This week at Elkhart Valley (Aug. 20-26)

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007
7:00 p.m. -- Deacon Meeting

Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007
9:30 a.m. -- Sunday school for all ages
9:45 a.m. -- Teacher Appreciation Reception 10:30 a.m. -- Worship

Commission chairs are asked to submit 2008 proposed budgets to the Finance Commission as soon as possible.

Attention all Deacons! Don’t forget the Deacon Council meeting this Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Are you running the race?

Are you running the race that the writer of Hebrews talked about? The one we are inspired to run because we run in the presence of so great a cloud of witnesses? The race that is before us each and every day? The race we run with perseverence because we know God is at our side?

A writer has shared this prayer:
Holy are you, Shepherd of all people,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
your sign of hope and grace.
Surrounded by all faithful,
he humbled himself,
coming to set the pace for us
in this race we call life.
Worthy of all glory and praise,
he disregarded human acclaim,
and died on the cross
that we might be given life.
Picking up sin and death,
and tossing them aside,
he cleared the way to you,
that we might enter your kingdom.
As we remember his death and resurrection,
as we look for signs of his life in our time...
may we be transfornmed
into signs of peace and hope
for our time. Amen.
(Shuman)

Keep your toes pointed forward

Good Morning!

On this gray drippy morning I have been thinking how easy it is to look back and celebrate what has happened previously and how challenging it can be to look forward to the possibilities we have before us. Don't you suppose that the early church sat around after potluck meals drinking coffee and recalling tales of those glorious days when Jesus walked the earth teaching, leading and healing? As a church getting ready to celebrate our 300th anniversary as a denomination, it is easy to bask in the glory of yesterday. The task for the faithful is to look forward with purpose and hope.

Recently I had the opportunity to travel with a football coach. To while away the miles he tried to teach this non-football minded soul about the rules of the game. Most of it did not stick, but one rule seemed a good life lesson; keep your toes pointed forward. Tempting as it is to lose our sense of direction and look back or shuffle sideways, we as a church are called to keep our toes pointed in the forward direction. Paul reminds us that Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith and we must not lose sight of our Savior. The focus must be forward and the call to new and exciting challenges is before us.

Keep your toes pointing forward!
Pastor Beth

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)