THINKING ALLOWED...

The anticipation of fall and cooler days has me excited. The beginning of school is past and fully underway for most students from kindergarten to college. The promise of football weekends and tailgating has whole families and groups of fans at an almost fever pitch and games have barely started in high school as I write this. I even heard some people talking about how they were going to decorate for Christmas this year. Anticipation, excitement, yearning for what we had been waiting to come, and advance planning, all because we do not want to miss anything. However..., the Psalmist prayed, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, O God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” Could it be that our excitement is for the wrong things, our yearning is misdirected, our planning is in the wrong area?

Let’s get excited about the presence of God. Let’s anticipate God changing us. Let’s plan for the harvest and work with our Lord to bring it in. Now is the time for us to thirst and yearn for God’s presence and will in our lives and in our church family. We live in a dry and weary land, so thirst for God and you will be satisfied.

Many of you are already aware that our Ministry Assistant, Beth Taylor, decided to pursue a career in Veterinary Technology and is going back to school to do so. She has also taken a job in a Veterinary Clinic to be able to fulfill requirements for the program. We appreciate what she did with us and she will be missed. That is the bad news but the good news is that Tina Wiles, my former pastoral ministry assistant is back with us. You will remember her and she will remember you with just a little time being reacquainted.

We will be trying some new things to be better stewards of what God has given us. If they don’t work for us, we will go readjust the schedule. A number of churches across Birmingham and even our Association Office have made similar changes. Beginning after Labor Day the new office schedule will be Monday thru Thursday from 8AM to 4PM. The office is closed from Noon to 1PM for support staff to take lunch. Often there will be a minister here during that time but not always. Our ministers eat also. You can also help us be good stewards by turning off lights and closing doors in areas when your class or volunteer work is done there.

Thirsting and Serving with you,