Pastor's Page

August 2010

Dearly Redeemed In Christ,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dear friends, once again, as happens every summer, we have begun the "dog days" of summer. Have you ever wondered where the term "dog days" originated? Well, the Dog Days originally were the days when Sirius (the Dog Star) rose just before or at the same time as sunrise, which is no longer true, due to the precession of the equinoxes. The Romans sacrificed a brown dog at the beginning of the Dog Days to appease the rage of Sirius, believing that the star was the cause of the hot, sultry weather. Dog Days were popularly believed to be an evil time "when the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics, and frenzies."

As we have discussed previously, summer is also a time when church attendance plummets. Not because of Sirius, but due to family vacations and activities. I understand this. Therefore, it's imperative of me to remind all that during the dog days of summer, within the Church Year, is a very important time. The Sundays after Pentecost deal, specifically, with the teachings of Jesus Christ. And His teachings are paramount, or should be paramount, in our lives. This reminds me of the response of His disciples after His teaching, which we know as, The Bread of Life. Their answer was, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" (John 6:60)

The disciples, those are the ones who stopped following Him, left because His teachings weren't understandable, rather, because they couldn't and wouldn't accept. This is a danger, a constant danger, within the church. We understand what Jesus is teaching us, but we refuse to accept. There are some hard teachings coming up in August. For instance, the importance of prayer, a warning against being greedy, of being ready for the coming of the Great Shepherd, and the necessity of the Christian to endure trials and temptations even from within their own family. Finally, the last Sunday of August, we will have a Favorite Hymn Festival. The theme of the service will be the Coming of the Lord, and the necessity to be prepared.

So, as we enter the dog days of summer, hear the comforting words of Jesus, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28, 29).

Your Servant In Christ,

Pastor Patterson

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone the Glory!)