PASTOR GLEN’S BLOG
Last week we set our clocks back one hour as daylight savings time ended. As I thought about that it occurred to me how precious the commodity of time is. We read in Ecclesiastes 3:1, ?”For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” As followers of Jesus we are held accountable for the time, talent, and treasure God gives us. The very nature of time makes it necessary that we manage ourselves. Time cannot be stopped, stretched, or reproduced.
Have you noticed how stubborn and uncooperative time is? When you want it to go by fast, it drags. When you want it to slow down, it’s tomorrow already. Two weeks on vacation is never like two weeks on a strict diet, is it? Deadlines arrive so quickly, but bad habits take so long to break. It seems the month (or year) only started and it’s over already!
Dr. Chuck Swindoll commented, ?Some folks can stay longer in an hour than others in a week.? When a young man sits at a hot stove, a minute seems like an hour. But when a beautiful girl sits next to that young man, an hour seems like a minute. The really amazing thing is that in every situation, each hour has exactly 60 minutes, no more, no less.
We read in Psalm 31:14-15, “But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors.”
When the psalmist, David, prayed, “My times are in your hands,” he was making a declaration of faith, a confession of trust, and a proclamation of confidence in God who controls time. God who controls time acted IN TIME to save us. We read in Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons [children].”
Therefore, it behooves us to acknowledge that our times are in God’s hands and like David be able to recognize that the course of our lives is in His sovereign control. Therefore, it is my prayer that we choose to trust God with our lives, acknowledging his control of every dimension of our time and celebrating his presence even in the midst of our challenges.
CALLED CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
The Session has called a congregational meeting for this Sunday (November 15th), immediately following our worship service, which will be held at the Valley Covenant Church facility (2910 West Main Street) at 12:30 p.m. We will meet at this time in lieu of our normal worship time of 9:30 a.m. We will meet in this location in order to hear a report from the Session and vote on moving forward with a “Letter of Intent” to purchase the building. We will also elect Trustees to serve our congregation. And, we will vote on electing Mike Adams as a ruling elder in order for him to pursue a call as a Commissioned Pastor within our presbytery. (Mike would not serve on our current Session). Please keep this meeting and process in your ongoing prayers!!
NEW WORSHIP GATHERING
We will continue to offer a midweek worship and prayer service at Hope Downtown at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays This is a great time to invite unchurched friends and neighbors to come in the middle of the week to explore the Christian faith!!
SUNDAY WORSHIP
THIS SUNDAY we will meet at VALLEY COVENANT CHURCH (2910 West Main Street) for our worship service at 12:30 P.m. We will Live Stream the service on Facebook and our Website.
The congregational meeting will be held immediately after the worship service.
Pastor Glen will conclude the sermon series entitled “Kingdom Building,” based upon the Prophet Haggai. This week’s message is entitled, “God Will Prevail” based upon Haggai 2:20-23. Please read this text in preparation for worship!
We will expect individuals and families to follow appropriate social distancing guidelines. There is plenty of room to social distance in this facility! We want to be respectful of our brothers and sisters.
- You will need to bring and wear protective masks.?
- We will not pass an offering plate (a basket will be available for your tithes and offerings). Online giving opportunities are available on the website.
- Children are welcome but families must sit together. There will be no children’s classes.
DISCIPLESHIP ESSENTIALS
If you are interested in growing in your faith (which is part of our church vision!), please contact Pastor Glen or Mike Adams about joining a Discipleship Triad or Quartet. These groups provide an opportunity for you to grow exponentially in your faith through intimate, accountable relationships centered on the essentials of God’s Word! PLEASE consider reaching out to participate in this type of group. During COVID-19, these groups could be held virtually.
PRAYER WALKS
A faithful group meets each Thursday at 11:00 a.m. We gather at Hope Downtown (414 West Main Street) for prayer together, and then we walk through the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods, encircling the city with prayers for an outpouring of God’s Spirit on our city and for renewal in the Church in Waynesboro, as well as for the schools and businesses in our community. ALL are welcome to join us any Thursday!! Similar groups meet at Grace Covenant Church on Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. in Staunton at 410 West Beverly Street, as well as a group in Churchville and Charlottesville.
BIRTHDAYS THIS MONTH
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS: Ava Morse (November 5); Joan Hughes (November 6); Tiffany Severs (November 7); Cindy Roberts (November 16); Kathy Doyle (November 17)