For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
(2 Corinthians 6:2)
Time flies. Already it seems the season of Lent is nearly halfway gone. Easter is coming! We continue to pray that our community would be free of illness and the time of quarantines would be behind us, just as we now cry out to God on behalf of those fighting and fleeing for their lives in Eastern Europe. It might be easy at times to get caught up in the world events and devastating news and be distracted from what’s right in front of us. I’m trying to slow down as much as I can and just be present with my kids and family, but they move pretty quickly too. It’s good to know and trust that God is with us all the time, gracefully forgiving and sustaining us.
It’s important to take time to worship. Our Ash Wednesday service was well attended. Sunday worship attendance is growing, and we will officially welcome 5 new members in the weeks to come! We are blessed by wonderful music from Dr. Alex Le, and hope to assemble a small group of singers soon. Our new Bible study is off to a great start, and I hope more will join us. Lenten soup suppers are happening each Wednesday, with healing-focused worship and prayer afterward.
It’s time to invite our neighbors! Back in late 2019, we received a grant form the Grand Canyon Synod to create an event centered around evangelism and building new relationships. We have been delayed for two years, but will soon we will begin planning and presenting this to the congregation. My hope is that we can learn some new strategies for sharing the love of Jesus with our neighbors, advertise, invite, and celebrate with a community meal. Target date TBD.
It’s almost time for Vacation Bible School! We’ll host VBS July 25-29, and will need some great adult and youth leaders to make this a Monumental week for our little ones as we Celebrate God’s Greatness! We had about a dozen kids last year and hope to have even more this time around. Our Sunday school kids are having a great time with stories, crafts, and snacks. Thanks to all who help each week!
Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The time is always right to do what is right,” and we are working with our neighbors and organization of Nevadans for the Common Good to find solutions to housing issues here. We hosted neighborhood leaders on March 6th, and will invite friends to a community meeting taking place March 30th at 6:30 at Desert Spring United Methodist Church (120 North Pavilion Center, Las Vegas, NV 89144) to hear stories and begin working on solutions to our housing challenges. Clark County Commissioners have been invited.
If you’d like some time to catch up, talk, pray, or just check in, or know someone who would like a visit with the pastor, please let me know. I always have time for coffee and prayer. I give thanks to God for you and the opportunity to give my time, and share in the ministry here at Living Hope. God Bless you all.
In Christ,
Pastor Jason
Leave a Reply