What a busy church!  Thank you to Snow W. and all who helped with the chicken barbecue fundraiser.  We raised over $1600 for our FLC mortgage.  Thank you to all who attended and gave to our Renewal Services with Rev. Densmore and Musician, Bill P.  Thank you to Gloria J. for organizing our church group for the Lions parade.  Thank you to Faith Circle for the food booth for the Lions Parade.  Thanks to Paul S. for manning the grill at the barbecue, food booth, and the picnic.  Thank you to Diane B. and Kris R. and all who helped with our VBS program.  Thank you to Roger K., the NCD committee, and all who made our church picnic so wonderful!  What good food, good music, good games, and good fellowship!

As we enter August, I am looking forward to normalcy, if that exists.  My desk is piled with papers to sort.  VBS materials need to be stored.  Planning for Bible Studies, Charge Conference, New Members Class, Hay Ride, Consecration Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas needs to be done. Oh my!

Yet, I am now enjoying sitting in the back yard, reading books and soaking in the sun.  Summer is fleeting and I want to enjoy it.  I believe that we need to take time and “smell the roses,” although I am fighting Japanese beetles on mine.  If we are too busy all the time, we lose touch with God our Creator, Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit our Comforter.  We become irritable and cranky – just ask my wife!  Better yet, please don’t!

Enjoy your vacation trips.  Enjoy the Lorain County Fair.  Enjoy day trips.  Enjoy God!We need times of rejuvenation.  God did command us to observe a day of Sabbath each week.  He knows best for us.  Read Psalm 23 again and again.  He wants you to lie down in green pastures beside still waters in order to “restore your soul.”  If you are asking yourself, how can I make time to do this – you have a problem!  Make the time.

In September, I want to see everyone in our church family rested and relaxed.  Then we can have fun serving the Lord.

Enjoy summer with God! 

Pastor Ralph