Mandated Rest

“Come unto to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”

Matthew 11:28

Dear friends,

I was all ready for our worship service Sunday… bulletins printed, sermon done, insert for the congregational meeting already printed and in the bulletins… and here it is Monday morning and alas, those bulletins are all still laying on the table in the narthex waiting to be handed out to a congregation that didn’t show up…and maybe that was a blessing from above! You see, too many of us don’t take the time out from our busy over-scheduled lives to enjoy a day of rest.

By Friday afternoon when most of the churches were sending out cancelation notices for Sunday services and I was waiting to hear back from our elders for a majority vote on closing or trying to have worship, I saw this as an opportunity to stay home and do nothing — no home projects to tackle, obviously no yard work to do, roads not safe to travel on… so REST ! I think we pride ourselves on being busy and maybe our ‘busyness’ keeps us from facing serious issues in our lives, not the least of which is our personal experience of faith. Do we come to church just to check off a line on our ‘to do’ list, or do we hope to get some divine message that will help us in the coming week? Years ago, a dear friend and elder at my church in Greenville gave me a small gold plaque that I placed on the top of the pulpit. It was a verse from Jeremiah which read “Is there any word from the lord?” I believe there is always a word from the Lord, and we don’t have to be sitting on a pew in the sanctuary to receive that divine word. There is another verse that I repeat to myself… “Be still and know that I am God”. Someone said there was a sermon using just the words in that one line:

Be still and know that I am God

Be still and Know

Be still

Be

Maybe snowstorms in the Lowcountry are God’s way of reminding to “rest” so we can “listen” and “be”.

Stay warm

Blessings,

Mike

Congregational Meeting – After service next Sunday, February 8^th

“Souper Bowl of Caring” – Bring cans of soup next Sunday, February 8^th for Superbowl.

Church Oyster Roast – Saturday, February 28^th at 4:00pm at the home of Nancy and Bob Dunn

New Email Address – Please note the church’s new email address newwappetawpc@outlook.com