July, 2012
The Beacon
A PUBLICATION OF ERIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 200 Lockett Rd. — Knoxville, TN 37919 — (865) 588-5350 — www.ErinPresbyterian.org
A Message From The Pastor I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. (Psalm 130 v5) Dear Friends, __________________________________
July 1 2:00 pm Youth Players Show 4:00 pm Personnel Meeting _______________________________ July 4 Independence Day Church Of.ice Closed _______________________________ July 13 & July 14 8:00 am Mom’s Club Consignment Sale _______________________________ July 18—July 22 Middle School Montreat _______________________________ July 19 7:00 pm Combined Session and Stewardship Meeting _______________________________ July 20 Newsletter Deadline _______________________________ July 29 11:00 am Book Club Discussion (Peace Like a River)
I can remember a time when I took a short cut through a Rev. John Stuart local subdivision in order to by-pass many traffic lights as I was driving. Unfortunately, the subdivision’s sidewalk was being repaired and I had to wait in a long line of cars that had been temporarily stopped by a worker with a red flag. So much for my intended short cut! It took me twice the amount of usual time to reach my destination. Most of our days seem to be spent waiting. Waiting in line at the checkout; waiting to be seated in a restaurant; waiting in a doctor's office; waiting for results; waiting for a letter; waiting for a connection; waiting for the traffic light to change. Every time we wait, it slows us down and we get impatient with other people and ourselves. We want everything to happen quickly, instantly, and to be speedily over. But consider what the psalmist wrote long ago in the verse above. Each day God gives us moments to wait for Him. We can call them quiet times, alone times, holy times. Sadly, some days we are in too much of a hurry, or working too hard to appreciate those precious moments as sacred learning times to be with God. If we were meant to be in a hurry all of the time, God would have given us four legs instead of two. He wants us to walk with Him and wait for Him. He wants us to talk with Him and tarry with Him. Too often, hurrying leads to worrying over issues, whereas waiting leads to relating with God. Whenever you find yourself waiting throughout this month, receive the ‘wait’ as a holy moment to tarry with God. Prayer: Lord, teach us to wait and rest a while in Your peace. Help us to turn those moments of impatience into precious times of drawing closer to You. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
~John