Friends,
It has been a week of tragedy and horror in the news, with the bombings in Boston, the explosion in Texas, and the continued trial of Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia grabbing the headlines. Amidst so much death and evil, the coming of Sunday and the opportunity to worship God together and share joy in the resurrection of Jesus is most welcome. While there are other passages in the Bible that may apply more directly to the events of this week, there are few passages as comprehensively hopeful and encouraging as the beginning of Peter’s letter to the various early churches.
This Sunday, we will continue studying the events following Jesus’s resurrection by taking a look at 1 Peter 1:3-12. This has been called the “overture” to Peter’s letter, as it introduces various themes that Peter will address throughout the book. Among these are hope, heaven, suffering, and ultimate joy. I look forward to sharing in prayer, worship, and preaching with you on Sunday.
I also look forward to our sharing in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, for which we should all prepare with prayer and in the Spirit of reconciliation with God and with one another. God offers Himself to us in life and in death, and that is the source of our encouragement to which the Lord’s Supper testifies. See you on Sunday!*
In Christ,
Allen
*unless you are coming to the men’s breakfast tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM in the fellowship hall!
