The Pastor’s Letter
THE PASTOR’S LETTER
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Grace and peace be with you.
This newsletter is coming to a you a little later in the month and is a double
issue. There are a couple of reasons. First of all, we wanted to put the graduation
photos in it. But we did not honor the grads until the first Sunday in June
and so we moved our publishing date back a couple of weeks. So, the post office
is not late in delivering it, unless you are reading this way past June 7th.
(The Post Office has just changed their bulk mailing requirements and we are
mailing them under different rules. That is why there are two tabs on your
newsletter and why mailing face has been changed slightly.)
The reason that there is a double issue is that I am planning on being on
vacation the end of June, just when the July issue would go out. So, it’s
all about the pastor! Despite the fact that all I did for this newsletter
was to write this letter and approve the final copy. (They have to stroke
the ego of the big cheese by making him think his input is invaluable.)
But speaking of vacations, I expect you to be going on one. Most people do
so in the summer. If you are not going on vacation, why not? What is wrong
with you?
Seriously, if you are working or going to school full time you need the break.
If you are retired you still need the change. There is something about going
away that changes your perspective on your life. Experiencing a different
pace and a different lifestyle as well as letting go of your responsibilities
is all necessary for us to return renewed and refocused to be the person God
created us to be and to do the things God asks us to do.
This is all part of observing the commandment about “Remember the Sabbath
day to keep it holy.” It is more than taking a day a week to rest and to worship.
It is about taking additional time off. The Jewish people knew explicitly
what weeks were to be kept holy for rest. Our concept of vacation often takes
the holiness out of it. It is all about “holiday” instead of the root of the
word, “holy day.”
Anyway, take your vacation. Your body needs it. Your mind needs it. Your spirit
needs it. And your family REALLY needs you to take it.
Furthermore, while you are away, attend worship somewhere else. It is interesting
to see what others consider important in worship. Worshiping in new places
makes me wonder why we do what we do. Of course, ours is the right way to
worship, or else we wouldn’t do it that way.
There is one other teensy advantage. Having listened to the greatest preacher
in the world for the past twenty-four years, you will have the opportunity
to discover his deficiencies. Every preacher preaches a variation on about
five different sermons. So what are you missing?
So, take your vacation. Worship elsewhere. Then come back and enrich us all.
Peace, Pastor Doug
The Confirmation Blessings
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