This Week at Old South Haven Presbyterian Church

Old South Haven Presbyterian Church

September 11, 2021

Dear Members and Friends of Old South Haven Church,

Please join us this coming Sunday, September 12th, at 10:30 AM for live and virtual church service.  The Bulletin and Prayer Joys and Concerns are attached.

The details to join by Zoom are below.  Please see the attached letter from Pastor Glorya. Pastor Gloyra's sermon: "Faith and Works Belong Together" (James 2:1-10, 14-17)

Peace and Love,

Linda

September 7, 2021

Dear Friends,

Well here we are…..it's September! We've been together for one year. Happy Anniversary!

As I write this, we're still in uncertain times here on the island and in our country. Hurricane Henri fortunately decided to take another route. But Ida did pay our sisters and brothers in New Jersey and New York City a visit that will be remembered. Then there's the Delta variant of Covid-19 which is making its rounds and the possibility of the Mu variant. However, we began gathering together on July 4th and little by little we're trying to look ahead and think about a new program year. A year when we can see each other face-to-face more frequently. Thankfully we've taken a good look at the vaccine and said yes and pushed up our sleeves.

So, it's time to think about welcome. Because I began my ministry with you during the virus there are "faces" I'm not familiar with even though you may have been a part of zoom. I am so grateful to Linda, Richard and John who honored my wish to continue making the zoom available in case you're not able to be in church on a given Sunday. However, we do hope to see you back in your favorite pew soon. Please know that you're welcome here anytime.

Our friends at the United Church of Christ have begun saying: "No matter who you are or where you are coming from, you are welcome here." You see they are honoring the message from James, "Someone might claim, 'You have faith and I have action.' But how can I see your faith apart from your actions? Instead, I'll show you my faith by putting it into practice in faithful action." (2:19) They were striving to say that people of all different colors, cultures, and creeds are welcome in our church. Jesus calls us to not only welcome all people, but to welcome them extravagantly.

Having said the above it makes me so proud to have seen, in our short time together, just how welcoming you are. You've opened your doors, your computer doors that is, to folks from sister churches who may not have the availability of virtual worship. By publicizing the zoom link you've opened your doors to a Florida family I know as well as a member of another church who was quarantining due to the COVID exposure she encountered at the school where she works. While there are many questions out there with regard to, do we or don't we continue virtual worship, I think I am leaning to the affirmative side. You just don't know who you're reaching. Furthermore, that might be what brings them to your doorstep.

A week after Easter in 2020 Yaphank was doing drive-in church as well as Facebook in the church's backyard. Prior to worship, I went out to wave to some folks and one person said there was a woman in the car in the parking lot. Thinking she may be looking for the AA meeting I went over to her car. She said no she was just thinking about coming in to worship. We had a nice conversation and I explained that we weren't reopened yet but she could tune her radio to FM 88.9 to hear the worship service. I then went in a got her on of the bulletins I had printed "in case." After the worship several of the others got out of their cars and went over to speak with her, at a safe distance of course. She came back the next week and on the Sunday we re-opened she joined the church. You see, the pastor isn't the only face of the church!

If you're reading this and haven't been to worship in years—please know you are welcome here. If you are hesitant, nervous, or uncertain—you are welcome. If you find you have doubts—you are welcome. If you are curious or would like to just learn a bit more about God and Jesus Christ,—you are welcome. There's much we can learn together.

Whomever you are, wherever you are on your life's journey, you are welcome. We look forward to welcoming you.

Shalom,

Glorya

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2425544200?pwd=M3JpbUVPMWplL3FHWjlGR1pmK0c2dz09

Meeting ID: 242 554 4200

Passcode: 092003

One tap mobile

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Videos of our past Worship services may be found at

http://oldsouthhavenchurch.org/Worship_videos/video_gallery.htm