Well, Sunday morning was a beautiful time together! The weather couldn’t have been better for our 8th annual outdoor service up on the parsonage lawn. Mike Cavaliere was back leading worship, some old friends of GCN showed up, a new family that drove all the way from Mexico was here, and we had the opportunity to worship, to pray for each other, to hear God’s Word out in the world he created, and to share a lunch that included the best burger I’ve had in a while! Thanks to all who made a great Sunday morning happen! As always, we pray that God is used and is using that time together to encourage you and strengthen your faith.

Thanks to Pastor Brian for what I hear was a good message on the subject of humility. Someone has said that humility is the queen of all virtues, the one virtue that allows all the others in. I Peter 5:5 says to “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” Might be a good verse to remember as you’re getting dressed in the morning.

We had dinner with a new neighbor last night. We had them over a couple of weeks ago, and last night they had us over. We’ve enjoyed our time with them. Reflecting back on the evening inspired a couple thoughts —

We had the Inova Bloodmobile in the GCN parking lot on Sunday, and we just happened to kick off our morning service with a lively singing of the hymn There’s Power in the Blood! I love it when that happens! Inova and the Red Cross will tell you that donating blood saves lives. And it does! Thanks to 25 of you who donated yesterday! The drive was originally scheduled for Saturday, but that didn’t work out. Thanks for being willing to shift to Sunday. It was one more way of serving our community and one more bit of evidence that we will do whatever it takes to serve!

Karen VanGilder reminded us this past Sunday of the grand Story of the Gospel, which began at creation, which included many twists and turns in the history of God’s covenant people Israel, which came to a crescendo in Christ, which didn’t end at the cross — or at an empty tomb or at the ascension. In fact, it continues to be written! In fact, the Story of the Gospel never ends! I told someone just today that outside of the “forever” piece of this Story we simply cannot view or live this life as it should be viewed and lived. I thought of these beautiful words of the prophet Isaiah, so often heard at Christmastime but worthy of being heard on this August Monday —

First of all, thank you for the gifts presented on Sunday to Kelly and me in honor of 30 years with you! You are very good at keeping things a secret, and it truly was a surprise. Thanks for the gift of time away at a favorite B&B and for the money, the Sweet Frog gift cards, the flowers, and the kind words. Thanks most of all to the many of you who serve the Lord Jesus in His church and out in the community — that’s the best gift of all for a couple of pastors!