Weekly update July 4
Dear CCGR Family,
I can imagine last Sunday’s sermon hit home with many of us. In our fast-paced world, so much of our life is consumed by rapidly developing technologies that are changing what we do and how we do things.
Sure, much of this advancement is good. We can live most of our daily lives through our computers or smart phones. Not only have these much-used (sometimes overused) communication tools become the more popular way of ‘connecting’;instead of a phone call or written note, they offer us the speed in making the connection via texting and messaging. (These are good things, especially in the event of an emergency). We can send notes and letters electronically instead of handwriting them. We can search for almost any piece of information, learn of the up-to-the minute news, track the mailing of letters & packages, map out a driving route for us to get from point A to point B, get the weather forecast, and so much more of ‘how to do this and how to do that’ (encyclopedias, phone books, recipe books, road maps, have mostly all become a thing of the past). And then there’s more — We can go shopping for almost anything and have it delivered right to our door. We can watch TV or a movie. We can take photos; we can share photos; we can ‘store’ photos; we can ‘post’ photos & share them with friends and friends of friends. We can share just about anything we can think of that’s on our mind via an assortment of different social media avenues.
We can share things privately, or we can ‘tell the world’, and turned around, we can find out a lot of information from others, and about others, even if they didn’t mean it to be shared so widely. We have even seen (especially as a result of the COVID-19 crisis), we need not be physically present at a workplace to do a job; many
work tasks have been proven they can be performed remotely. We can do just about everything right from the place we are standing or sitting at at the moment — wherever we are.
The speed and efficiency of this ‘modern way’ has brought us to the point of being able to do just about everything right from the place we are standing or sitting at at the moment — wherever we are. And…, although it’s been a tremendous advancement in ‘communication’, this way of ‘connecting’ has somewhat been a setback in other ways.
Being overly connected, and constantly depending on this source of ‘connection’, can have a negative impact, as well — causing issues of distraction, expectation of instant gratification, lack of socialization; chance of misinterpretation; possible loss of privacy; and sometimes even can be emotionally draining. And in some cases, our physical health can be affected, such as vision, hearing, and maybe create neck and back issues.
Most importantly, becoming consumed in this ‘action-oriented’ world can cause us to lose focus on what is of utmost importance to each of us — ‘ourselves and our well being’.
As James Stewart read in his today’s Scripture reading of Genesis 2: 1-3: “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that He had done.” And in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,. Take my yoke. upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
We are each part of God’s creation, and we are each important to HIm. Scripture tells us He wants each of us — like God did after His work was complete — to stop, reflect, and rest from the busyness of the hectic pace of the world — to take in the beauty of His surrounding creation, and most importantly, take time to ‘communicate’ with Him — for prayer with HIm. Jesus encouraged this for His disciples when they became weary and overburdened, and we shouldn’t be guilty when we take time for ourselves that we think might be taking us away from something else that can wait. Since we are each unique and in HIs image, He wants nothing more than for us to value ourselves and care for ourselves. And rest, reflection, and quiet time with Him couldn’t please Him more. As Pastor Terry shared, “When we relax in the Lord, we find rest for the soul.” May we all find time to quiet ourselves, and take the time to reflect and appreciate the gifts surrounding us in our beautiful safe homes; as we walk or ride throughout our wonderful co
mmunities — noticing the blue skies, the green trees, the colorful flowers; and may we especially take advantage of being at peace in our own private world, particularly the blessing of our relationship with Him.
Church School News
As many of us continue to remain in our homes during this time — or take precautions when we do venture out — we ask that you continue to keep each other in prayer.
Please continue to pray for our church members, families, and those close to us who have shared a special part of our lives — Anne Allen & Family (including Anne’s daughters, Liz & family and Sara & Boyd Lowry & Family); Laura Bird-Bennett & Family; Beryl Ferrari; Jean Franklin; Terry Gilligan & Family; Colleen Janssen & Family; Eric Lundquist & Family; Connie Sinkway and the Sinkway/Emery Family; Bob & Doris Van Ostenbridge; Rev. Jerry Wright and his family; Barbara Zucchino & Family; & the Ruth Rankin Leaper Family.
Confidential prayer requests that you would like the small group Prayer Chain to pray for may be emailed to Candy Hall at candy.hallccgr@gmail.com
Please continue to show your support to CCGR —
Though we cannot be together in person, we continue to be together spiritually as we face this health crisis together. We are gifted with our weekly virtual services and continue to pray for each other. If you’re able during this unprecendented time, please remember supporting Community Church in your time of giving.
~God Bless,
Donna