You have come to West Haven on a good day. We will continue in our Jonah series with a sermon entitled “God’s Grace In The Oddest Of Places.” Our inaugural “Growth Track” takes place after church. It is lunch with Nathan and me to get an overview of West Haven, and how to become a member.

This Saturday is the Community Carnival! It is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of Tongie Days. It is on Delaware St, between 3rd and 4th Street (the same location as last year.) Of all things we do to engage and bless the community, this is the most significant.

I am praying that each of you would be at the carnival, and serve. There is a sign-up board out in the foyer to staff the games. We still have open slots. We need to fill those slots today. Let’s do this well! BE SURE TO WEAR YOUR GREEN “WEST HAVEN LOVES TONGANOXIE” shirt.

If you have not been previously involved, please take a slot. I want this to be a WHOLE church event. You will be blessed!

I think a lingering misconception is that this is an “AWANA Carnival” operated by “AWANA volunteers.” This is a “Community Carnival” operated by the whole church. I am looking forward to seeing you and blessing our community Saturday!

Something remarkable happened to me early Labor Day morning. What follows is an edited version of what I posted on Facebook. I hope it blesses you. Thanks for being here today!

9-5-2022

I am a kidney transplant patient. One of the perils of transplantation is immunosuppression. You are vulnerable to infection. I’ve had sepsis four times.

I didn’t feel well Sunday morning. I preached and left right after church. I awoke at 12:30 a.m. Monday with a 101.5 fever, weakness, and chills. Those are classic signs of sepsis.

I woke Tara up. Off we went to the Emergency Room. I was so unstable on my feet a security guard offered me a wheelchair.

By the time I got to a room, my fever was gone. My blood and urine tests were normal (for me.) By 6:30 a.m. I felt fine. I was discharged at 7:30.

We saw a man in a wheelchair trying to wheel himself up a long ramp in the St. Luke’s ER parking garage. I walked him to the top of the ramp without breathing hard. Four hours earlier I would have had trouble walking up that ramp.

Tara and I both believe this was the kindness of the Lord. It was NOT due to any merit in me!!! It was simply His grace, wiping away whatever was afflicting me. There is no other explanation. I praise and thank God for His kindness!