Our Devotion

August is the only month of the year that does not have a national holiday. But it is a month with much to celebrate here at Lafayette.

One of the greatest celebrations of the Church is the Eucharist - the Lord’s Supper -and on the first Sunday of August, the 3rd, we are invited by Christ our Lord to come to His Table.
“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ?
The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?”  (I Corinthians 10:16)

Meanwhile, our Summer Faith Experience (sometimes called Vacation Bible School) continues on Sunday Afternoons (August 3, 10 and 17) from 3-6 p.m. Are you older and want to experience faith through the eyes of youth again? Then come! Are you younger and want to learn of faith through the wisdom and experience of the mature? Then come! Come alone ... come as a family. Our theme of study is “Walking As Disciples” - and it is an inter-generational event full of meaning and fun. 

What does GOD’s “VBS” look like? Zechariah tells us: 
“Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age.  And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”  (Zechariah 8:4-5)

But it gets even more special! On Sunday, August 17th, there is an Old-Fashioned, All-Church, Ice Cream Social at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Homemade ice cream and countless toppings - and then a brief Revue from our VBS participants for our program after the Ice Cream Sundaes! The Ice Cream Social is sponsored by the Membership Committee who would remind us:
“... Whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”  (Philippians 4:8)

Our August celebrations continue on Sunday morning, August 24th, with Rally Day - beginning with the now-famous ‘Rally Day Breakfast’, prepared fresh and hot by the Howell Winfree Culinary Cult, at 8:45 a.m. This will be followed by lively introductions of our Sunday School classes and leaders for the new year, and moving to our class openings.

To us as well as to Timothy, Paul said: 
“If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed.
Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives tales. Train yourself in godliness, for,
while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  (I Timothy 4:6-8)

This is a great August for our celebrations - all! This is your church family. These are the younger ones and older ones who bless us because their love embraces us, their hope keeps our hopes up, their courage makes us bolder, their faith carries us along when we are in doubt. And we offer the same to others in turn.

I give thanks to God for all of you!

Your pastor and friend,

John