July ~ August 2021

Dear Friends in Christ,

Ah! Summer is here and it’s my favorite time of the year! I especially look forward to some calm and warmth after another windy spring here in the Kittitas Valley. I know July and August can get hot. But the truth is, the older I get the more I like warmth. Maybe, some of you can relate. Plus since we put central A.C. in the house several years ago, I can always retreat into the cool indoors.

I know that for people who do physical labor outside in the heat, summer can be very tiring. Please pray for all who labor outside in the summer time. It already looks like quite a fire season this summer. Please pray for safety for all fire fighters, including my Son Kyle’s girlfriend Emily.

I always look forward to a little vacation time. I hope everyone can get at least a little R & R this summer. I look forward to hiking in our beautiful Cascade Mountains, visiting family, kayaking with my Brother Brian and tending my little garden and flowers. I don’t even mind doing yard work in the summer, although I do get tired of dragging the hose around. My personal thanks to Warren Street for preaching and leading worship 2 Sundays in July and to Pastor Mary Johnson for preaching and leading worship 2 Sundays in August when I am away.

It’s great to see more people returning to Sunday worship as more and more folks get fully vaccinated. It’s also great to know that many folks are worshipping with us by means of YouTube and the radio. It’s exciting that a number of our young people were able to enjoy a week of Christian camping at Camp Lutherhaven the end of June. It’s exciting that we can hold Vacation Bible School this summer, August 1-5. We will continue to follow CDC guidelines for safe practices. But the day is coming, we can’t know the exact date, when we will be able to use regular bread and wine for the Lord’s Supper once again and pass the offering plates. Chances are good that the choir will even be able to sing again together in October! Rummage sale? Potluck suppers?

Toward the end of July and most of August you will hear a lot in our Sunday Gospel readings about Jesus the bread of life from John chapter 6. Whether you travel this summer or stick close to home, may you be fed regularly with Jesus the true bread of life. Shortly after our Lord Jesus multiplies the loaves and fishes he says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 True bread is food, but it’s a lot more than that.

Peace in Jesus, Pastor Dennis