Looking Back to Sunday and Ahead to Journeys and More

Looking Back to Sunday
Friends, as we start off the week, I wanted to just go back to Sunday to not only drop a 48-hours-later reminder of the core message from Sunday but also to share the photos that were in worship so you can see them a bit clearer.

Our table story on Sunday was Matthew's version of the Last Supper which, as I shared, is the single most shared "table story" of Jesus since we hear some version of it every time we share the Lord's Supper together. The pattern that emerged as I worked with the passage comes out of the actions Jesus takes at the table.

He takes the bread/cup (an active choice)
He gives thanks / blesses (gratitude)
He breaks the bread / pours the cup (works with it)
He shares it with others

I'm still sitting chewing (pun intended) on that pattern and what it means not only for me but also for us at RJC. So likely this won't be the last time you hear about it.

But I did want to share the photos that were tied in with the message as they were not quite as clear on the screens. Yes, I am a photographer snob. ;-)

Colerain Concert in the Park - July 24 at 6pm
The next "night out" together this summer is coming up on the 24th at 6pm. The Cincinnati Civic Orchestra will be the music and we'll be meeting at the Colerain Park Ampitheater (4725 Springdale Road) at that time!

Right now the weather looks GREAT for Friday night!

Looking to Next Sunday - A Traveling Table Story
No, the table isn't walking around in our next table story on Sunday but it is a story about a lot of walking, coming to a table, and then a LOT of running. This Sunday we are going to have a bit of Easter in our worship as we look at one of the Easter Day stories in the Gospels - the story of the two disciples meeting Jesus on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24. This story may be my favorite Easter story out of all of them - there's just so much in this story that speaks to the presence and person of Jesus, the path of discipleship, and about the presence of the risen Jesus. I cannot wait to dig deeper into the story with you all this Sunday!

Long journeys are definitely on my mind as my family and I will be seeing The Odyssey tonight. So a much longer story and journey than the Luke one but a timeless one as well. Depending on what my experience of the film is, you might see it show up in my message on Sunday! 

Two Important Dates
I also wanted to remind you of two important dates coming up. The first is August 2. That is our last "Room at the Table" Sunday and we'll celebrate all the table times with a big ol meal together! I'm particularly excited about it as part of the main course will be my special smoked pulled pork. More details of what you can bring will be shared next week.

The second is Sunday, September 27 - That Sunday we will be welcoming the Colerain Chamber to come and we will be doing a "ribbon-cutting" to celebrate our first year together as a congregation. The Chamber offered to come when we first started last year but the Session felt that we would rather get to more of a place of being one community of faith rather than three and so we looked ahead to this one year anniversary. Its going to be a great Sunday - plan to be there and invite others!

Your Church Dog Photo of the Week
Scout was quite helpful this morning in helping work on crafting my sermon for Sunday. Of course, we had some beautiful inspiration in the sunrise to help...

Grace, Peace, Love, Hope, and Joy,
Pastor Ed