Cathy and I are in Canton Ohio as you read this. I have all day meetings on Tuesday with all 4 teams together and we will see family while we are here.  

Ed Walsh, our new executive director, sent this link on sharing your faith for us on the leadership teams to discuss. I thought it was good and wanted to share it with you. Here are six 5-minute videos on witnessing. Please watch them all when you have time. 

Also, please be praying for an end to the war in Israel.  The sanctuary will be open the remainder of the week from 9-2 if you would like to come by to pray for Israel.

We had a wonderful time yesterday worshiping with Kyle, Julie, and Florence. Seeing her dedicated to the Lord was moving. Cathy and her other grandmother cried! We know you were in great hands with Dr. Dave Williams, who led the retreat on Saturday and worship on Sunday.  He had something to say about you that I wanted you to see. 

“How truly wonderful and delightful it is to see brothers and sisters living together in sweet unity!” Psalms 133:1 TPT 

Good morning, brother! I trust you had a great time with your son and his family in Charlottesville yesterday. We did our best to hold down the fort!

I can’t begin to put into words how blessed we were to be with you and the rest of the church family at Hanover this past weekend. As I told the congregation on Sunday morning, Carol and I have never felt more warmly welcomed and genuinely loved and appreciated by God’s people. This is a pure gift from the Lord, and it is just as precious as our next breath or heartbeat.

I have no doubt that our experience of Spirit-filled hospitality is also a direct reflection of the way you and Cathy have sought to shepherd the flock entrusted to your care. Thank you, dear friends, for your faithful and sacrificial service on behalf of our brothers and sisters at Hanover Friends. Your ministry is bearing beautiful fruit for the sake of Christ and his Kingdom!

Please thank everyone again for taking such good care of us, for their strenuous level of preparation and engagement in the retreat process, for their receptivity to the message we were called to share, and for the very generous honorarium we received as well.

Press on, my friend. The Lord is with you, and the best is yet to come!

Dave

Pastor Ed

I’m looking forward to the Retreat on Saturday!  I’m praying that your heart will be renewed and revived, which could bring revival to our church!

Dr. David Williams will also be preaching on Sunday, so you’ll be able to hear him if you can’t come on Saturday.  Cathy and I will be at our granddaughter Florence’s baptism/dedication in Charlottesville that morning.

Be praying for Dave & Carol’s safety & anointing this weekend.

We all remember where we were 22 years ago.  I was at the church in Marysville about to have a staff meeting at 9 am on a Tuesday when the phone rang.  A church member told us to turn the TV on.  We were shocked by what we saw.  Remember those who died that day and pray for their families.  Also remember the unborn who go into eternity by abortion at around 3,000 per day.

The Nominating Committee begins meeting this Sunday after church.  Please keep Jim Trusty, Rich Murphy, Sue Blanco, Livia McCoy, and me in your prayers that God would lead us to those He has chosen for open positions serving our church family.

You either received the 20-day Devotional and Testimony packet at church or can access it online.  (Contact the church office).  This is suggested reading & reflection before the Retreat on Saturday, September 30^th 9-4:30.  Dr. Dave Williams from Malone University will be the speaker that day & Sunday morning.  You’ll love Dave.  He’s wise & funny!  Please sign up on the bulletin board as lunch will be provided.

There was also a prayer handout for 60 days of prayer opportunity for our missionaries of EFM.  You’ll be hearing more in October.

My prayer for you today is that you are growing closer to God & walking with Him daily.

I wanted to update you all on my dad’s condition.  He is doing much better!  He’s out of ICU & in a regular room.  He has Covid and a UTI, but is being treated and improving.  I know your prayers have helped him.  Cathy’s sister is improving too and will be moved soon to a skilled nursing facility for rehab.  Thanks for your love & support!

This past Sunday, I spoke on God the Creator and Creation.  I quickly gave four scriptures that I didn’t read or comment on.  Here they are:

Psalms 19:1(God’s Glory) To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.  Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

Proverbs 3:19 (God’s Wisdom) The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;

Romans 1:20 (God’s Existence) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Jeremiah 27:5 (God’s Sovereignty) “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.

As you know, Joni Linger, James and Kim Southerland’s daughter, suffered a stroke last week.  Her employer has started a GoFundMe for her.  Please feel free to check it out HERE  and if the Lord leads you, donate to help Joni with her medical expenses.

Also, my Dad, Phil Vinson, has been diagnosed with Covid.  While he feels fine right now, he is isolated for 10 days, which is very hard for him.

Cathy and I thank you for the memorable birthday luncheon.  Thank you for the lovely cards and gifts and your singing of happy birthday!  What a surprise to see our son from Ohio and our son in Virginia, plus our daughter-in-law and granddaughter!  I will always remember this birthday thanks to you.

Pastor’s Email

The University of Oklahoma women’s softball team won the NCAA Championship for the third year in a row.  Several players were interviewed by ESPN.   This is how you use your opportunities in life as a witness for Jesus!  I think you’ll enjoy THIS.

This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, where we remember the sending of the Holy Spirit by the Father & the Son.  Immediately after the 120 were filled with the Spirit, Peter spoke to the crowd and preached the good news.  He highlighted that Jesus was the promised Messiah & how they had crucified Him.  But He rose from the dead and will forgive their sins.  Verse 32 says, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are witnesses of the fact.”  Verse 41 gives the result, “those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3,000 were added to their number that day.”

We are witnesses and have the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to share!  Here is a quote from the Bible commentator John Gill, O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings: the church of God so called, to whom the faith of the Gospel is delivered, which is the pillar and ground of truth; which receives, retains, and maintains it, and sends forth ministers to proclaim it; particularly the first church at Jerusalem, where it was first preached, and from whence it went forth into other parts of Judea, and into all the world; here the apostles of Christ were, and from hence they set out, and published the Gospel all the world over, and who seem to be chiefly meant; for the words may be rendered, as the other clause, “O thou that bringest good tidings to Jerusalem (o)”; so the Targum: “lift up thy voice with strength”; or preach the Gospel with a strong voice, speak it out; do not mutter it over, or whisper it in a corner; proclaim it on the housetops, cry aloud that all may hear; lift up thy voice like a trumpet; blow the trumpet of the Gospel with all the strength thou hast; cause the joyful sound to be heard far and near: lift it up, and be not afraid; of the reproaches and revilings of men on account of it, or of their persecutions for it; or lest it should not be welcome, or be received as truth:  say unto the cities of Judah; the inhabitants of them literally understood, and to the several churches and congregations of the saints everywhere:  behold your God! that divine Person is come, that was promised, prophesied of, and expected; even Immanuel, God with us, God in our nature, God manifest in the flesh, God your Saviour, and who being God, truly God, is able to save to the uttermost; look to him with an eye of faith, and be saved; behold the Son of God, the Lamb of God, that has bore your sins, and took them away; behold him now, as your King and your God, on the throne, made and declared, Lord and Christ, crowned with glory and honour, on the same throne with his divine Father, having all power in heaven and earth; and let the echo of your faith be,

Stan Leach, Executive Director of our mission sending agency, EFM, will be with us on Sunday sharing about missions among Friends.  He will be popping into your Sunday School class for a few moments as well as sharing in the service.

Let me also ask again if you would consider housing a college student for 2-4 weeks from early June to early July as he could do an internship with our youth.  Let us know in the office if that is a possibility.