Join us sundays at 8:00 & 10:30 AM

From the Pastor

From the Pastor

I enjoyed my time at the Solanco Fair last week. It was my second fair with you, as I had just arrived here in September of last year, and everything still seemed so new and unfamiliar. This year, I soaked it all in, — the parade, the food, the people, all of it. It was also great to have our own Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church booth. It was wonderfully done, as it provided just a snapshot of who we are, and more importantly, whose we are! My thanks to all those who helped with the creation of our booth, the setting up, the tearing down, and those who signed up to tend it. Your hospitality and welcoming spirit provided people with a window into the joy we have in the Lord. 

Of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention the “Celebrity Invitational Cow Milking Contest.” It is still unclear as who the term “celebrity” refers. I am putting my money on the cows. It was a laugh out loud great time, and I was overwhelmed with the support (and coaching) from the people of CLPC. Congratulations to our own Marissa Witmer on her victory for the second year in a row. And while I didn’t win, I did manage to defeat the pastors and my brothers in Christ from Mechanic Grove Church. If you think about it, isn’t that what really matters most in the end? 

 One of the things I learned is that while speed and power are important in cow milking, what matters most is your technique, and in getting into a right rhythm. Three Minutes of continuous milking can seem like an eternity, but success will come in having that good, consistent rhythm. Maybe that is the thing I can work on in preparation for when I have the opportunity to be part of the contest again in the future.     

 My friends, when it comes to our Christian faith, what we all need to work on, and what will restore our souls is regular, weekly, rhythmic worship. You are probably thinking, “Oh great, just when the fall weather hits and we’re about ready to head to our cabin in the woods for several weekends, and now the preacher is going to talk to us about attendance in worship and coming to church more regularly! What’s the big deal?”  After all, we Presbyterians don’t take that too seriously.  That’s more of a Baptist thing. They even post in their sanctuary how many people were at worship the Sunday before. We have more important things to worry about.

 Friends, the rhythm of worship is what will sustain us as we sing, pray, give, and delve into God’s word. Strengthen those ties this fall with your CLPC family, and yield yourselves to the Lord’s ways and blessings.  

 Pastor John

Quote of the Week

 “In prosperity our friends know us. In adversity we know our friends”  

Sheryl Sandberg in “Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy” 

 

Sheryl Kara Sandberg is an American technology executive, activist, and author. She is the chief operating officer of Facebook and founder of Leanin.org. In June 2012, she was elected to the board of directors by the existing board members, becoming the first woman to serve on Facebook's board.