Friends,

Cathy & I love taking walks together, especially in the woods. So sometimes we walk at Pole Green Park. Back by the dog park, there is a path through the woods. It’s beautiful. We were walking the path on Saturday the 11th. Cathy is more adventurous than me and likes to go “off road.” We left the trail for a lesser walked trail along a creek. We came to the end of the little trail and you could either go back or straight up the hill. We made a turn and followed the little creek, but Cathy slipped on some leaves and slid on her rear down the slope and went feet first into the creek!

It was too steep and slippery to come back up the slope so she had no choice but to continue beside & sometimes in the creek! I didn’t want to be in the creek so I followed along the ridge above. The creek ended or rather began at a steep rocky place with a little waterfall. She was stuck. She’d have to walk back the way she came or somehow climb out. It was too steep for that.

I managed to easily cross the hill to her side and come down above where she was. I could hang onto a tree with my left arm & reach down with my right arm & lift her to a rickety tree sticking straight out from the rock where she could put her arm over it & help me pull her out. It worked! We were muddy & messy but walked out of the woods to a field.

We hurried home and made it to Christmas caroling without missing a beat!

I had the privilege of “rescuing” my wife. That’s what God has done for us at Christmas. He reached down with His strong right arm and pulled us out of sin by sending His Son. See Matthew 1:21.

I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year of getting to know the rescuing Father better & better.

Pastor Ed
pastoredvinson@gmail.com

Join us Friday Christmas Eve at 5 p.m. for a communion candlelight service and Sunday the 26th as I speak on the Purpose of Christmas.

Friends,

I encourage you to come to our special services on the 19th & 24th. This coming Sunday, our children will be featured musically. I know you’ll enjoy them. Then on Christmas Eve, we will meet at 5:00 p.m. for a communion candlelight service. It will be beautiful to be together to celebrate our Savior’s birth.

Pastor Ed
pastoredvinson@gmail.com

Jane Kinder sent this to me. I think it is an important word for us.

Word from the Lord for the days we are in.
Updated: Oct 27

The following is a prophetic word I posted four years ago. I just came across it this week and I sensed the Lord saying to post it again as it is even more relevant today. So here it is:

I had a somewhat concerning dream that a couple who are pastors and friends of mine and I were preparing for some hard times. It woke me up at 5:30 a.m. I asked the Lord what it meant and He told me, “You will need your notebook for this.” So I got up and wrote this down. I have submitted it to a few people, my pastor friends included, who have felt this was from the Lord. See what you think.

There are things about to take place in the world that will be perplexing to Christians who are expecting a revival in which people are saved and things are blessed as you have expected Christianity will be again in America. There will be people saved and people will always be coming to Me but the idea, the concept people expect is not how things will take place. You (plural) need to allow Me to reset your expectations of what Kingdom values are because a lot of what is expected is cultural but not Kingdom culture. There needs to be a rethinking of what constitutes Kingdom culture.

For instance, is “Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials” your automatic response to difficulties? Would you be willing to go the extra mile for your enemy? What I am telling you is not for immediate issues but are to let you know to prepare yourselves for days to come.

This is a time of preparation, even a warning for what will come about in days, perhaps, after Donald Trump is no longer president. For now, there will continue to be adversity from those who are warring against him and what he stands for. At the same time, many Christians are expecting all to go smoothly and for America to become a Christian nation as it once was. But that was then; this is now. The days are becoming darker in the world and while there is Kingdom advancement today, and it will continue, so also will the kick-back from the enemy. There will be an increase of darkness. Do not be alarmed by it. Have I not told you such days would come. I have also told you that there would be a great light – and the glory of the Lord would shine brightly in the darkness. Are not the stars able to be seen more clearly on darker nights?

So this is a time to begin to prepare, to think more deeply about what it means to be light in the darkness. These messages of the need to prepare will seem like the messengers are just being negative to some people but they must also be warned against seeing the preparation as negative, for these preparations will carry the power of God to be strong in faith when things seem to be contrary to what you would want or expect. This is a time to begin to absorb My Word so that your prayers are one with My Word and therefore of Kingdom reality. For instance, not to make you more comfortable or happy in fleshly terms but to know the joy of the Lord as your strength, and the forgiveness of the cross even when times are not comfortable.

You would do well to begin to consider what brings fear to your hearts so that you can put the fear behind you so your faith in Me becomes deep trust, regardless of the circumstances. This is why “Consider it all joy” should be something to meditate upon. Not to do it on your own but because you can grab hold of the love of God that is poured out in your hearts. And this not only because you may feel My love in your hearts for yourselves, but secure in knowing I am a very present help in trouble. And also because of My love in your hearts for those who appear as the worst of your – or other’s – enemies. Beware of taking on offenses, for yourself or others.

Remember that I died for all. My blood was shed for all mankind. There is power that is and will always be available for loving your enemies and seeing them as having a great need for My love and to know Me. Preaching the gospel is most effective when there are demonstrations of the Kingdom and not just the recitation of words. Love is the greatest demonstration of My Kingdom.

This is not meant to frighten you but to redirect your thoughts (and your preaching and teaching for those to whom this applies) in order that for the next years there is a preparation for more difficult days to come.

