In this E-pistle
Called!
Are ‘ya or aren’t ‘ya?
Coming Attractions

Called: In Brazil one of the most common ways to talk about making a telephone call is to use the Portuguese verb “ligar” which literally means to connect( think “ligament”). “Vou ligar,” I might say, meaning “I will call you.” I like the the idea that even when we’re talking with someone on the phone, we’re connecting. It’s a linguistic leap, but isn’t that the same with God when he calls us – he’s connecting with us.

One of the reasons I like hearing the stories of peoples’ call whether it is to faith or service, vocation or relationship, is that those stories are always stories of God connecting with someone. This Sunday we will meet a person who is connected to God, has been connected with a people far away, and now is connected with us. It’s all part of God’s calling. Our newest mission partner was raised in Beaver but has now been called by God to bring hope and good news to people Southeast Asia. We need to keep it at that in our electronic communication, but please sure you’re in worship on Sunday to hear our guest preacher and mission partner speak on “Mission Impossible.”

Are ya or aren’t ya? You’ve probably seen the news that Pluto, the ninth planet in the solar system, may not be a planet at all. In fact it may be one of the four or more plutons that make up an outer group of celestial bodies orbiting our sun. Or maybe it’s the ninth of twelve – or is it 23? – planets. Nobody is quite sure what to do with Pluto. Turns out that no one quite knows exactly and precisely what a planet is, so maybe Pluto is and maybe Pluto isn’t.

So what’s a Christian? Is it someone who has been born again (John 3:3), or one who has believed in the only begotten Son (John 3:16) or is it someone who loves the Light more than the darkness (John 3:19)? Three different ways to describe a Christian from just one chapter of the New Testament, and the list gets longer: Christians are those who turn the cheek and go the extra mile, they are the ones who sell all they have to follow Him, they do unto the least of those His brothers and sisters, they confess with their lips and believe in their hearts that Jesus is Lord, they open the door when He knocks and they share a meal with Him.

Some people are Christians and some people aren’t. That’s clear and God is the final judge. And maybe we need to do more than go to our dictionaries or our Bibles to find the correct definition. Maybe we need to go into the field and gather some evidence. After all, Jesus said, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8)

What proof is there that you’re a disciple? Enough for conviction? What proof that we at Park are a body of disciples, Christians in every sense of the word? Are we or aren’t we?

Coming Attractions:

Sunday, August 27, is Church Picnic Sunday. Plan on wearing casual clothes to worship and then remaining for the annual picnic in the Pavilion. Always a great time of fellowship, this year’s edition of the church picnic promises to be no exception.

The Family of God retreat in Saturday, September 9. My friend, Pastor Jeff Moore from Jefferson Center Church in Saxonburg, will be our speaker again this year. We’re planning on a great cross generational event. Registration will be available this Sunday!

10:55 worship, Sunday School and Youth Groups resume September 10. Then comes Club 1440 (September 13), ABC (September 20) and more. Watch the Branches, bulletins and brochures for more information