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Tomorrow will be yet another big day at Mechanic Grove. As a reminder that workday begins at 8:00 am and there is significant outside work that needs done. Bring a pair of gloves and a rake and let’s work together to be good stewards of the grounds and facilities with which God has blessed us. In the afternoon starting at 4:00 pm, the Empty Bowls fundraiser will be in the Family Life Center. The event will run to about 8:00 pm and we are looking for another large turnout as we support Solanco Neighborhood Ministries.
Isabelle Scheffel was hospitalized earlier this week and had to have a heart procedure that helped her. She came home yesterday. Mary Poe got home late last week from rehab and is improving. Loren “Corky” Bucher remains in rehab at Newport Meadows in Christiana but seems to be improving. Continued prayers for these individuals and other homebound members are encouraged.
Next Wednesday is the Fall Congregational Business meeting and we encourage your attendance as we update the congregation on the church, approve the slate of leaders for 2026, and approve the budget. There are Constitution/By-Law changes being proposed as well. The meeting packet is available in the gathering area. The meeting will begin in the sanctuary at 7:00 pm.
This Sunday, I will be sharing a message from a favorite Old Testament passage, Genesis 32:22-32. Decades ago, when I was in seminary, I wrote a 20-page paper on this passage but have never preached a message on it. I am hoping it goes well as we look at Jacob as he wrestles with God along the Jabbok River.
This week I wrote the Advent message for the third Sunday of Advent. We are planning Advent, Candlelight Communion Service, and Christmas Eve service as December will be a busy month. Also, don’t forget our annual Thanksgiving Eve Service as we have four different individuals who will be sharing.
This week my devotional reading took me all the way through the Gospel of John. John’s Gospel was the last one to be written and includes a number of stories like the Samaritan women at the well and the story of Lazarus that are not found in the other Gospels. John’s Gospel includes seven miracles and seven “I am” statements which are unique to his account of Jesus. Interestingly, as John concludes his Gospel in John 20, he states in verses 30-31 that “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” The last verse in the Gospel of John comes in John 21:25 where John writes, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” I got a sense after reading through the Gospel again this week and those concluding verses that John was in awe of Jesus. My prayer is that I may be too!
As we wrap up this week with a big day tomorrow, I look forward to seeing you this weekend as we worship together and jump into Jacob’s life in Genesis 32. If you find yourself wrestling with God over something in your life, you will want to hear this message. Have a blessed weekend and remember it is Friday…but Sunday’s coming!
Pastor Kevin
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