This weekend is more than just a long weekend, more than the unofficial beginning of summer. Monday is Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember those who have borne the battle “that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

Memorial Day is often represented by row upon row of white crosses with small flags planted at their bases and fluttering in the springtime breeze. But each of those crosses also represents the life of a child, a father or mother, a brother or sister, a husband or wife, a best friend, whose life was cut short. (more…)

I believe…With these words our Confirmation Class students have begun to develop the faith statements that will be such an important part of the process of becoming church members. There are nine great kids in this year’s class and I am encouraged and impressed by what they are writing. You’ll see their work on June 4 when they are confirmed during morning worship. (more…)

Our God is an awesome God! One of the questions I ask our team members following a trip to Brazil is “So, why did God send you?” Of course, each of us must seek God’s answer to that question on our own.

One reason for our whole group to have taken this very quick and packed trip in May is already clear, though. When we arrived in Belo Horizonte on Thursday, May 4, we began to hear some disturbing news that Wellington Bessa, now 15 and one of our favorite young Brazilians for nearly six years, had been caught in the treacherous snares of favela life. He had taken first steps towards those things that catch and entrap so many young favela kids – drugs and increasing contact with the traficantes. Wellington’s parents, João and Silvia, were sad and grieving when we saw them at worship that evening. (more…)

In this E-pistle:

GOD’S GREAT GRACE – TEN YEARS IN JARDIM AMÉRICA
YOUR NAME FOR A CAUSE

Most of you know that ten Park people leave tomorrow for the Tenth Anniversary Celebration at IPJA, our sister church in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Please keep Tina Cruzan, Joe Gioan, Dan Humphries, Jeff Lemley, Becky Teague, Gerrit vanHartogh, Alex Varkonda, Emma Varkonda, Jack Walker, and me in your prayers for safety in travel and openness to God throughout the trip. We go representing all of you as our brothers and sisters in Christ celebrate the amazing things God has done through his great grace. We will bring your well wishes and listen to stories and read faces as we seek God’s direction for the next phases of our partnership. I will be preaching two sermons in Portuguese – Thursday evening and Sunday morning. You will find English translations by clicking here. (more…)

Sermon Preached at Igreja Presbiteriana no Jardim América
May 7, 2006
Hebrews 12:1-2

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Thank you. Thank you for sharing your lives, your homes, your meals, your joys and your sorrows with us. And thank God for ten years at IPJA. This weekend we have raised our Ebenezer with worship, praise, and thanksgiving. We have prayed, sung, and laughed together. Thank God for ten years at IPJA. (more…)