The Weekly Epistle 6/8/22

Becoming a Christian is always personal, but it is never private.  In the Northeast, we pride ourselves on being independent.  That isn’t all bad, but it doesn’t reflect the attitude of the New Testament.  Believing without belonging might be American but it does not resemble what we see in the New Testament church.  
 
The finished work of Christ on the cross and resurrection must be applied personally.  The beauty of the gospel is that it also unites us to all others who are united with Christ.  Salvation was never meant to be “just me and Jesus.”  If we believe, we are to belong.  
 
Don’t underestimate the encouragement that is spread through those interactions.  As Hebrews 3:13 reminds us, “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”  Wow!  Words of encouragement have the power to keep each other from being overcome by sin.  Hebrews 10:24 in the context of gathering together says, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”  
 
Do you see the benefit to gathering together?  It not only has an internal edifying component to it, but there is also an evangelistic purpose.  The loving unity of the church gives the gospel message its credibility.  We are to be the visible expression of our Savior’s love.  It has been said, “We inherit our brothers and sisters in Christ, we don’t choose them.”  As challenging as it can be to get along with each other, the church is God’s way of proclaiming the gospel to the world.  
 
The richness of fellowship to be realized within our church family is a work in progress.  My heart is blessed to see so many of you hanging around in between and following our worship service.  I look forward to the day when a foyer expansion allows more of those connections to take place.  
 
A building project need that the elders have identified as a top priority is renovating the entrance to the sanctuary to better accommodate fellowship and engaging newcomers into the life of the church.  The plan is to also provide a restroom on the main level of the worship center.  You will hear more on this in the future.  But monies now collected for the building fund will go first to  completion of the demolition project of  the “convent building” and then to the foyer expansion. 
 
I praise God for you!  I look forward to Sundays and anytime we are together as a church family.  Please tap into it.  Don’t miss out on discovering the riches of living out God’s purpose in true fellowship in the life of the local church.  Mark your calendars now for the church picnic on Saturday, August 27 at Ellacoya State Park.  More details to come.  
 
Also, prayer 30 is on Wednesday, June 22 from 7:00-7:30.  Joining together to pray for our community and our church is a means of fellowship.  As we pray together it strengthens our relationships. It unites our hearts around what we have in common as brothers and sisters in Christ.  
 
Hope to see you Sunday, if not sooner!  Pastor Brian