Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today I had the privilege of
leading a service where God blessed the union of husband and wife in
Holy Marriage. It always amazes me how God shows up to give his blessing
and makes this simple service extraordinary! Today Jesse Yates and Katherine Peifer were knit together by God in the service. Please pray for this young couple. This
was also our first wedding and reception with our new fellowship hall
and kitchen finished. Thanks to Paul and his helpers for getting
everything done in time for this awesome celebration!!
We also hear in our second lesson from Ephesians 5, in our
continuing study of this letter to the churches, of what it looks like
to "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." We can join
together in amazement on how St. Paul explains what "Love and Respect"
mean to both men and women. How we are created differently. I have the
series "Men are from Mars and Women from Venus" in my office. I know
that trying to push all men or all women into a particular stereotype is
not fair or accurate. There are always exceptions. But the reason these
books sold so well is that they articulate what St. Paul is saying to
the Ephesian Christians.
Women want love and men want respect. If men don't feel
respected then they don't love and women don't feel loved they don't
respect and on and on and on....
Today we will hear about
the way we are to submit to one another. Wives to husbands and husbands
to the Lord so that we love as Christ loved the church. Remember He
died for it. I have don't think submitting to someone who loves you as
much or more than themselves and loves like Christ loved is really that
hard. The challenge and responsibility is much more on the husband then on the wife. We may do the series called "Love and Respect" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs of East Lansing this year on the Wednesday evening Family Nights.
You have been receiving a nice update from Paul with the new software. I hope you enjoy it. I think it is awesome.
For those who are wondering: we are not new grandparents yet.
Please pray for Sarah and Josh as they wait for Josiah to join us. We
had hoped to Baptize him tomorrow while our nieces were here from
Alberta, they are leaving on Monday. Josiah is not cooperating so I
guess it will be later in September.
Please remember to reach out to the students who are joining
us. We are going to work hard on making the service a little lower
volume and length so as not to scare them. Please reach out to them
especially if they think the service is over when we share the peace. We
need to let them know more is coming. Also please honor the Elder when
we ask for only a couple sharings, prophecy or God Sightings since we
must end on time. Thanks so much!!
Paul and I are going to be in St. Louis for his orientation into the
Specific Ministry Pastor Program. If you need to get in touch with us
we will be checking email and you can call our cells.
God Bless
You as we receive the free gift of grace and mercy from our Lord Jesus
Christ and share his love, with respect as we "submit to one another out
of reverence for Christ!"
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Bryan
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