The church office is abuzz this week as our ministerial staff return from a full and meaningful summer. We have been blessed with youth and children’s camps, denominational gatherings, our high school mission trip and the Bonhoeffer pilgrimage to Berlin. What a wonderful summer it has been at First Baptist. We give thanks for all that has been and we look forward with anticipation to all that God has in store for us. August 9 is Blessing Sunday, the day in the church year when we regather and recommit to our life together after a summer scattered about; a reminder that we belong to God and to one another.
This year, our theme is Living as Invited People, building on the foundation we established last year when we reflected on God’s gracious invitation to each of us and embraced the call to extend that same invitation to others.
Living as Invited People reminds us that God’s invitation is not a one-time event but an ongoing relationship. God is continually calling us to deeper faith and greater trust in God’s goodness. God also calls us into richer community, where we support and encourage one another and enjoy life together. If you are looking for opportunities to deepen your engagement, we invite you to attend the small group fair in the Narthex outside the Sanctuary before and after worship on August 9 and 16. You will have a chance to learn about Sunday School classes, missions opportunities, pastoral care teams, music groups and more.
Living as invited people means responding to God’s grace with open hearts and willing lives. It means allowing God’s invitation to shape our daily choices, relationships and priorities. I look forward to gathering with you on Blessing Sunday as we begin this new season together, remembering once again that we are invited by God and sent to love and serve as God’s invited people.
Carol McEntyre, Senior Minister