Dear Saints of Mount Calvary,

August will be different at Mount Calvary this year. Providing respite for the pastor has become the focus, resulting in a plan to reduce the number of activities on his calendar. Two life events, the wedding of his eldest daughter and the college-going of his youngest daughter, also mean that his time at the parish in August will be decreased. It is important, as Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:12 “to respect those who work hard among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.” In addition, Paul says that the married man has unique concerns that the single pastor does not. In 1 Corinthians 7:33-34 we read, “The married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided.” Further, the writer to the Hebrews reminds us of our Great High Priest, Jesus, who was perfect in every way, but that our earthly priests who offer sacrifices for themselves, who like us, are weak and in need of the things we need. Our pastor needs time too for enjoyment and rest (See Hebrews 5:2). If a pastor fails to care for his family, he is not fit to care for God’s household (1 Timothy 3:5).

And so, this month these are things that we will not have.

There will be no Wednesday Midweek Services.

There will be no Saturday Morning Men’s Bible Class or Women of Mount Calvary.

There will be no Family Group.

This is a major shift away from our opportunities to be together and hear God’s Word! Many people look to these events for growth in God’s Word. Many people suffer alone and need events like these to provide Christian connection. So how might we use this month in a different way and still attend to the Word of God and the people among us? Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” And Hebrews 10:25 says, “Do not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Here are some opportunities to do something different this August:

Invite others over to your home for tea or coffee. Encourage the gift of community.

Attend Sunday services and bible classes this month even though there may be a temptation to miss, hold a home bible class and invite others over, weed a garden at church, ask our trustees if there is something you can do (Nick Myers and Eric Velkly), get to know a new person in church, call someone on the phone, choose a project to get involved in.

Remember not everyone has community, look out for those who do not.

Hold a prayer office at church before work or in the evening and invite others to come. Ask someone if you can pray for them. Make a random phone call and ask someone how they are doing.

Go out to eat after church and invite someone as your guest. Attend Dining Out. Go to Hymnodians Men’s Singing Fellowship on Tuesday Nights or sing in Propers Choir. Cap off the month by attending the August 30 Barnstormers game with the church.