Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church

Now, a year later, it feels like things are in more of a normal time and normal routine. Not exactly like it was before COVID but families have returned from long overdue vacations and schools are back in session. There are still some cautionary protocols and everything isn’t back to the way it was pre-COVID (it might not ever get back to that way!) but it is good to be back into the routines of late August and September.

At church, we are making plans for the Fall and the 2022/23 year that feel a bit more normal too. Ministries are preparing for events and Bible studies are starting back. I am also excited about a theme that we will have throughout the year. That theme is Prayer. You will learn more details about what we in Session have been discussing and some of the things that will be taking place but for now, know that prayer will be an important part of our church’s life throughout the rest of 2022 and into 2023. Be looking out for the September LCPC Connections Newsletter for some of the events that will surround this theme.

Sorry for another baseball analogy but I am a baseball fan, so here you go!

It is always exciting when a player in baseball comes up to bat and is able to hit a homerun. The player loves it, the team loves it and the fans love it. We dig the long ball and the homerun can be the difference between winning and losing.

But there are some other subtle things in a baseball game that are nearly as important. For example, when a player can hit the ball to a certain part of the field to advance a runner from first-base to second-base, it gets that runner into scoring position. This is important, because the next batter can then hit a single and that player on second-base can score. It is a small, almost insignificant part of the game, but it can play huge dividends to the outcome, maybe even be the reason why a team wins or loses.

The same can be true at church. We get excited when there is a large crowd, when the music moves our spirit, or when a pastor’s sermon motivates us to do something for Christ. Those moments in church are important and they can make a big difference in people’s lives.

But there are also some other subtle things that take place at church that are nearly as important. The prayers of people, both while they are at home and while they are at church, can play a huge role in church life. The smile of a person serving coffee or nice greeting to a stranger can change a person’s outlook for that day, maybe even give them hope while facing a difficulty in their life.

I write this because we as a church truly need each other. We are all on the same “team,” doing the “big” and the “little” things to help our church be healthy and growing. These things are happening and I want you to know that people appreciate the big and little things that each of you do.

My prayer is that you would continue to do your part, however big or small, to help us to continue to be the place where people meet Christ, grow in their relationship with Him and we become the church that He wants us to be.

Have a great rest of the week and know that I am praying for you.