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It is hard to believe that it has been four years since Ruth and I responded to the call to come and serve at Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren.  Thank you for four incredible years of ministry and service. God has done so much over the four years, and we are excited to see what He has in store for us in the years ahead. While we have our challenges as a congregation, we have even more to praise Him for. I am convinced that the best is yet to come for Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren.

Ruth wanted to thank all of you for your cards for her birthday last week and for the prayers and cards of encouragement during her recent foot struggles. We have yet another doctor visit next week and we are hoping for some wisdom as she still has pain when walking.  

Tomorrow I will be at the Atlantic Northeast District Conference for the Church of the Brethren. Our delegates, Jim and Deb Krantz and Herb and Darlene Kreider will be attending as well.  

Pastor Rita was visiting this week, and I was able to visit some as well. I visited Dave and Pat Delong, and prayers are vital for Dave as he continues to struggle. Ken Herr is recovering from his knee replacement surgery at QPRC. Carolyn Wenger continues to improve in rehab at Brethren Village. Today Ruth and I are attending a funeral in Harrisburg for a faithful servant of the church that we served from 2002-2008.  

It was mentioned on Sunday that there are openings for the Brethren Disaster Ministries mission trip coming November 1-7 in North Carolina. This is a great way to serve if you can give a week of your time. Talk to Rick and Amy Graver if you are interested. Also, our CROP Walk is just two weeks from tomorrow and I am walking and looking for sponsors. This is a great way to bless others as well, as either a walker or sponsor.

With the calendar changing to October, it is time to start thinking about Advent and Christmas. We plan to roll out Operation Christmas Child in the coming weeks. Our Thanksgiving Eve service is coming together, and our Advent and Christmas seasons are being planned. With just three months remaining in 2026, I am already looking ahead to next year. A busy three months are ahead as we wrap up our Believe series and enter the wonder of the Advent season.  

Next week our fall programming fully kicks in as we have our first Roots Night on Wednesday. Please consider joining us for the meal at 5:45 pm followed by our evening activities for children and youth starting at 6:30 pm. The Adult Bible study will also meet at 6:30 pm in Room 14 as we dig deeper into the Believe virtue of hope that will be shared this Sunday.

This Sunday also marks World Communion Sunday, and we are observing a modified, family-oriented Love Feast during the Sunday hour. Please consider joining us at 9:30 am in the Family Life Center as we participate in a time of self-reflection, the Agape Meal, feet washing and the Lord’s Table. Much thought has gone into preparing for this new approach to Love Feast and I am sure you will be blessed as you participate.

This Sunday will be the 25 of 30 weeks of Believe and we will focus on the virtue of hope. Hope is a cherished and celebrated virtue for followers of Christ and one that often carries us through trials and difficulties. This looks to be a great Lord’s Day with spirited worship, a teaching on hope, and the opportunity to gather for Love Feast and join with believers around the world in observance of Christ and His sacrifice for us through the bread and the cup.

This week, I was preparing the week 30 sermon on humility and struggled to bring the sermon together. The text for that message is Philippians 2:1-11 but it is also a great passage to read in anticipation of Love Feast this Sunday. Let me encourage you before Sunday morning at 9:30 am to read this great text that describes Jesus so beautifully.

Lastly, let me share the great benediction the author of Hebrews gives in Hebrews 13:20-21: “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I hope you have a great first weekend in October and begin to prepare yourselves for a blessed Lord’s Day and World Communion Sunday. Let us prepare to celebrate the hope that we have through faith in Jesus Christ. Remember it is Friday…but Sunday’s coming!

Pastor Kevin