Suicide
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

Dear Friends,

Between the two high profile suicides this week, the Centers for Disease Control released it’s study on the topic of Suicide which noted suicide rates are rising. You can access the information on the CDC website. (Here is the link: https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/suicide/index.html)

As a pastor, the first funeral…

Sabbath Keeping

Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work—Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day. - Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Dear Friends,
Do you take a day of rest? Do you take a day off to get away from work? Do you take a day to ‘decompress’ as some say?

The third commandment tells us…

Memorial Day

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

John 15:12-13

Friends,
This Monday is Memorial Day.

I read somewhere there are three ‘military’ holidays in the United States. One is Armed Forces Day where we honor those who are currently serving. Another is Veteran’s Day on November 11. On this day we honor those who served. Finally, there is Memorial Day where we honor those who died in service to their country.

Pentecost

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. (Acts 2:1-4)

Friends,
Sunday, May 20, is celebrated in the Christian Church as the day of Pentecost. It observes the Day the Holy Spirit appeared to Jesus’ disciples and followers. It is often considered the birthday of the Christian Church.

The word ‘Pentecost’ comes from…