News & Updates: Week of 2021-08-29
Dear Church,
Where in the world did August go? Can someone tell me? I feel as though I’ve blinked and it’s already over. Actually, I feel that way about the entire summer! I mean, can you believe that summer’s gone and fall’s just around the corner? Neither can I. Perhaps there are still some items on your “to-do-list” that you didn’t quite get around to during the summer months. That’s okay, I promise.
For the church, August represented, perhaps, some of the most “beautifully exhausting” weeks of ministry in a while. We hosted 6 days of VBS, which saw 2 young people make professions of faith in Jesus Christ. We witnessed 2 baptisms during our church picnic. We participated in the first Sunbury Community Tent Revival in a long while, which saw several folks come to the altar during the meetings. For however exhausted you might be right, as am I, I’d much rather it be like this than where we were in August 2020. Just saying.
I can’t think of a better way to cap off the summer, though, than our time of worship yesterday. The fellowship and the worship was incredibly sweet and Spirit-filled. And, I must say, Mel and Joanna’s song was so timely. I knew that they were going to sing a special, but what I didn’t know was that it was going to make me cry. Mel and Joanna sang a rendition of “There Was Jesus” is a 2019 song written by Zach Williams, Casey Beathard, and Jonathan Smith and performed by Williams and Dolly Parton. The lyrics are honest and heartfelt, speaking to the surprising reality that, all along, Jesus was there . . .
In the waiting, in the searching
In the healing and the hurting
Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces
Every minute, every moment
Where I’ve been and where I’m going
Even when I didn’t know it or couldn’t see it
There was Jesus
It’s hard to see Jesus’s goodness in the moment, sometimes. The heat of failure or hurt or agony, or the shadow of grief, clouds our view, blinding us from seeing God’s hand in our lives. But, through it all, Jesus is there. He never leaves us nor forsakes us (Heb. 13:5). And that’s no happy-clappy Christian cliché — that’s the God-honest truth, which the Scriptures everywhere proclaim.
The psalmist David even understood that God’s goodness is best understood in hindsight. He writes: “They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness” (Ps. 145:7). The “memory” of God’s goodness reveals it has been “great” all along. Such is what propelled David to worship, as he stood with his heart in jaw-dropping wonder at the recollection of his God’s “unsearchable greatness” (Ps. 145:1–6). There is never a time when God is not good. He is always dealing with us in “great goodness.”
That doesn’t always feel true, but it is. Life’s moments don’t always feel good when we’re in them. They often feel just the opposite of that. But I think that’s mostly due to the fact that we’re rarely able to discern what God’s doing in the moment. We have a limited view of what God’s up to in our time. But God’s not so limited. He is infinite. He knows all the ends before they have even begun (Rev. 1:8; 21:6; 22:13; Isa. 44:6).
The old adage says that “hindsight is 20/20.” For the Christian, though, hindsight is nothing but a canvas of God’s goodness and faithfulness on display. His goodness is always understood better in hindsight. His goodness is always better than we remember it. And you and I, as the church, are part of the chorus that can testify to the “great” generation-spanning goodness of our Heavenly Father. Looking back on life, we can see Jesus in and through it all.
Blessings 🙏
Pastor Brad
Worship with us!
Join us as we gather for worship and fellowship this weekend and participate in the Lord’s Supper!
Note: In light of Labor Day weekend, we won’t have an evening service this Sunday, Sept. 5.
Make sure to join us for Sunday school!
We have Sunday school every Sunday at 9am, with classes specifically geared for adults, teens, and young children.
Children’s Church & Nursery are available during the morning service.
(Note: The Nursery is also available during the evening service.)
Events & Announcements
Men, make your plans to join your brothers for another time of Bible study and prayer on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 9am. We’re starting a new 14-day devotional on the Book of Acts. Click the link below to join the group and the discussion.
Ladies, there will be a brief meeting following the morning service on Sunday, Sept. 12 to overview the details for this year’s Ladies Retreat. If you’re registered to go, please make plans to attend.
It’s not too late to sign up for the retreat either! You still have time to reserve your spot for this year’s retreat, happening Sept. 24–26. Make sure to get registered by seeing either Ann Risoldi or Bonnie Hallman ASAP.
WOL Clubs begins Wednesday, Sept. 15 — and we are still in need of 3-4 more volunteers in order to make this an efficient and effective ministry.
Please be in prayer how you can be involved with WOL Clubs and how God can use you. If you’d like to volunteer, please see Heather Hill or Pastor Brad.
Looking Ahead
Elders and Deacons, please be aware: the monthly board meeting for Sept. is scheduled for Sept. 14, at 7pm.
The Unifidelis group is getting together on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 5pm, at the Marina. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided.
Roll ’n Bowl is back! Be sure to join us Sunday, Sept. 19 for some great food and even better fellowship immediately following the morning worship service.
Resources
Thank you for continuing to support the ministries of Stonington through your generous giving. Your support allows us to keep spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for being a praying church by taking your church family to the Lord in prayer. If you have a prayer request you want added to the list or if you have an update on any of the requests listed, please contact Pastor Brad. Thank you!
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Be encouraged by reading Pastor’s devotionals and theological reflections over on his blog.