“The levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no allotment or inheritance within Israel. They may eat the sacrifices that are the Lord’s portion, but they shall have no inheritance among the other members of the community; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them.” -- Deuteronomy 18:1-2

“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus: It is more blessed to give than to receive.” -- Acts 20:35b

What’s the best gift anyone ever gave you?

Whatever it was, how did you show your gratitude?

Stewardship is an ongoing commitment, not merely a “season” or a “series” ministers are required to address in sermons. Every Sunday is Stewardship Sunday. It’s ongoing.

The people of Israel crossed the wilderness from Egypt, on their way to entering the Promised Land. The Levites attended to the tabernacle and the sacrificial life of the
community. That was their work, and their needs were supplied by God and God’s people. “The Lord is their inheritance” became a truth not only to be applied to the Levites
of long ago, but applies now for us as well. We have an eternal inheritance of God’s own Self. That’s a pretty Great Gift, wouldn’t you say? Best Ever.

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Jesus came to earth so that he could give himself, his very life. Believing in him results in an eternal inheritance. Because
of God’s great generosity expressed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we follow him in faith with expressions of gratitude, generosity and grace.

I would assert that perhaps the very best gift ever given to you and me was when Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and then rose on Easter to show us
the way to eternal life. Eternal life with God is our inheritance. The old gospel hymn advises us to: “Count your Blessings.” It is such a privilege to give.

The Stewardship Committee is asking for your pledge or other commitment. Please give generously to the Lord, as God leads you. Every gift matters. If at all possible, show
your gratitude by increasing your giving even by as little as 1% over last year’s giving. Your gift, pledge or other commitment for 2012 means so much to your leaders who are
at work seeking to maximize our reach for Christ into Brighton and the surrounding communities. There is simply no substitute for your grateful, generous commitment to
the Lord. Please prayerfully search your hearts to see how you can show your gratitude. A grateful Christian is a generous Christian.

I am so grateful to serve you as your Interim Pastor, and I thank God for the gift you are to Brighton and the world.

Love,
Interim Pastor Paul

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements – surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? … Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?” Job 38:4-5, 16

Prayer: O God, reach down from eternity. Touch us with your love and power. Amen.

I read passages like the one above from Job, and I quickly conclude our god is too small. I mean, the god of our consumer tastes. So many people today tend to shop for God and church the way they shop for cars and clothes, cell phone companies, and cable or satellite TV providers. How much can we get for what we’re willing to spend? Does
it sound right and look impressive? Will others be impressed? Will it meet my needs, or should I look elsewhere?

In reality, God and church aren’t like that, of course. What Christianity offers doesn’t have a price tag attached. There is no tangible value to what we proclaim. Worship isn’t about entertainment. And the gospel won’t get you far, socially speaking. It may even impede your social standing, depending on the social circles you inhabit.
You’ll lose control of all your outcomes, being replaced by the One Outcome from beyond us.

Eugene Peterson in A Long Obedience in the Same Direction (InterVarsity, 2000) writes, “We are not presented with a functional god who will help us out of jams or an
entertainment god who will lighten tedious hours. We are presented with the God of Exodus and Easter, the God of Sinai and Calvary. If we want to understand God, we must
do it on his terms.”

And God’s terms are clear. Jesus Christ has come to rescue us. To offer a way of hope in place of our despair. To instill deep joy rather than to be merely entertained. To break us free from our own self-indulgent habits and the drive to accumulate more. To rescue us from the darkness to which we have become accustomed. Scripture will teach us.

“God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). That’s intangible. It’s eternal.

And it’s perfect. Just what we need.

Proverbs 16:3   “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

What is our work?  Worship is the one thing we all do together week in and week out.  9:15 am summer worship seems to be going well, and I feel a good spirit in the congregation on Sunday mornings.  Please continue to worship and to enjoy each other’s fellowship.  Our commitments as a congregation continue through the summer, even when you are on vacation, so please continue in the generosity of giving through your offerings, as God leads you.

Beyond worship, our work as a congregation spans a wide variety of activities and initiatives. 

On July 17 and 24 we looked at our congregational identity using “Culture Analysis” and “Appreciative Inquiry.”  A written summary report will be available shortly.

We have two bylaws revision groups at work for the church and the Presbyterian Children’s Center bylaws.  They are slightly out-dated and need refreshing.

We have a member rolls review work group presenting a series of recommendations to the session in order to reconcile our official records with current membership patterns.

We have a conversation coming up about the idea of possibly adding a worship service.  This conversation will probably ask:  what day of the week, what time, and what style of worship service are we talking about?  Traditional?  Contemporary?  Contemplative?   Why add a service?   Who is it for?   Please take part in the conversation when it happens.

As we roll into August, plans are in the works for a Blessing of the Backpacks and prayer as students, teachers, and administrators return to the classroom August 15th.  Our Confirmation Class has two students.  A Parents Meeting is scheduled after church August 14th to discuss fall programming, Sunday School and Kid’s Jam.  We’ll also be hearing from youth returning from a July mission trip to Menaul School, Albuquerque. 

The Pennock Center for Counseling is adding a needed bi-lingual therapist.  They also invite you to become a fan of theirs on Facebook and to visit their website at pennockcounseling.org.   The Presbyterian Children’s Center continues to serve the families of the community with quality Christian-based programming, care and love.  Acting Director Melissa Jewell and Office Manager Nicole Hahn invite you to stop in for a visit.   

The deacons invite you to a Parish Appreciation Lunch on Sunday August 28th after worship.  Please accept their invitation and enjoy a great meal with Christian fellowship.

Continue to pray for, encourage, and give thanks for our own Julia Henderson who seems to be having a fabulous year serving as moderator of Denver Presbytery.  Thanks, Julia.  Speaking of presbytery, Cynthia Bolbach, the Moderator of 219th General Assembly, will be in the presbytery for the August 19-20 Assembly at Highlands Camp and Conference Center.  Consider attending as a guest/visitor to hear her speak.  No doubt she will provide some insight on the brand new Form of Government (part of our constitution) before us.  On the same weekend, our Intergenerational Retreat is being held at Highlands Camp. 

In all these things and more, individually and as a congregation, let us keep in mind the wise words of Proverbs.  “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”  Where God is in our work, our plans will be established.  That means they hold promise to be blessed and advanced by God.  In all our work, whatever it is, to God alone be the glory.

Love,

Interim Pastor Paul