Dear Middletown Reformed Church Family and Friends,

The grace of Jesus, our friend and Savior, be with you!

It is now officially summer — programming is on pause at the church, school is out, people are going on their vacations, the beaches are full of sunbathers, and it’s HOT. Summer invites us to slow down and to find a place and space to restore our bodies and souls. I will be doing just that when Jamie and I take some time off July 8 - 14 to go to the Poconos.

As someone who has been living the church life for fourteen years now and whose time is measured in Sundays, I am aware summer means vacation time, and it also means lower attendance at church. I have come to accept that it’s just the ebb and flow of liturgical life in the Northeast. That said, I hope you will attend church during the summer, but if vacation or other activities prevent that, allow me to offer some ways you can stay connected to God and MRC during these (hopefully) slower months.

  • Participate in worship on Facebook live or on YouTube when it’s posted. You may also view worship on our tithe.ly App and you may give your tithe online there, too.
  • If you don’t have time to view the entire worship, you may listen to the sermon on our podcast on Spotify (See Middletown Reformed Church) 
  • Attend Lectio Divina on Wednesday at 10:45 AM. Here I lead us through a guided, reflective, prayerful study of the Scripture reading for the coming Sunday. (Please note in July the meeting day will change to Tuesday). 
  • Volunteer for buildings & grounds projects around the church campus/Community Garden or at the Bayshore Lunch Program. We are called to love and feed people!
  • Come with me on a visit with some of our shut-in church members
  • Lastly, starting in July, I will offer a theological and prayerful mid-week message via video in order to keep us connected. I pray you will feel encouraged by these messages. 

I look forward to worshiping with you this Fifth Sunday of Pentecost at 10:30 AM. Tom will lead us in our hymns and sing the Anthem “Thanks and Praise.” I am preaching from 1 John 1.1-2.2 and my sermon title is A Complete Joy. After worship, come downstairs to the Lower Auditorium for coffee and conversation with your church family. 

And now, receive this blessing for summer —

“Thank You” by Jean Hudson

Thank you, Creator God, for summer’s warmth
and light, your gift.
Help us to joy in the promise of each day.

Thank you, Jesus, for summer’s peace
and stillness, your gift.
Help us to rest in the beauty of each day.

 

Thank you, gentle Spirit, for summer’s colour
and life, your gift.
Help us to thrive in the hope of each day.

Holy Trinity, dynamic and loving, we thank you for seasons
and cycles.
But especially for today in this season of summer.

In gratitude for the privilege of being your pastor and the holy call of loving you,

Pastor Trish

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