“God spoke: “Light!” And light appeared. God saw that light was good and separated light from dark. God named the light Day; He named the dark Night. It was evening, it was morning-Day One.” Genesis 1:1-2

This year our Rotation Sunday school Design Team chose the Creation story in the book of Genesis to begin our Sunday school year. As you read through those first three chapters of Genesis, it is truly amazing to ponder at all that our loving God did. God created the heavens and the earth. Life was breathed into all the plants, fish, animals and humans. God called us his children and desired a relationship with all!

Our Confirmation class this year is studying the Old Testament and New Testament Bible stories in our Faith Inkubators curriculum. Our Confirmation class will also begin with the Creation story.

I want to encourage you today, to read those first three chapters of Genesis as a family. Take a walk outside, on a nice autumn day or on a star filled night, and look and ponder and give thanks for all that God has given!

Upcoming

ELC Youth Group Nights (7th-12th grade)

• Sunday, October 12 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Church House
• Sunday, October 26 from 7:00-8-30 p.m. at the Church House

Bring a friend to Youth Group nights!

Fall Festival

On Saturday, October 4 from 9:00-5:00 p.m. our ELC Youth Group will be selling brats and hot dogs to help raise money for a future Youth Mission Trip.

Bucky Book

Our ELC Youth and Family Ministry is selling the Bucky Book through the month of October for $35/each. Purchasing a Bucky Book is a great way to save money on family meals and entertainment. Also, you will be helping support our our future Youth Mission Trips.

Peace and Joy in Jesus,

Jim

“Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.” -Psalm 25:4-7

It has been many Septembers now since I had to go back to school.  Yet I think that many of us still feel a sense of returning to a routine this time of year. The summer has once again sped by all too quickly, but there is also a sense of new beginnings. Now as our children return to school they are called upon to remember all that they have learned up to now, so that they can use it for the new year.

That part never changes. We all need to build on what we’ve learned before, and more than once we need to refresh our memories.  Names, dates, appointments, and many mundane things can slip our minds, but hopefully the very important matters stay with us. The psalm reminds us that we need to return again to the Lord’s instruction.

We need to return to basics each year as well. Not to memorize chapter and verse (though I don’t think that hurts), but I want to suggest to you a return to ‘3 R’s.–RECALL our hope, REMEMBER God’s great mercy and love, and REASSURE our hearts that God does not hold our past against us.

With those basics, God would equip us to employ another ‘R’ – REACH. Reach out to your children, your parents, your neighbors and community. Reach out to share this blessing. Reach out with hope, mercy, love and forgiveness.  Reach with acts of kindness and service.  Reach out with a word of welcome and invitation.  Reach out with a willingness to listen and to bless.

Peace,

Pastor John Twiton

“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”  -Psalm 25: 4-5

Recently, we celebrated a wonderful week of Camp ELC! We had a great week and were truly blessed with a beautiful evening for our closing program at Brigham Park! Thank you to all of our youth and adults who participated, helped as teachers and shepherds, and who were involved with planning and leading. A special thanks to Cyndy and Neil Densmore and family for their leadership and, once again, hosting our Sugar Creek Counselors in their home.

It’s hard to believe that summer has come and almost gone. Soon we will be entering into the school year and the season of autumn. Our education year also begins with Sunday school and Confirmation classes. We look forward to another great year, and I want to say thanks for all who share time and gifts in these ministries as design team leaders, teachers, shepherds and Confirmation guides. Please contact me or the office if you would like to be involved in one of these areas of ministry.

Here are a couple of upcoming dates to put on your calendars at home:

Sunday school: Classes begin on Sunday, September 14 from 9:30-10:20 a.m.

Confirmation (Wednesdays):

• September 10 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. We will have a potluck and fellowship meeting for all Confirmation youth (7th-10th  Grade) and parents.
• September 17: Confirmation Guide Training from 7:00-8:00 p.m.
• September 24: Confirmation Classes Begin from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Youth Group (7th-12th Grade):
We will continue to meet on the 2nd and 4th Sunday evenings of the month from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Church House. Our next meeting is Sunday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m.

Peace and Joy in Christ,

Jim Ranney