Dear friends, 

As 2020, “The Year of Fear,” continues to surprise us, I am reminded of how Jesus teaches us to pray by first reminding ourselves of the Father’s love for us and goodness toward us. Then we pray for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done.  We invite him into our world and our worlds. I ran across this prayer from Thomas a Kempis from The Imitation of Christ that I found helpful for these days.

“Grant me, O Lord, 
to know what is worth knowing
to love what is worth loving,
to praise what delights You most,
to value what is precious in Your sight,
to hate what is offensive to You.
Do not let me judge by what I see,
nor pass sentence concerning what I hear,
but to judge rightly between things that differ,
and above all to search out and to do what pleases You
through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

2 things to be aware of:

1) Men’s Breakfast Gathering at Spartanburg High School Fine Arts Center on Saturday November 14 from 8:30-10:00am. Dr. Russell Booker will share with us his experiences as a follower of Jesus, man, husband, father, African-American, educator and leader in our community. Russell is a good friend and I am excited about what he will share with us on Saturday. I hope you will make every effort to be there. Please contact Kirk Johnston at kjs83@outlook.com if you plan to be there so we can have coffee and biscuits.

2) Thanksgiving meal and service on Wednesday night, November 18. Dinner at 5:30 and Worship at 6:30. We will have a time of open sharing for people to express things they are thankful for this past year. Brief statements are welcomed and encouraged.    

Finally, with each passing week I grow ever more thankful for each of you and this church body. I also grow in my desire for us to all be together in worship and fellowship!

Your friend

Steve Wise