What a Welcome!
What a warm welcome you gave last Sunday, June 27, to Pastor Brian Weinberger! First of all, the Welcoming Committee would like to give a huge thank you to the Mission and Ministry Task Force and the Call Committee for all of their tedious and time-consuming work. The Welcoming Committee also wants to thank each and every one of you for attending and casting your vote last Sunday so overwhelmingly. Not only did you cast your vote, but you cast it unanimously (51 ayes and 0 nays)! Pastor Brian was surprised and thrilled when he was notified of the vote.
Now I challenge each and every one of you again. It was so wonderful for Bethlehem to have a full parking lot last Sunday. Bethlehem needs the parking lot full every Sunday. If you want to give Pastor Brian another warm welcome, you absolutely need to be in attendance. As the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect.” Before you enter the sanctuary, be sure to remember to put on your name tag so Pastor Brian can learn names easily and quickly.
Remember that song, “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” Yes, we are taking you back in time, but some of those memories can take us well into our adult life. In order to refresh your memory, here is the first verse.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (Clap-clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (Clap-clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (Clap-clap)
If you remember, the song continues with (Stomp stomp), (Hoo-ray!) and the final verse, do all three (clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!) Let’s show Pastor Brian, Bekkah, Aubrey and Madison that Bethlehem is truly happy and we want them to know it.
I would like to end with this prayer.
Dear heavenly Father, we are so blessed to have Pastor Brian Weinberger that You have sent to our congregation. Thank You for him and his family. We pray that as he faithfully delivers Your Word to all of us week by week he will be encouraged to know that he is fulfilling Your commission to go into all the world and teach the gospel, in a very special way.
Strengthen his walk with You Lord we pray, as he studies the Bible and prepares to deliver the truth of Scripture to all of us that gather week by week, to be fed from Your Word. And I pray God that You would send him little encouragements from his new congregation or from other believers, with whom he comes in contact, as well as opening up the Scriptures more and more to his own understanding as we all seek
to mature in the faith. Amen
We are a home to share God’s love and grace.