Dear Church Family,
You heard the sad news of John Allyn’s death from Church Clerk Dick Heinz and will want to keep his four children, older brothers, and other family members in your prayers. 
This is the 7th death in the past year and a half in our extended church family.  We are a small, tightly knit community, and the collective grief is impacting us deeply.   The Bible describes the church as a body, whose various parts play an important role in our own health and vitality.  Losing parts of our body hurts, and we don’t always have the words to express what we are feeling.  Paul reminds us that in such times the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and prays with us “in sighs too deep  for words.” (Romans 8:26).  Praying for families who have lost loved ones, and praying for the whole church community in our collective loss,  are each important sources of strength and healing in such a time as this. 
We are glad to be back home after a delightful week’s vacation in Nova Scotia and Maine. The weather was great and relaxing with friends such a joy. 
We continue the sermon series on the Lord’s prayer.  This Sunday we focus on “our father who art in heaven,  hallowed be  your name.” The sermon title is “The Dwelling Place of God” and the texts are Psalm 11, Habakkuk 2:20 and Revelation 21:1-3. 
See you in church.
Peace and Joy,
Rich