Greetings to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. By the grace of God, we are alive to witness the month of May, and we have so much to thank God and to entreat God for.
VOLUNTEERS AT THE NORTH CAMPUS
We thank God for many of you who served last week at our North Campus as greeters and parking attendants when we allowed Contra Costa County to utilize our outdoor facilities to administer Covid Vaccinations. This was a great Outreach Ministry for our church which was widely publicized. In about three weeks, Contra Costa County may return to utilize our outdoor facilities at the North Campus again to administer the second Covid Vaccinations. If so, I will share this with you and solicit again volunteers to serve as greeters and parking attendants.
GRIEF
We entreat God to comfort and strengthen people, especially members of St. John, who are experiencing grief. Personally, amid all of the pain that I have experienced, grief is the toughest for me to process and overcome, so I truly empathize with people who are grieving. I encourage people who are grieving to pray, read the Bible and listen (listen again if you have already listened) to the podcast message I delivered last Sunday entitled: “When Sorrow Shall Be Turned Into Joy.” In this message, we learn that “When Sorrow Shall Be Turned Into Joy,” 1) We shall be relieved, 2) We shall be renewed, and 3) We shall be rewarded. This message, along with all my podcast messages, can be heard by going through our website (sjmbc.org).
MOTHER’S DAY
We thank God and entreat God for Mother’s Day. If God is willing, Sunday, May 9th, is foremost the Lord’s Day and Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is one of the most acknowledged days of the year. Prior to the pandemic, second to Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day is one of the busiest days for restaurants. On Mother’s Day, mixed emotions are usually displayed. Some people are happy enjoying Mother’s Day with their mother, and some mothers are happy enjoying Mother’s Day with their family. However, some people are sad because their mother has transitioned from earth to eternity.
I advise people, whose mother passed, to reflect on enjoyable experiences they had with their mother. Despite your pain, thank God for blessing you to have your mother for the time that you did. If your mother was a Christian, she is in the presence of the Lord, and she is experiencing life better than the life she experienced on earth. She would want you to live for Jesus and enjoy your life knowing that the two of you will reunite one day in glory.
Moreover, I advise people whose mother is still alive to love, enjoy and celebrate their mother. Do not allow anything (even if your mother was at fault) to hinder you from loving, enjoying and celebrating your mother. The fact of the matter, although Sunday is the Lord’s Day, every day should be the Lord’s Day. Likewise, although the 2nd Sunday of May is Mother’s Day, every day should be Mother’s Day.
REOPENING OF OUR CHURCH
We entreat God regarding the reopening of our church. Our church facilities have been closed for almost 14 months, and I am certain that most of us really miss corporate worship. Although our county, state and country have permitted churches to reopen, we are still seeking God for direction concerning St. John. It is a strong possibility that we may reopen for 1-3 Worship Celebrations on the First Sunday of June, but this can only happen if God directs us and if it is safe; therefore, please join me in prayer seeking God’s direction in regards to the reopening of our church.
IT’S BLESSING TIME!
We thank so many of you who have been supporting St. John financially, especially in the last year. With everything that we are doing and trying to do, your financial contributions are needed. We currently give by mailing or dropping off our Tithes and Offerings to our St. John South Campus (662 South 52nd Street—Richmond, CA 94804) or by giving online through our website (sjmbc.org). If you are a member of St. John who is financially able but not supporting our church financially, allow God to bless you with more by giving today your Tithes and Offerings.
May God bless and sustain each of us.
Your Servant In Christ,
Dr. Kevin B. Hall, Pastor