Today we’re celebrating Mothers, so whether you’re a mother, grandmother, step-mother, soon-to- be mother, or you play a mother-like role in someone’s life we wish you a happy Mother’s day! We thank God for you and wish to convey our deepest gratitude for all you do. One of my favorite authors, Rudyard Kipling once wrote, “God could not be everywhere, and therefore He made mothers.” God has a special place for you in His heart and He uses you to play a vital role in the well-being of others. We hope you’re blessed by our service today and we encourage everyone to take a moment this weekend to thank your mothers for all they do.

Today we begin a new quarter and our theme is “Closer to Each Other”. The goal with this series is to explore Biblical concepts of fellowship and communion. This is a very important topic in the life of a church family. As you will notice in our scripture reading, the author of Hebrews first tells us to, “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” Heb 10:23 This is very important but it also explicitly commands us not to “give up meeting together.” Heb 10:25 I believe meeting together at church and small groups during the week is more than just a time we can study about and worship God. It is also a time we can connect with fellow believers and share pieces of our journey with each other, to encourage one another in our Christian journeys. One activity that encourages this time of sharing effectively is having a meal together. That is why the family life team is creating opportunities like the activity we are participating in today to simply encourage that time of sharing and fellowship that is needed in a healthy and vibrant church family. Welcome, and may God bless you as we learn and participate in that fellowship experience this quarter.