Down by the Creek – May 2017

From the Pastor’s Desk

At the beginning of April, Gary Pederson and I encouraged you to support the ministry of Allison Creek with increased financial giving. You are responding! We do not have the April giving totals yet but we are in much better shape financially then we were one month ago. We want to thank you for the ways you are supporting the ministry of ACPC. By your contributions, you must have a sense that God is using this church in very important ways. By your giving, you are making a commitment to be a part of what God is doing through the people of Allison Creek.

In addition to your giving, others in the community want to support what is happening through ACPC. The yard sale/silent auction raised over $7,000. This money is going to support the ministry of Common Ground. Also, we have received grants totaling $10,000 for the “Let the Land Say…AMEN” festival. Another sign that the ministry that you do is seen as very important and life giving.

The upcoming festival should be an exciting event. There are people coming from Pennsylvania and Liberia to take part. We will welcome Rev. Peter Breeze and the great, great, great, grandson of Solomon Hill whose ancestors are buried in the Clay Hill Graveyard. I encourage you to volunteer if you have not already done so.

We all want to thank Emily Wallace and Doug Pryor who are “retiring” after their dedicated service as bluegrass coordinators. Lois Pederson will now arrange volunteers and Gary Pederson and several others will now purchase food. Thanks Emily and Doug!

Thank you again for the opportunity to be pastor of such a dynamic and vital congregation.

Peace,
Sam


Devotion:

Luke 11:4  “And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us”

Rev. Tony Campolo tells the story about preaching at a church and noticing one elderly woman with a very mean expression on her face sitting on the front row to his left. He decided to look mostly to the other side of the sanctuary. But when he looked to the other side he noticed another elderly woman with an equally mean face. After the service Campolo was told these women were sisters. They lived together but they sat apart in the worship service because they refused to forgive one another and reconcile over something from their past.

  • Who are you called to forgive and seek reconciliation?
  • Are you willing to take the first step to forgive and seek this reconciliation?