Dear Friends:

IT'S A CONUNDRUM FACING PARENTS ACROSS TIME AND SPACE - on one hand you want your children to grow up and become productive members of society standing on their own, while yet wanting to hold on to the carefree (in their eyes) days of childhood. Even those of us with the youngest of children notice when those markers of independence (crawling, toddling, walking - just to name a few) manifest themselves almost without notice.

I firmly believe one of the reasons that God is painted in scripture through the lens of being a parent is the reality that our faith is much like the rest of life - we start out in the embryonic stage and develop (sometimes slowly, sometime rapidly) into (hopefully) more faithful disciples of Christ who, although we may take a step back for every couple of steps forward from time to time, move forward over time.

Growing up and maturing can be measured in many ways by changes in perspective, behavior, and attitude - as we read in what is known as Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he so eloquently paints the picture that, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways."

This week's worship draws upon the wisdom found in Proverbs 9:1-6, wherein after seeing what all has been prepared, there is a calling to come, partake of what is prepared, and live & walk in the way of insight. Part of this is extending gratitude for that which has been prepared and for the one who prepared for guests.

It's Academic, friends - It's Time to Grow Up (or, Be Grateful.) Come join us, and bring a friend!