Wow!  What a great weekend!  First of all let me say Thank You to all who made our community work day on Saturday such a huge success.  We had over 25 people (youth and adults) cleaning gutters, spreading mulch, planting flowers and pulling weeds at several locations around our city.  This is truly being the hands and feet of Christ.  Not only was this a great ministry, but we had a wonderful time of fun and fellowship.  We are already planning future “hands on” ministry events.  Its part of a theme you are going to be hearing a lot about this coming year—THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH MATTERS.
 
             All of this set the stage for a great Sunday of worship.  The youth and children’s choir did a great job on their mini-musical which focused on the cross as the “grace place”.  What a wonderful preparation for celebrating communion together.  Have you noticed how the Holy Spirit has just been putting things together lately?  It’s making Pastor Dale and I look like we are brilliantly organized, but in all honesty it’s the Lord.
 
             As I thought about our day of service I was reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  Hopefully our light was shining on Saturday.  Yet, I am reminded that we have opportunities every day to be lights in an increasingly dark world.  Are we taking advantage of our opportunities?  How do we respond to a surly clerk at the supermarket, or a rude driver or a vision-impaired umpire at the little league game?  Our reactions often say as much about the state of our heart as our actions. Again, Jesus reminds us that “…the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean. (Matthew 15:18).  As we go through this week, let’s ask God to make us aware of our reactions, as well as our actions.  May all we say and do point people to Jesus.  I hope you have a great week.
 
                                                                              Yours in Christ,
 
                                                                              Pastor Barry