As I write this, May is almost over. It’s been a busy month for our family! First off, Robin and I flew to Missouri to see Michael receive his Master’s degree. (Woot Woot!) We stayed a few extra days and finally, after 12 years, I got to spend my birthday celebration with my Granddaughter. This was cool because we were both born on May 14th! (I also shared that same birthdate with MY Grandmother!) Last week, Robin and I celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary, and Wednesday, the 27th we celebrated Robin’s birthday! WOW! That’s a lot of family stuff in a short time!
When family needs help, you help them! When they do something amazing, you celebrate with them! When they hurt, you hurt with them! Family “steps up” for family! This is true whether you are the youngest sibling, or the “old man” of the family! You do your part to support your family! Usually, doing this is a joy… once in a while, not so much! There are even times when you have to “call out” someone who is living in a way that is destructive to themselves or others. That is Never fun!
God’s Church is a family! In the larger sense, as in God’s global Church, we are a HUGE, extended family! In the local sense, we are a part of a smaller, more intimate family. A family with brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and cousins. We might even find someone who fits the role of “Mom” or “Dad,” or even “Grandma or Grandpa!”
It’s good for members of families to have “chores” to do. In a household, you might take out the garbage, cook, do laundry, or clean up around the house. You might even fix things that are broken. Our world tries to sell people the idea that avoiding responsibilities is a good idea. “Don’t get roped into anything if you can help it!” That’s a REALLY faulty premise! Responsibility helps us grow! It is the same in our Church family. It’s good for the family if we individuals are doing something useful, but it’s good for us as well. As we’ve been studying the book of Ephesians, we’ve seen the need to “lay aside” the deeds of the “old self,” and put on the deeds of the “new self.” It’s easier to get rid of something, if you have something new and better to replace it with!
As members of this “local family,” there are some events coming up that will need your help to make them happen.
Movie Night on June 5th is coming up fast. Patty Steffer is pulling this together, but I am absolutely sure that she would welcome some help. ASK PATTY STEFFER!
Men’s Steak and Chicken Lunch is coming up June 20th and I am certain that I’ll need help with this! Want to help? ASK JOHN WALTON!
July 4th is coming right away! We’ll need people to set-up, people to help tear things down, and people to greet the folks who join us for the food and to see the fireworks. If you’d like to help, ASK JOHN WALTON!
P.I.G. night (Pizza Ice cream and Games) is July 25th. There isn’t much set-up to do, but there’s always trash to take out and tables to wipe off! ASK ROBIN WALTON!
August 22nd will be a “Paint and Worship Night. I’m not sure what kind of planning and help will be needed for this, but April Martin and Billy Stefer are putting this together. ASK APRIL OR BILLY if you’d like to help!
On September 18th, well be getting together in the park for a cookout! Brian Renn is taking charge of this and will need people to help with set-up and teardown. If you’d like to help, ASK BRIAN!
Keep your eyes open and join in to “help the family!
John
