Just a couple of things to say this week.
First, I want to say, “Well done, Park!” You know how we’ve been estimating our giving for next year to support the 2024 church budget? Well, your response has been so wonderful that we have basically met our estimated giving goal of $535,000, which unlocks our budget for next year. As of today, we are only $8,000 (1.5%) shy of being 100% there. We’ve never done that before! If you’d like to help make up the difference, you can still estimate your giving here. And there’s something else. We set a goal of receiving 130 estimated giving cards. As of today, 135 have been turned in!
So, way to go, Park! This is something to celebrate!
And speaking of celebrating, here’s the second thing I’m thinking about this week.
Max Lucado wrote in his book, The Applause of Heaven, “Certain things about God are easy to imagine. I can picture God creating the world and suspending the stars. I can fathom a God who knows me, who made me, and I can even fathom a God who hears me. But a God who is in love with me? A God who is crazy for me? A God who cheers for me? That’s hard to imagine. But that’s the message of the Bible.”
A God who cheers for me? A God who applauds you, who celebrates us?
I think he’s right. It is difficult to imagine, especially if we got the message somewhere along the way that God would never appreciate the likes of us.
But how about we do just that — imagine it? Yes, let’s celebrate and praise God. For sure, let’s applaud each other. And let’s go one step further. Let’s be aware of the God who loves to cheer us on. Let’s clap for the God of encouragement who believes in us, even when we have a hard time believing in ourselves. The God of joy who applauds when we go the extra mile, turn the other cheek, and love one another, and then cannot help but stand and say, “Bravo! Bravo!”
We have a lot to celebrate at Park Avenue Church. A lot to applaud — including the beautiful truth that God joins in the ovation.
Much love,
Pastor Gregg
P.S. We’re celebrating Christmas at Park! Click here to download your copy of the Christmas at Park Calendar.
