Sunday, June 28th. If you would like to be baptized, please let me or Janae know. A required baptism class will be provided in June for those seeking to be baptized.

We only have two weeks of our Believe series left before we break for the summer. There will be ten more weeks of Believe starting in September. Over the summer, we will be sharing some of the great stories in Genesis. I have already begun working on the first sermons in the series and am excited to be preaching from some of the most well-known Old Testament stories like creation, the flood, the tower of Babel as well as stories from the lives of Abraham, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph. Should make for an engaging summer preaching series.

As a reminder, summer Sunday School begins June 7 with three adult electives being offered. Details are coming on room locations and teachers, and which three electives are being offered. Summer Sunday School will be at 9:30 am as we will retain our normal Sunday schedule through the summer. 

As we reach the half-way mark of May, we find ourselves on the doorsteps of the summer months. Graduations are already happening and vacations and family reunions are being planned. Schools will be out in just a few weeks and many of us will find ourselves traveling and enjoying the blessings of family and friends. On Sunday, we talked about offering God our time and that includes our time in the summer as well. This week we will build on last Sunday’s sermon with yet another vital practice for followers of Jesus Christ—offering our resources. If you want to read ahead in preparation for Sunday, the sermon will come from Luke 12:13-21.

Last Sunday our daughter Molly was down for Mother’s Day and Molly and I were able to go biking on the rails to trails. It was the first time out on the bike this spring, but the weather is looking ideal for another bike ride on Saturday. Don’t forget that our hiking group is meeting Sunday afternoon at 2:00 at the Kreider farm for another hike. We had a great time there last year and while Ruth will not be able to join us this time, I am looking forward to it. Hope you will consider joining us as well.

Finally, I was reading this week in Luke 3 and 4 in my devotions which includes the story of John the Baptist. What an amazing servant of the Lord! John the Baptist was a radical from his clothes to his message. And what impresses me is that John knew his role and stuck to it even as the people flocked to him. What I love about John the Baptist is that he was always pointing people to the “One who would come after him.” He was always pointing people to Jesus. Luke 3:18 says, “And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.” Later, Jesus states in Matthew 11:11 and Luke 7:28 that among those born of women, none is greater than John the Baptist. My prayer is that we, the Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren, may be inspired by John the Baptist and do everything we can to help people find and follow Jesus. 

It looks like it will be a delightful weekend. Take some time to enjoy the weather and prepare your heart for another great Lord’s day as we continue to think, act, and be like Jesus. I look forward to worshiping with you. Remember, it is Friday…but Sunday’s coming!

Pastor Kevin