From the Pastor’s Desk
Dear Friends:
We have some very exciting and diverse opportunities coming up at Allison Creek in October that has me excited. October 1st is Worldwide Communion Sunday. On this day, we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion with Christians around the world. As our congregation has become more diverse with different native languages spoken we can appreciate the importance of what this day represents. After worship on that day everyone is invited to gather on the ball field and play a fun game of kickball together.
The women in the congregation are invited to the Presbyterian Women’s Spiritual Retreat at Bethelwoods on Saturday, Oct. 7th. I will be leading the workshop and sharing about the Clay Hill Graveyard, Elias Hill, Common Ground, and what we are learning as a congregation from all of this. Registration begins at 9 am at Bethelwoods. I have also been invited to share this same workshop in February at the Next Church Conference in Baltimore, MD. I appreciate Alicia Wrenn for helping me in creating a Powerpoint presentation that I will be sharing.
On October 8th and 22nd we will be offering classes for Faith Formation. Thanks to JJ Updike and Jennifer Adkins for teaching the two children’s classes. They are both looking for parent assistants for each week. Contact Renee Cheezum if interested.
“The Loft” is coming along very well under the direction of our new seminary intern Letarshia Robinson. The space is being developed by the youth as a place for spiritual nurture for both youth and adults.
In worship on the 22nd we will be offering a “Blessing of the Animals.” You are invited to bring your pets to worship on that day and we will be offering a blessing over them. We did this service last year and it was very well received. Later that day we will have an open house for Common Ground where folks will be invited out to enjoy the track, trails, and prayer chapel.
On Saturday, Oct. 28th we will be offering a Jazz concert in the sanctuary. The concert begins at 6 pm with tickets being sold at the door. The proceeds come back to the church and the important ministry that we are doing. I have heard the pianist play and you are in for a treat.
Come and join us and invite your friends and neighbors.
Peace, Sam
Devotional:
Philippians 2:2-3 reminds us “to be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.” How have we sought to be this way with significant people in our lives? How have we sought to be this way in the church? When you interact in your relationships are you acting out of ambition or out of humility? Later on in the chapter we are invited to be in the way of Christ “who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited but emptied himself and took the form of a slave.” How are we being like Christ in our relationships with one another?