Today is Deacons’ Sunday. Our four Deacons maintain and update the Prayer Chain, visit the sick and those who are shut-ins, and bring food to help families in time of need.  They also determine how to spend the money from our Deacons’ Fund, which is used to help people with their rent, utility bills, medical insurance payments, prescriptions, as well as helping folks buy gas and groceries.  During our offertory today, all the “loose plate” or cash not in specified envelopes will go toward the Deacons’ Fund.  If you would like to write a check for this most worthy cause, please specify on the memo line.  Thank you for your support!

“There is a difference between solitude and isolation. One is connected and one isn’t. Solitude replenishes, isolation diminishes.” Henry Cloud

You Have Something to Give

Sometimes, the reason church members stop gathering is simple. Perhaps you went on vacation, missed a few Sundays, and gradually just got out of the habit of going. Maybe you started a new job, and your schedule included working on Sundays. Maybe you moved and struggled to find a new church home. Maybe you started having to travel farther and more often for your kids’ sports leagues. Maybe you feel like you don’t get out of it what you once did. Or you prefer to watch online — something that’s great when we can’t get there in person. We all remember when watching online became our only option, after the pandemic hit and we had to shelter in place. (We all remember that too!) We were forced to isolate for our safety and protection — and for everyone else’s. Perhaps, after that, you just never went back.

There are more reasons than could be listed easily, but it seems that some are more common than others. Most of us have been asked at least one time, “Can I be a Christian and not go to church?” The honest answer is, “Yes, of course.”  Nowhere in the Bible does it say you have to attend church to be a Christian. 

No one can possibly know what each one of you may have gone through personally, or exactly how you feel at this time, but we do know that though we are often hurt in community, we also heal in community.

This includes the community of church.

With all its flaws, quirks, challenges, and issues, the church is God’s idea.  And because the church is made up of people — and all of us on this side of eternity are flawed, imperfect people — there is no church that’s not flawed.  

So please come to church!

[Excerpts from Christine Caine, How Did I Get Here?]

UPCOMING EVENTS:

TODAY                          Deacons’ Sunday

Sunday, August 1        Communion Sunday

                                         “Gold Bag” offering for Free the Captives

Wed. August 4             Choir practice resumes

Sunday, August 8        Synod Sunday

                                       Elder Shelley Hernandez preaches

                                      Choir returns!

Sunday, August 15      “Family Reunion Sunday” – Taco Bar!!!

                                        Pot-Luck Lunch following worship

Sunday, August 22      Sunday school classes resume

Monday, August 23      First Day of School in Cy-Fair ISD

Sunday, Sept. 5           Hawaiian shirt Sunday

                                         Communion Sunday

Monday, Sept. 6           Labor Day (church office closed)