Dear Brothers and Sisters,
When you hear the word “Sabbath,” what comes to mind? Do you think of keeping the Sabbath as a duty, a day when you must rest simply because God has required it in the Ten Commandments? Or maybe the word makes you feel anxious because it’s a day when you want to rest, but you also feel the weight of all those things you have to do in the week ahead (or maybe even get caught up on from last week!). One thing the Bible is very clear on when it comes to the Sabbath is that it is a gift from God. The Sabbath is not a burden, but something in which we are called to “delight” (Isaiah 58:13). This Sunday, Teaching Elder Don Johnson will share from Isaiah 58:13-14, a passage where God calls the nation of Israel to observe the Sabbath so that they might experience the blessing and joy of this special gift for his people.
The Lord’s Supper this Sunday
At our service this Sunday, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. When the Apostle Paul is teaching about the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11, he tells the believers to “examine” themselves before taking part in the meal. Before we come to the table to share in communion, we need to ask God to bring to our attention any sin that we need to confess, in order that we might receive his abundant grace and forgiveness and experience the blessing that the Lord’s Supper is intended to be. In light of this teaching, I encourage us all to set aside some time before Sunday morning to prepare our hearts for Communion.
Prayer Requests and Praises
Donna Siefert: Please continue to pray that our gracious Lord would comfort and uphold Donna Siefert and her family after the loss of Donna’s father, George Slivinski, on Saturday, July 4.
Silas Viland: We praise God for the birth of Silas Sommé Viland on Tuesday morning. Paola and Silas are both in good health. Silas was born weighing 8 lbs and measuring 22 inches. More information on how we can provide meals for the Vilands is forthcoming.
Dave Wright: Please pray for a successful hip replacement surgery at Elmhurst Hospital this Friday, July 10.
I am eager to worship our Lord together this Sunday and to share in his covenant meal with you. As always, please contact me if you have any questions or pastoral needs.
In Christ,
Pastor Rhett