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Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it. Going away on vacation, I mean. Trying to get everything done before you go, and knowing that there will be a major "To-Do" list waiting when you get back, makes me question the legitimacy of going in the first place. Please don’t tell my family that I have these doubts. Actually, there are some folks and families, who, because of that dilemma, stay home. For them, it really isn’t worth it.

Not me though! In the saner moments, staying home is not an option. "Why?" you say. "Because the ocean is beckoning!" says I.

That’s right, there is this oceanic Jack-Londonish-call-of-the-wild thing going on. It reaches across New Jersey’s jammed highways, parking lots, landfills, polluted rivers, towering buildings and corn fields.

Seductively it promises a peaceful, hectic-be-gone way of life; a kinder and gentler experience of days.

When I say the ocean is beckoning, I do not mean the stereotypical crowded beach scene. The one where people lay rotisserie-like, blanket-to-blanket, baking in hard-to-catch-your-breath 115 degree heat indexes, encased in #50 sun block.

It certainly is not the ever present smell of coconut oil mingled with cigarette smoke which assaults our ever-so-sensitive nostrils like mustard gas.

It certainly is not having people you do not know, (nor would you ever want to know) throw sand covered frizbees over your head, as they crank up the bass on their boom-box, and change the babies "ditey" a few centimeters from your lunch.

No! NO! NOOOO! That is not our ocean. The ocean/beach we love is different. It’s quiet, soothing, peaceful, healing.

It is the kind of sea that Jesus walked on, rode on and taught by. It is the kind of ocean out of which the disciples pulled fish, so many, in fact, that it almost broke their nets.

Even when our ocean is rough, or violent from a storm, there is an awesome presence of constancy and permanence that affects the human soul for good.

The call of the ocean is really the call of Jesus to "Come, ye apart and rest." It is a decent natural way to keep from coming apart. It is a contemplative appeal of God to our souls to fix that which was near-broken.

The call was given, we’ve responded. So, we’ll see you in September. Hopefully, rested, renewed and ready to go.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Roan

Sept. 9 – Cindy Bowman –Jeremiah 2:4-13; Psalm 139: 1-6, 18-18; Philem. 1-21; Luke 14:25-33

Sept. 16 – Catie Bowman – Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28; Psalm 14; l Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10

Sept. 30 – Lori DeHaas – Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15; Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16; l Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31

Oct. 7 – Carole Ham – Lam. 1:1-6; Lam. 3:19-26 or Psalm 137; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10

Oct 28 – Mary Lou Gary– Joel 2:23-32; Psalm 65; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14

Serving: Fred Gary, Bob Hurte, Bob McFarlane, Peggy Smith, Thomas K. Thomas, John Van Decker

Preparation: Frank Baylor and Ralph DeHaas

Serving: Frank Baylor, Ralph DeHaas, George Earling, Fred Gary, Bob Hurte, Bob McFarlane

Although I can still see many children walking and riding bikes past our window on their way to the park, I’m sure they are all spending time these days getting ready to go back to school. Mothers and fathers are taking turns shopping at malls, checking school listings for teachers’ names and the latest bus pickup times, etc.

It is a bittersweet time of year; nature is slowing down, but people are getting busier. We hate to say goodbye to summer, especially our family, because it was such a great one, full of parties, weddings, and a new grandson born on Father’s Day, but life goes on, doesn’t it.

On the other hand, even in our busy-ness maybe we can just hold absolutely still for a moment each day, to think about how blessed we are, thank God, and take a deep breath. Then maybe when someone asks us how we are, we will answer in a new way, not just "Busy!" or "Tired" (which is what I usually hear). We will find the difference between a happy kind of busy and a frantic kind. So, take your moments whenever you can!

I attend church in bad weather because:

1. God has blessed the Lord’s day and hallowed it, making no exceptions for hot or cold or stormy days.
2. I expect the pastor to be there. I should be surprised if he were to say home on account of the weather.
3. If his hands fail through weakness, I shall give great reason to blame myself, unless I sustain him by my prayers and presence.
4. Whatever position I hold in the church my example must influence others. If I stay away, why not others?
5. Bad weather will show on what foundation my faith is built; it will prove how much I love Christ. True love rarely fails to meet an appointment
6. My faith is to be shown by my self-denying Christian life and not by the rise and fall of the thermometer.

Written by Frances Ridly Havergal

Submitted by Virginia Smith