Pastor Ed

Cathy & I will be in Canton, Ohio this week visiting family. I hope you also have a very blessed Thanksgiving with family & friends, remembering how much we have to be thankful to the Lord.

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

~1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tonight, you are invited to Shalom Baptist Church at 7 p.m. for a community Thanksgiving service. Five local churches worship together. Please bring a can of corn or peas for MCEF’s pantry.

Friends,

Susan Haynes will be sharing this Sunday, “A Personal and Passionate Perspective of the Cross.” She is a passionate communicator and has a powerful testimony. You won’t want to miss this Sunday.

With the holidays approaching, please remember our shut-ins. A card or note would lift their spirits.

Friends,

I will meet with anyone who wants to talk and pray about life, current events and Scripture on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Seekers Classroom.

Also, if you haven’t done so already, please forward your updated contact information, as well as a recent photo, to the church office for inclusion in the Pictorial Directory.

Beginning Wednesday, October 20th @ 6:30, I will be available in the Seekers classroom. We can discuss what you would like to do with that hour or so.

Erna Chambers used to come regularly before Covid, but is now shut in. Her family says she would appreciate cards and letters. You can write her at:

Erna Chambers
6767 Crump Drive
Mechanicsville, VA 23111

Cathy and I will be leaving on Wednesday for a few days of vacation. We look forward to worshipping with you again on October 24th.

Come out this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and enjoy a concert by Southern Gospel quartet, The Rivertown Boys. We will take a love offering for them and their CD’s will be available for purchase.

I have scheduled our church to pray outside the Planned Parenthood facility on N. Hamilton Road in Richmond on Saturday, October 30 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. We will be working with 40 Days For Life, which is a community-based campaign that draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil and community outreach.

40 Days For Life takes a determined, peaceful approach to showing local communities the consequences of abortion. It puts into action a desire to cooperate with God in the carrying out of His plan for the end of abortion in America. The 40-day campaign tracks Biblical history, where God used 40-day periods to transform individuals and communities. For more information, go to www.40daysforlife.com.

There is room in the first four pews on Sunday morning for you if you would like more space between yourself and others. We can also open up the two doors by the organ on one side and the piano on the other for you to come to worship and not take the hallway. Let me know Sunday morning if you’d like the doors open. We will get through this together, as it is a blessing to worship corporately.

Check out what’s happening on our facebook and YouTube pages and our website which has the sermon recorded weekly.

There is an apologetics conference coming up October 1-2 at Knox Reformed Presbyterian Church located at 4883 Southard Lane, Mechanicsville, VA 23116

One of the speakers is an apologist that Tom Jamara has been listening to for a while, Eli Ayala (his YouTube channel is “Revealed Apologetics”). Anthony Rogers has a channel and hosts debates with Muslims.

This might be really good, since the LDS are building a huge “church” on Staples Mill Rd, we will see more opportunities to witness to them, but you have to know how to internally critique their worldview. Same with JW and Islam.

Tom and Ginger will be attending.

Tickets are available at the following link which you can copy and paste into your browser:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/apologetics-conference-tickets-162441664391?aff=eemailordconf&utm_campaign=order_confirm&utm_medium=email&ref=eemailordconf&utm_source=eventbrite&utm_term=viewevent

AFGHANISTAN REFUGEE NEEDS

From Caroline Grube: We were told that the response has been overwhelming. They are very grateful for the outpouring of love and concern. BUT we need to stop donations except very specific items. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT OR ORDERED OR CHOSEN SPECIFIC DONATIONS (scarves, small men’s pants, boy’s pants and size 7-9 men’s shoes), please drop off at my home in Bishop’s Park…7803 Longtail Lane, Mechanicsville. Leave on my porch. You have been so generous with monetary donations and we are using those funds to purchase priority items. Please CEASE MONETARY DONATIONS.
I will use any funds already given to me but I need to evaluate what is next.
I am blessed to serve as your hands in meeting this need. Churches and volunteers are doing what governmental agencies could not do. The Lord is in the midst of this!!

Friends,

Pat Phelps’ viewing will be held on Tuesday, August 31 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Woody’s Funeral Home, located at 9271 Shady Grove Rd, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. The funeral will be held on Wednesday, September 1, at 1:00 p.m. at Woody’s with interment at 3:00 p.m. at Washington Memorial, 6217 Memorial Dr, Sandston, VA 23150. There will be a reception on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. here at the church. Friends who can, are asked to contribute finger-food items (small sandwiches, salads, fruit, veggies, cheese plates, finger desserts, etc.) You can drop off food between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. by coming to the Pastor’s side door at the church. Let’s bless this dear and long-time church family. If you have any questions about Pat’s reception, please contact Shirley Hare.

A memorial service for Mike White will be on Thursday, September 2, at 6:30 p.m. at the church.

Caroline Grube shared yesterday about the Afghan refugees at Ft. Lee. On the spot, $1,346 was donated to this relief effort. If you would like to donate to this cause, donations can be sent to 7803 Longtail Lane, Mechanicsville, VA 23111. Caroline’s phone number is (703) 283-8215.

The March For Life in Richmond takes place at the Capitol Building on Friday, September 17th at Noon. Tom Jamara is going. To get started, you’ll want to sign up individually go to https://p2a.co/CKul51Q