Dear Calvary friends,
Last Sunday: We had a great crowd here at Calvary Sunday! The 8a.m. service had 15 and the 10a.m. service had 61 with several returning newcomers! I always enjoy meeting new folks at Calvary, and they usually comment on the friendliness of our congregation. It is one thing to invite friends to church, which is wonderful, and it is even more hospitable to welcome folks by getting to know them. Sunday was one of those days where the Holy Spirit was present as were many of you. Every person counts! Thank you!
A big shout out is due to Sonya Massie and Cade, Ky and Will for providing our luncheon Sunday. A little bit of pasta and sauces go a long way in nourishing people with food and fellowship. Our time together then rolled into Payce Lemaster’s 1 year old birthday party! Truly a festive day at Calvary!
The gospel text Sunday was John 15:9-17. In this passage Jesus calls the disciples his friends. He tells them not to think of themselves as servants, but as his friends. Jesus has chosen them to be his friends. He knows there will be ups and downs, however in the end they will spend their lives taking the gospel message out to others. In Jesus’ thinking being a servant is about fulfilling a contractual relationship. Being a friend is a relationship of choice and is covenantal in nature. Friends repeatedly choose to be in a relationship because their bond is love-based. It is abiding in God’s agape love that helps us handle the ups and downs in life. God is continually asking us to stay in that agape love! Out of that comes our ability to love others. Or another way of saying this is, “Friend, I am going to love you, because Christ first loved me!”
This coming Sunday: There will be a fun pulpit switch. I am going to St. Mary’s Middlesboro to lead Sunday mass and Fr. Izak McKenzie will be at Calvary for the 8a.m. and 10a.m. services. The idea to switch pulpits is all because of Mother’s Day. Izak’s mom and Natalie’s mom (Rebecca Napier) both live in the Ashland area. With this switch they will be able to be with their moms on Mother’s Day and be able to spend a little time with extended family as well. I am looking forward to being down there because this will be my first time to visit St. Mary’s and Middlesboro. I know you will enjoy Izak, Natalie, and little Levon! Let us just say that we can indeed call them our friends!
Blessings, Fr. Jon
