Mount Hermon UMC

Pastor Rob's August 2010 Message

Is August the month of final family vacations or is it the beginning of the school year? Why can’t it be both – and include all that is happening at Mt. Hermon? God wants us to celebrate every day and live it to the fullest - relishing His creation and delighting in our loved ones, our friends, our church and meeting new people in our community. We’ve had a wonderful summer here at Mt. Hermon! We’ve had a lot of great times of worship including hearing our summer “Men’s Choir” that has sung twice and will sing once more this month while the women have been and will be serving as ushers. I have been preaching an 8 part special sermon series to be concluded at the end of August. It is entitled “Growing Disciples: Character Building Blocks” (from 2 Peter 1:1-11). During VBS, when we learned about and celebrated God’s creation, the children planted two trees in the grove [come see the pictures on the bulletin board] and we are, like the trees planted in the grove and every little seed that was planted by the children at VBS, to be growing as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, I am preaching these sermons that are also intended to help us grow together – to grow as a church.

Isn’t it wonderful we have another month of summer weather even though school will be re-starting? Growing up, I remember enjoying summer. I loved staying up late and playing “The bears are out tonight” after dark (so we could jump out of the bushes and scare each other half to death!). Indeed, I relished every hour of every day in the summer - from when I woke up until my head hit the pillow at night. I went to every VBS I could find. Yes, I loved summer vacation even though I also LOVED SCHOOL once it started back. I looked forward to seeing my school friends, but admittedly my favorite part about starting back to school was receiving new school supplies! Yes, I loved school. In fact, I loved school so fervently that, while in 3^rd grade, I asked my teacher (Mrs. Henderson) to give me homework on Fridays for me to do over the weekend! All the kids in my class thought I had “lost my mind.”

My family will be enjoying August (continuing to swim, etc.) but we’re also looking forward to being a part of all that’s happening at Mt. Hermon, such as the “FREE” Yard Sale on the 21^st(please be bringing “gently” used things to be shared with our neighbors in need), UMM, UMW District Day Apart, the community Fellowship Breakfast, Open House at the parsonage, ABIDE, and yes, even all of the meetings! Come be a part of it with us!

We have had new guests (“visitors”) at church almost every week this summer. I’ve “mugged” some of them already (given them one of our Mt. Hermon coffee mugs to show our appreciation for their visit)! Brothers and sisters in Christ, let August begin a NEW SEASON of PRAYER for us at Mt. Hermon as we prepare for a new school year and a new year of inviting our friends to church. Let us PURPOSEFULLY MEET NEW PEOPLE to make NEW FRIENDS. Let us build relationships. Let us invite people to join us in ministry. We can pray whether we are on vacation or whether school has started back. Jesus is always to be part of our daily lives. This is the day (summer days, work days, or school days) that the Lord has made – let us rejoice and be glad in it!

In His Love, Pastor Rob

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 August 2010 )