Journey On…

          So another summer blazes toward its end, and another autumn is around the corner. Is there anything new under the sun?

          Actually, in its quiet way, it was a remarkable summer around the church. We said goodbye to a long-time secretary (Ann Montague), and welcomed a new one (Linda Benson). Heather Dinsmore and kids welcomed small contingents of others at Tuesday play days. Members preached and helped with music-during my vacation, and Nancy Timmerman's recovery from surgery. Other faithful friends-of-children took turns leading Children's Celebrations on Sunday. The MATE Crew from BPC worked on housing in rural Maine, amply provisioned with the contributions from a number of you. Several members worked hard to help another member move into a new apartment. We hosted a group of 20 Boy Scout Venture Crew kids and adults overnight, with the Grahams providing a cookout (Andrew G picked that night to have an appendectomy!) and others fixing breakfast. On one of summer's hottest days, Ken Dewar trimmed all the bushes around the church.

          And it's time for another start-up of the fall schedule-- full worship, with choirs; Sunday School, Nursery School, youth groups, committees in full swing. Is there anything new under the sun?

          Actually, yes.

          Each week, we'll be journeying on with Moses and the people of Israel on their eventful travel through the wilderness toward the Promised Land.

          That's new?

          Yes. Every time people of faith retrace this journey, with their own faith journeys in mind, there is plenty to learn. The children of Israel learned amazing and challenging things about their liberator-God, about trusting in God, about becoming bound in covenant with God and one another, about the consequences of obeying/not obeying God. If you think that you, and our church family, have room to learn more about these truths…then don't miss a week of the journey!

          I'm sure that, in its way, it will be a remarkable fall around the church.

Peace,

          Rod