It’s summer in Georgia, and of course, that means hot weather. It rains and cooler temperatures sneak in, then here comes the heat again. We see rhythms in weather as in life. In the past three months, LVC has had our share of ups and downs.
Back in June we rejoiced in the baptisms of Ally, Faith, and Declan. Seeing believers taking this important step in their spiritual journey was amazing. What a joy to see them growing in their faith.
We were sad to say goodbye to Pentons who have moved to Florida to begin another adventure. They will be close to another set of grandchildren, and those children will no doubt benefit from extra doses of love and wisdom.
We’ve had church members struggle with health issues. There have been medical tests, procedures, and surgeries. As Karen has preached, all healing is a gift from God and we are thankful.
Grandpa Gene went to be with Jesus; we celebrated him with a beautiful memorial service on August 24th. He touched many lives, and we continue to hear stories of how he made a difference throughout his lifetime. He loved his Atria community, and he loved our LVC community. He will be missed.
We received the hard news that Don Vick passed away peacefully in the hospital on August 23rd. We are still processing his loss; what a great man he was. His memorial service is being scheduled, and we hold the entire Vick family in our prayers as they continue to grieve.
Our church community enjoys our monthly potluck so much. We had a family meeting at a potluck in July. We discussed how much we love being able to stay connected through WhatsApp. Prayer and praise requests give us the opportunity to support and celebrate each other.
We finished our series in June on God: The One Who Loves in Freedom. We heard about some of the attributes of God. One attribute that brings comfort is God is merciful! In Psalm 145:9, we read that “the Lord is good to all, and his compassion [his tender mercy] is over all that he has made.” Jesus tells us in Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” God is merciful. And we are called to be merciful. The Message translation renders this even more simply: “Our Father is kind; you be kind.” To be merciful is to be kind.
We are currently in the sermon series on the Gospel of Luke. It has been described as “the gospel of the Savior for lost people everywhere.” We are reading narratives about the life of Jesus: infancy, preparation, Galilean ministry, final journey to Jerusalem, and the passion of Christ. We are exploring the continuity between the Old Covenant and the New, God’s love for the lost, and the resurrection of the suffering Messiah. We are exploring theological emphases like salvation, sinners, prayer, pilgrimage, wealth, welcome, the elevation of women, eating and feasting, good news for the poor, and the great reversal. We see Jesus as the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the world; the one who enacts God’s mercy and life-giving power on earth and who models faithfulness and obedience to our heavenly Father; and the embodiment of God’s salvation in releasing people from bondage. Luke emphasizes Jesus’s compassion, His concern for the downtrodden, his desire for all to know Him. When we watch the news we see so much hate and division. Many prioritize money and power over compassion. Jesus came to show us a better way. He calls us to serve others and to seek Him with all of our heart and soul.
We seek God in our own personal lives through prayer and Bible study; we seek him corporately as we gather on Sunday mornings for prayer, in small groups, and in our prayer time on Wednesday evenings.
We serve God in our daily lives as we encounter others in our coming and going. It can be as simple as a smile, a kind word, a prayer for someone struggling. We have opportunities at LVC to serve God by serving others – music at Atria and Meadowbrook, preparing Welcome Baskets for neighbors, roadside pickup, Market Day at Kelsey’s school, and more.
We know many people today who don’t think the local church is necessary for believers. Since AI is all the rage today, I thought I would ask Chat GPT if church attendance is needed. “It” said,
- Spiritual Care: The local church provides spiritual care for believers, fostering their growth in faith.
- Biblical Teaching: It offers sound biblical teaching, creating a stable environment where members can grow together in their faith.
- Community and Fellowship: Local churches fulfill the need for community and togetherness, allowing believers to share common interests and goals.
- Support and Accountability: They provide supportive friendships and personal accountability, helping individuals navigate their spiritual journeys.
- Practical Reasons: Local churches serve as a resource for believers, offering various programs and activities that enhance spiritual and personal development.
In essence, the local church plays a vital role in the spiritual, social, and emotional well-being for believers. I don’t completely understand how AI works, but this seems pretty accurate to me. We need each other, and I’m grateful you think so, too.
With you on the journey,
Jim Roberson
Pastoral Care Team, Liberty Vineyard Church
(678) 469-8156