Luke 15 has three familiar parables: The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Sons (The Prodigal Son and his brother)

To me the parables are about:

A son who makes really bad decisions and gets very lost because of them
A lost sheep who doesn’t really mean to make bad decisions, more just kinda wanders off
A coin that never left but is “lost in plain sight”.

The coin reminds me of when people are still there, but folks have stopped noticing them. Maybe they received a lot of sympathy at the funeral, but it’s six months later and everyone has moved on. Ever felt lost in plain sight? The Good News of the Parable is that “Lost Coin” people are never lost to God. And God calls us to notice them, search for them, love them. How can we notice the “lost coins”?

Sunday’s worship service will tell the story of the Lost Sheep, but the Lost Coin is a beautiful parable as well.

Friends,

This Sunday, September 14th our Ukulele Choir will be sharing songs in worship. Come join our Ukes! Practice is every Friday at 9am in the choir room.

Young at Hearts is this Thursday, September 11th at 11:30am in Chadbourn Hall with special guest speaker Mary Konicki – Coach for the Geri Fit class at the Senior Center.

The Children and Youth will meet at the church at 3pm this Sunday to head down to the Fort Fisher State Recreation area to walk the trails. We will have tacos on our return.

The Session meets this Sunday after worship in Chadbourn Hall.

Remember in the weeks ahead:

The Tuesday Morning Bible Study is studying the Acts of the Apostles – Tuesdays at 9:30am!

Wednesday, September 17th: 11am Prayer Service in the Sanctuary. Lunch at Katies afterwards for those who wish to go.

Mark Your Calendars: Rise Against Hunger Food Packing Event will be Sunday, September 28th at 2:30pm. Invite friends and family to come help!

Mark Your Calendars: Living Stones Praise Band will be giving a concert at WPPC on Sunday, October 5th from 4pm to 5:30pm. Many thanks to Amber for setting this up!

The September Bus Trip will be to Liberty Hall in Kenansville, NC with lunch afterward at the Mad Boar near Wallace. We will leave the church Thursday, September 25th at 9:30am

Volunteers needed for Diaper Bank “Essentials Hub” distributions. Come volunteer (with Emile) on one of the following dates. Tuesday, October 28th at Creekwood Community (8:30am)

Note – the November Diaper Bank Distribution has been cancelled. Share the Table is now an official partner of the Diaper Bank – so they don’t need a mobile distribution.

Volunteers also needed for home visitations with Emile:

Monday, September 15th: 11am to 2pm
Wednesday, September 24th: 11am to 2pm
Monday, October 6th – 11am to 3pm Communion Visitation (need 2 or more people)
Wednesday, October 15th: 11am to 2pm
Wednesday, October 29th: 11am to 2pm
If you wish to volunteer to distribute diapers or go on home visits, please reply to this email and let us know!

Grace and Peace!

Emile