If you were unable to participate in the amazing and wonderful and beautiful gathering at the building Sunday afternoon in honor of Cliff and Jeannette Istre, then I have an assignment for you.  It will be your job to make sure you attend, and pay attention to, each and every one of the upcoming sermons in our Fall series on 1 Corinthians 13, “The Greatest is Love”.  For those who were at the party, you will be given an “excused absence” from the rest of the sermons in this series because what you witnessed in and through and surrounding every aspect of that party - from all the preparation, to the serving, to the cleaning up, to the heartfelt emotion of the people who spoke, to the joy each one felt in being a part of this celebration – all of that was 1 Corinthians 13 on display!  That was The Great Chapter on Love being lived out before our eyes!  Those of us fortunate enough to be there saw Love enacted, exactly as The Apostle Paul envisioned it would be when at its best.  Go back and read verses 4-8 of this chapter and see if I’m right.  We were all blessed to be there to experience this.  Many thanks to all involved for carrying us into what it truly means to be The Family of God!

 Here’s the weird thing about all of the people who have now received an “excused absence”.  My guess is that most of them wouldn’t use it, even if it was “real”.  And, in case you’re wondering, it is NOT real!  Your presence here is always “required”

And, in case you’re wondering, the “assignment” to attend the rest of the sermons is not “real” either.  That doesn’t mean that your presence is not needed.  Indeed, you are needed, and you are wanted.  But I know - life is hard, life is busy, life is tiring, things come up, illness happens, vacations happen, schedules are full.  I know most of you [all of you?] would be here if you could.  I just hope you realize that not only are you missed when you are not here, but maybe you are also missing out on a blessing that The Lord has prepared for you.  Maybe it really is worth the time and effort it takes to be with God’s people.  Maybe it is eternally worth it.           

~Shepherd Ambrose Ramsey