“Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters!” Isaiah 55:1
My grandson has figured out how to FACETIME from his tablet, and it is so wonderful to see his smiling face when I least expect it. Out of nowhere that FACETIME music starts and since I don’t FACETIME with anyone else, I know it will be DAXXY. I also know that he will be INVITING me to play an online game with him on my tablet.
It’s so cool to receive his invitations, even though I really have no idea of how to play those games on Roblox and Minecraft. It feels good to be invited always by friends and family!
I am sure that you have family and friends who would love to receive invitations from you to do something together. I just happen to believe we are in the midst of the very best invitational season of the year! New Year’s Eve seems like it was a year ago, Valentine’s Day flew by rather quickly, and Shrove Tuesday may have been busy unless you turned it into a Mardi Gras festival.
But looking ahead at our church calendar, there are lots of dates coming up where your friends and family would definitely be welcome. It begins with church services every Sunday mornings at 9:30am followed by free snacks and coffee. Pretty cool deal, right?
For early risers, you can invite them to Holy Communion with you at 7am on Wednesday mornings. Admittedly the “food” is not substantial but it’s a great midweek escape from the world and you can go out to breakfast afterwards.
Speaking of breakfast, the male members and friends of St. Paul’s get together for an 8am breakfast at The Piston Diner in Westville on the first Saturday of every month and on the third Wednesday. A really special, bargain-priced breakfast will be held at St. Paul’s on Palm Sunday, March 29, immediately after all the palm waving during our church services, which is quite fun and worshipful too!
And speaking of Palm Sunday, the Gloucester County Flute Ensemble will be holding their Spring Concert on Palm Sunday (March 29th) afternoon at 4pm and it is FREE of CHARGE and perfect for the kids!! We should be able to pack the house with family and friends!
Palm Sunday kicks off Holy Week with services at St. Paul’s on Wednesday morning at 7am, Thursday evening at 7pm (Maundy Thursday), and at 7pm on Good Friday. Easter Morning (April 5th) we have a SUNRISE SERVICE at the Red Bank Battlefield Park at 6:30am and Easter services at St. Paul’s at 9:30. If you have been inviting your friends and family all along, by this time they will want to become members of our church!
And don’t forget the Lenten Lunches on Wednesdays! Every Wednesday at 11:30am!
Our church is welcoming and loving. We love to laugh, we find joy in worshiping God and Christ, and we are good at caring for each other. Be sure to share our posts on social media and start making a list of who you can invite—because we are in the INVITATIONAL SEASON!
Blessings,
Pastor Dave