God bless you! On Sunday, we move into a section of James that deals with the trials and adversities of life. The title of this sermon is “How To Deal With Difficult Trials.” Thank God for the truth of His Word. It always applies to our day-by-day, moment-by-moment lives.

We’ve heard from many of you about your desire to have one Sunday School/Adult Bible Fellowship hour and one worship service. We agree wholeheartedly that a single service is necessary to build community and to take next steps as a church. Our goal is to return to one educational hour and one worship service on Sunday, June 6. We’ve also heard that you like the current times, so unless we hear otherwise from many of you, we’ll stick with 8:30 as the educational hour and 10 as worship. That date is tentative as we have many issues to work out. We will need more of you to volunteer for child care and children’s ministry. There is additional information available elsewhere in the bulletin.

We recognize that some may still be concerned about COVID. However, here is our thought process for returning to one service:

  1. Many have been vaccinated
  2. Cases are dropping rapidly.
  3. It is unlikely COVID will ever be eliminated.
  4. Life is inherent with risk and the risk is no longer substantial.
  5. We are much better at being careful with hygiene.
  6. We are more cautious about staying home if we are ill.
  7. Being in one service is necessary for the spiritual health of our church. (i.e. to rebuild community, and increase fellowship.)

Please be at our prayer meeting this afternoon at 5:30. Corporate prayer is a privilege. Hebrews 4:16 says,

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

These are good days. We are in a blessed position. We’ve seen many visitors lately. We have people in the pipeline for baptism and church membership. Your giving has been generous and therefore, we are in a good financial position. I am working on some long-term projects that I hope will come to fruition. Pray for each other. Live for Jesus. Less news, more Bible. Jesus rules and reigns. And take heart – James is going to tell us “be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord . . . strengthen your hearts for the Lord is near.”