What Does This Summer Have in Store For Us?

What Does the Summer Have in Store For Us?
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This Sunday’s message will be the last I preach for a while.  My sabbatical (one month of study leave, plus one month of vacation) will start this coming Saturday, June 23.  On that day Janet and I will embark on a trip to Vancouver.  I will start a course on the gospel’s passion narratives at Regent College on Monday the 25th.
 
Here is what you can look forward to in in the months ahead:
 
· Pastor Ryan will preach a two-part series on God and politics.
· Roy Berkenbosch, an ordained pastor and the Director of the Micah Centre at King’s University, will preach a three part  series on justice and the Christian life.
· Then Pastor Ryan will preach four sermons in a series called Bon Voyage.  It will feature four scenes from four ships in the Bible.
 
I leave you with a final word of encouragement.  For many of us the summer months will mean a big change in our schedules.  Our patterns will be upended because the kids are out of school, we will be traveling, or because we will be hosting guests in our home, or for all of these reasons combined.
 
I have found that these months, while exhilarating, can be spiritually challenging.  The unsettled nature of this season can take a toll on our disciplined pursuit of spiritual practices. A vacation can easily become a vacation from God.  As a result we can emerge from the summer physically refreshed but feeling disconnected from our Heavenly Father.  This is a good time to take stock of how we will negotiate these weeks so the summer is one that leaves us both physically refreshed and stronger in our walk with Christ than ever.    
 
Have a wonderful summer. –Pastor Tom  

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