Dear Church Family,

 

The dog days of summer are here! We have experienced some extreme heat during the second half of July and August will likely include some more of it. The heat, and the need to drink plenty of water, reminds me of Jesus’s statement that “whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward” (Mark 9:41). I encourage each of you to give a “cup of water” to one another.

Of course, that cup of water is a simile, an analogy, or a metaphor. The meaning of Jesus’s statement is to willingly give to one another, to support one another. It may mean giving a literal cup of water, but more often than not means doing something else to support one another. One of the best things we can do for one another is pray. We can also be encouragers of one another. Tell someone you appreciate what they have done and encourage them to continue to do so.

Something that weighs heavily on my heart is missing out on our worship services. I know there are some among our members who struggle physically to get to worship, and I understand them not being here. On the other side of things, I know some will simply not come to worship because of a recent spat or because they felt a little crummy, not 100% when they woke up. Folks, allow me to encourage you to come to worship anyway, if you are able.

Why? I have found through my own experiences that when I go to worship, even when I don’t feel 100% or I’m tired, I leave worship uplifted and feeling much better. Of course, this means we need to set our minds right while on our way to worship. We must tell ourselves that we are going to worship God, our Savior. We must set aside the “woe is me” attitude. In doing so, we open the door for the Holy Spirit to energize us, to lift us up. Honestly, we should do this every day.

Here are a couple more reasons why it is important. You may say something to someone else that is an encouragement to them. As a body of Christ, we are to be there for one another. We also are seeking to grow the church. Every Sunday is recorded. There are people who view our service online. The more people they see are at worship services, the more enticing it is for them to come visit Union UMC. Most people, especially those in a city, do not want to attend a worship service where there are very few people. This is why it is important for everyone who can attends, even on the Sunday’s when I am not there. It is about displaying our desire to worship our God who has saved us, not about the speaker that morning. Regardless of the speaker, we still sing hymns of praise, celebrate Holy Communion, and offer up thanksgiving to God in our prayers. Please join us every Sunday you can. It’s about loyalty to God and faithful worship of him.

 

Proverbs 2:3: Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;  bind them around your neck;  write them on the tablet of your heart.