Dear Church,
I’m baaack! Thanks be to God for a restful and renewing sabbatical. I cannot say thank you enough for this time away and for all the ministry, care, and love our church shined forth while I was away. I am deeply, deeply grateful.

This gratitude is one of the primary things I hope to hold on to as I resume active work as a pastor. I mean, it wouldn’t make much sense, if, after this time of slowed down and unrushed blessing, I immediately went back to habits and work styles that left me stressed and overwhelmed. Gratitude for each and every moment seems to be a good way to prevent such an outcome.

Thanksgiving and gratitude are also a central piece of being human, particularly a human who takes on the identity of a Christian. We remember that Jesus led with thanks often. The apostle Paul, too, often remarked how grateful he was for the churches to whom he wrote (even those he took to task!) This thankfulness, in turn, was adopted by the early church as the best and most proper response to the love and grace we have known from God.

So as another weekend begins, take time to consider sources of your own thankfulness:

Father figures might be near the top of the list…or perhaps others who have stood in the gap in the absence of a father…maybe it’s something about a particular breeze on a hot day…or the gift of freedom we celebrate on Juneteenth, when we recognize the historic and ongoing journey for our African American sisters and brothers for equity…maybe there’s something new coming this season that prompts our thank-yous …or something familiar returning. Whatever it may be, give thanks this and every day!

The Lord Bless and Keep You!
Rev. Ben

Announcements

• REMINDER…FPCoG our 5th Saturday commitment for H.O.P.E is Saturday, June 29. A sign-up sheet is on the table near the hallway in the Narthex. Please consider donating / signing up to provide food, help prepare, set-up, serve, clean-up, or come and converse with the guests at H.O.P.E. The guests have been steadily increasing and we are serving at least 70+ each week and they are hungry!!! Help provide a day of dignity and help nourish the bodies and souls of the homeless in our community! If you have any questions, please contact Julie Tedder.
• July Spire articles are due to the office by Tuesday, July 18th.
• This is Our Story: You still have time to share the hymns and scriptures that comfort and challenge you! Selections of those submissions will be used in worship in July. The goal always for these selections is to find our common strength through song and scripture that touch our lives in memorable ways. Submissions can be made in person to Rev Acton, by email or text, or by using the form in the narthex and returning to the church office. Please have your ideas in by June 30.
• Walk to Paris: The 2024 Summer Olympics are being held in Paris, with the opening ceremonies on July 26. Let’s get our walking shoes on and check our pedometers so we can be ready to begin our walk on Sunday, June 23. That gives us 5 weeks to walk and carry our First Presbyterian Church of Garner torch to the opening ceremonies in Paris by July 26. This walk is not as far as the walk to Bethlehem, as it is approximately 4,038 miles from Garner to Paris. Using an average of 2,000 steps per mile, we will walk 8,076,000 steps to Paris. WE CAN DO THIS!!!! Beginning Sunday, June 23, please send your steps to FPCOG.WELLNESS@GMAIL.COM. You can send them daily, or weekly. Martha Long will keep a spreadsheet to record all the steps and those who are participating. If you need a pedometer or the conversion chart to count steps for other activities, such as swimming, playing tennis, playing basketball, or cycling, contact Martha. We will have our own Olympic torch in the downstairs breezeway. Each week the torch will be updated to reflect how many steps we have walked and how close we are getting to Paris. Please look for updates in the bulletin each week as we walk to Paris. We hope to have our own Medals Ceremony at a covered dish luncheon at the conclusion of the Olympics, so each participant can get a medal.
• Walking Group: The Walking Group meets each Tuesday weather permitting. The walking group has decided to meet at White Deer Park, in the parking lot to the right where the playground is located. They will continue to meet on Tuesdays at 6pm. In the event there is inclement weather, we’ll just gather the following week.