In this E-pistle:

UNEXPECTED GRACE
THY WORD
A WHAT UGLY CITY?

I returned home very late Tuesday evening (actually very early Wednesday morning) from the trip to California for my father’s memorial service and a time of reunion with my mother and brothers and sisters. You can add my name to the list of those experiencing answered prayer this week. It was a remarkably good time away. The service for my father was good in just about every way that such a service can be good, and the time with brothers and sisters was the most positive any of us can remember in a long time.

The pile of sympathy cards that had filled my mailbox here at the church and greeted me at home has been a wonderful and unexpected grace. Your words of encouragement and promises of prayer are deeply appreciated.

One of our faithful Brazil team members had a similar experience of grace last summer after back surgery kept him from his regular routine for much too long a time. He remarked about how often we comment on the joyous hospitality and open caring that is part of life in our sister congregation in Brazil. And that is very true. But then he went on to say that Park People are every bit as warm and caring, just in a quieter, North American way. And that, too, is very true. It’s great to be a part of the Park Church family!

On Sunday, Graças will lead us in the familiar Amy Grant song “Thy Word.
You may remember the words based on Psalm 119:105:

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path

When I feel afraid
And think I’ve lost my way
Still You’re there right beside me
Nothing will I fear
As long as You are near
Please be near me to the end

The song is more than just a nice song. It’s true. Let me encourage you to be sure that you are allowing the Word to be that light unto your path. Specifically, it’s not at all too late to be a part of the Sunday morning study of Hebrews led by Jack Walker and Doris Thompson (9:30 a.m.) or either of our Wednesday ABCs (10:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m., and what a joy to have nearly 50 folks participating in ABC this winter -- there’s still room for you!).

A WHAT UGLY CITY? You may have heard about the Denver newspaper columnist who wrote some pretty unkind things about Pittsburgh in Wednesday’s Rocky Mountain News (Read All About It)

Well, you’ll just have to come Sunday to hear my sensitive pastoral response to the columnist from Colorado! (And how should we deal with that neighbor of ours who is flying his Broncos flag for all to see???)

See you Sunday!