Pastor’s Update

Dear friend of Pine Mountain Christian Community Church,

What will you celebrate on the fourth of July? I pray you will celebrate freedom and God’s blessings on our country. As you know, it was July 4, 1776 that the founding fathers of the United States signed the Declaration of Independence (although technically, all the signatures were not gathered until later). In that document, the original thirteen colonies declared their independence from the British Empire. It was a brave, ambitious, step of faith. Those who were present at the first reading of that declaration tell us that there was a somber silence after the reading. They realized that if England rejected their declaration, it would mean war with the most powerful empire on earth. They would be considered traitors to the British crown. They would be hunted, and if caught, they would lose everything. How could they take such a stand? They took such a stand because they believed their cause was just, and they believed God would enable them to succeed. The Bible tells us, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” (Psalm 35:12).  What does that mean? We will answer that question this Sunday, as we look at that verse and see that those founders had a deep trust in the God of the Bible. I pray you will join us for what will be a patriotic church service that will encourage us to trust God as our founding fathers trusted God.

* This Sunday, July 5th, will be a “Patriotic Sunday!” Plan to come and bring a guest as we hear God’s Word, rejoice in God’s blessings on this country, and remember the Christian people that shaped its founding.

* Beginning July 6th, I will take a 4-week vacation. I am allowed 4 weeks each year, and I very rarely have taken all 4 weeks. But this year I decided to take this time all at once to be refreshed, do some extra reading, grow in the Lord, take care of needs around the house, go to a family reunion, and spend time with Linda and our family. Please pray that this time will be a time of great blessing and spiritual renewal.

* Elder David Oertel will be preaching for the four Sundays I will be gone. Please pray that God will bless him with insights from God’s word to help encourage and strengthen us in the Lord.  

 THIS WEEK’S CHURCH CALENDAR:

* Sunday, July 5th at 9:30 am: All Church Prayer Time in the sanctuary

* Sunday, July 5th at 10 a.m.: Worship Service in the sanctuary.  Sermon: “God Desires to Bless Our Nation”, Psalm 33:12. Live-streamed (Lord willing) on pmccc.org, YouTube.com, and Facebook

* Wednesday, July 8th at 10 am: Women’s Bible Study in the Activities Center

* Wednesday, July 8th at 10 am: Men’s Bible Study in the Church Library: Study: The Book of John

* Thursday, July 8th at 6 pm: High School student gathering in the Activities Center

Trusting God to bless our nation,                                                                                

Pastor Rick