Service for Sunday, July 6 starts at 10 am.  There is no Sunday School, however there is coffee after the service.  We hope that you can join us.

Here are Rev. Marlene’s thoughts on the service for this Sunday.

Marlene’s Rev. Notes:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. By his great mercy, he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3.

Welcome to our summer series on “Peter’s Path” —a look at 1 and 2 Peter. Peter, along with James and John, was a member of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples; who saw the raising of Jairus’ daughter, Jesus Transfiguration, and Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter, along with his brother Andrew were fishermen, when Jesus called them to join him. His original name was Simon, but Jesus changed it to Peter, which in Greek means “the rock.” Peter is perhaps best known for walking on the water, and for cutting off the ear of the high priests’ servant at Jesus’ arrest. He also denied Christ and delivered a sermon on the day of Pentecost that resulted in about 3000 people joining the church. Scholars believe that Peter composed the thoughts of this letter around 65AD.

Peter addresses his letter to the exiles scattered throughout the northern region of Asia Minor, which most likely refers to a mixed group of Gentile and Jewish believers from a variety of different social backgrounds. These believers were enduring a form of persecution and needed encouragement from the apostle to help them follow the example of Christ and persevere in their faith. Peter’s primary purpose in writing the letters is to remind his readers that they are God’s called and holy people, on earth as strangers and sojourners in this world; and people of faith, whose suffering for Christ will one day be vindicated and rewarded. Peter knows that his time is drawing to a close, and his purpose in writing is to encourage God’s beloved community to persevere. Also, to remind them, on the basis of their faith, to instill this “living hope” in future generations.