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Wednesday night was very active here at Mechanic Grove. It was a Roots night that started with a great meal and was followed by activities for every age group. It was great to see some new faces join us for our second Roots night this fall. My thanks to the many volunteers (and it takes many!) for serving on Wednesday evening. Our next Roots night is November 5th, the date of “The Big Drop” partnership event with Solid Rock Ministries. Look for more details on this multi-generational event in Janae’s column and the church bulletin.
Tonight is the Dutch Blitz tournament. This is always a fun night, particularly for those with great eye/hand coordination. Come out and enjoy the fun at 6:30 tonight. Tomorrow is the Solanco Crop Walk. Ruth and I are participating, and we are thankful for those of you who contributed to support us. We are still taking donations if you would like to give to this very worthwhile cause.
On Monday this week, our Commissions and Church Board met with much of the time at Church Board spent discussing the current financial position of the church and the 2026 budget. With a near $50,000 shortfall in giving to meet budget after nine months of 2025, the budget will have to be significantly reduced for 2026. However, it is not too late to make up for that shortfall this year. Let me encourage you, if you are able to give to God a few extra dollars each week, I am sure that we meet our 2025 budget and move forward confidently into 2026 trusting in the continued favor and blessing of God.
Last Sunday, our hiking group met and hiked about 3 miles on the Enola Low Grade trail near Colemanville Church. It is a part of the trail I had not been on. The rain held off and about 15 people came out for the afternoon. This was our last hike until spring.
Tomorrow our BDM team returns home. I have been praying for them but have not heard anything from them. I guess the old adage is true—no news is good news. We should see some of them back with us this Sunday. Several from our congregation will be joining with a BDM team from the Wilmington Church of the Brethren in early November.
My read through the bible plan had me transitioning out of the Old Testament and into the New Testament this week. As such, I was reading the Gospel of Matthew much of the week. It was great to read Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth in the early chapters and that of course got me thinking about Christmas. Just over two months away now, we are preparing for the Advent and Christmas season. You will learn more about the preaching series for Advent in the upcoming newsletter.
My sermon preparation this week was for the sermon I will be sharing on the Sunday before Thanksgiving on the theme of thanksgiving. The title is “Give thanks to the Lord” and will help us to realize how we give thanks to the Lord beyond our words and worship. Looking forward to sharing that message with you on November 23rd.
Meg and Barry Axe along with Ben and Nancy Wenger winter in Florida and attend the Lorida Church of the Brethren. Meg and Barry have already returned to Florida, and she gave me an update on the Lorida church recently. You may recall we prayed for them over the winter when they were searching for a pastor and eventually called their new pastor. Well Meg tells me that things are moving as the church has started a new ministry with help from a grant from the Church of the Brethren to store and give out houseware and other items to those in need. They are excited that attendance is moving upward and as Meg says there is some excitement for the work of the Lord at Lorida Church of the Brethren and for their community. Meg serves as the Moderator for the church and both Barry and Meg and Ben and Nancy are very committed to being a part of the Lord’s work at Lorida Church of the Brethren during the fall and winter months.
Well, a busy weekend is coming with activity tonight and the Crop Walk tomorrow. And with fall presenting itself all around us, we are reminded that even as the seasons change, our God does not. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). On Sunday, we will be in Matthew 4 as we look at the enduring heart of Jesus. Hopefully, the Holy Spirit will challenge you once again to have an enduring heart…just like Jesus!
Have a great weekend. I hope to be here tonight but for sure at the Crop Walk tomorrow. Let’s begin preparing now for the best day of the week—the Lord’s Day, when we will once again gather as His Church, the Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren. It is Friday…but Sunday’s
Pastor Kevin
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