Worship “With” Us!

Sunday, June 7, 2020 

SERMON TEXT:  Hebrews 9:13-28
SERMON TITLE:   "A Greater Sacrifice"  // Tim Latham
This sermon will be available on our website  Sunday morning, so we can all worship from a distance together!

Weekly Memory Work

Update from Tim

For the last week, I’ve been searching for the right words but none seem to come to mind. In a moment when our world was already tense with Covid-19 concerns and economic downturn, we watched as George Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis. Floyd, sadly, was another in a long line of African-American victims who have been killed by law-enforcement officers, by our country’s pervasive problem of racism, and by our own inability to fix systemic issues in our institutions. How can we, as a community of faith, respond to this distressing and depressing reality? 

First, we must embrace the practice of lament. In the Bible, lament means to express sorrow, grief, and mourning. It’s a healthy and faithful reaction to the evil of this world. It’s an important step that helps us process profound pain and suffering. In fact, it’s such an important aspect of Christian life that almost a third of the Psalms are Psalms of Lament. For instance, in Psalm 13, David writes:  

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?  
How long will you hide your face from me? 
How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? 
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” 

Our first reaction to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery might be sadness, anger, confusion or many other emotions, but our first response should be lament. (The EPC has offered some resources for lament here.) We must grieve, express our sorrow and mourn this terrible loss of men and women made in the image of God.  

Second, we must recognize that it is easy for many of us to feel separate from these pains and fears. We may not understand the precautions and assumptions that come with being Black in America, we don’t believe ourselves to be racist or a part of the problem – it can seem like a problem wholly apart from our lives. But God constantly calls us to express our faith, not just as individuals, but as a corporate body. We see corporate lament and corporate repentance. The Christian life is not an individual sport. God is not just concerned with us, our family, our community, our nation, but all of us. Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” We must be engaged with our brothers and sisters who are suffering.  

This is my prayer for Fairview during this uncertain time. That we will lament, that we will engage in these problems not only as individuals but as one unified body and that we will listen to Micah 6: 8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to live kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” 

 -Tim Latham

Next week, we will be back in touch with some resources and guidance on Fairview’s plan on reopening.

Day of Lament, Fasting  and Prayer

Join the EPC in response to persistent racial injustices in the United States... 

A message from Tom Werner, Moderator of the 38th General Assembly, calling for June 8, 2020, as a Day of Lament, Fasting, and Prayer:

Recent events surrounding the wrongful deaths of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, and George Floyd in Minnesota demonstrate the persistence of severe racial injustices in the United States. The Evangelical Presbyterian Church laments the turmoil our nation is suffering as a result of these and other injustices, and the hurt—property loss, injury, and death—that is visited on those who are responsible by their actions and those who are not responsible but who are hurt as a consequence of sin. In times of national crisis and tragedy, the EPC turns to God and His Word for direction and encouragement. Read more here...

Ladies... a Summer Study Starts Tuesday

If you have signed up to join this study, you should have received an email on Thursday with the Subject: Ready Set Study | Launching Our Summer Study with Nancy from Fairview Evangelical Presbyterian Church ( ).  If you did not receive it, first check your spam folder, and if it's not in there please let or know.

Fairview Prayer Study Group

The Fairview Prayer Study Group will begin on Thursday June 11th at 7:00p.m. in the church parlor. The book we will be using is: A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller. Pastor Tim recommended this book. Please join us as we strengthen our relationship with Holy God.

If you have any questions please  or call (610-844-7669) me.
JoEllen Claphanson

Giving | an act of worship

Many of our members give in person during the Sunday offerings. If you are still able to contribute during this period of Worshipping from a distance, please consider an alternative method for your weekly offering :

• mail  in your offerings
• set up an automatic e-check with your financial institute
• make your contribution securely online 

Food Pantry Needs

During the "Stay at Home" orders, the pantry's donations are quite slim, and the needs of those they support are greater than ever. Kids and parents alike, are home emptying the cabinets all day long.  Please consider options that children could make independently, while mom and dad are working (sandwich supplies, canned meats, microwavable pastas, etc.).  In addition to food, cleaning supplies and pet supplies would be very helpful.  

Donations can be dropped by the back door of the church during weekly office hours.  

Simply call Jenn in the office and let her know you've left something. She will move them inside.  Robin Miller will continue to come on Friday mornings around 9am, and take our collection to the food pantry.