By the Water

Have you ever wondered what a prayer and some spit can do? Let’s be honest, probably not. Yet, Jesus was known for having unexpected encounters with people who were in desperate need of healing and of freedom. On this Independence Day weekend, we will celebrate our freedom in the United States of America and our freedom in Christ through the eyes of a Blind Man. We’ll journey to the waters of the Pool of Siloam and watch as Jesus does the miraculous in a way we never would have anticipated. Together we’ll wonder about our need for Jesus to open our own eyes and give us freedom.

We often like to escape to the seashore to put our toes in the sand and to let the worries of the world slip away, but it’s not always that simple. In fact, the worries of this world seem to find us wherever we go, even on summer vacation. This experience isn’t new; in fact, it’s a time-honored tradition to worry. We worry about our children, our jobs, our friends, our futures, and that’s just before breakfast! Together we’ll take an opportunity to pause, to breathe in the soft breeze of the Sea of Galilee, and hear the words of Jesus speaking to us at the point of our deepest need. What do we do when it’s just not that simple?

To live near a river is to be at the river’s mercy. The ancient Egyptians knew this better than anyone. The Nile River brought life to an arid, forbidding land, making it possible for hundreds of thousands to thrive along its banks. But rivers are unpredictable, impossible to tame completely. Catastrophic floods and devastating droughts make living at the river’s edge a constantly precarious proposition. A child was born along this river. The mother placed her infant son into a basket and set him afloat upon the dangerous, life-giving waters. It was an appropriate beginning for a life that would change history in ways impossible to foresee. Join us on Sunday as we talk about Moses, rivers, and the unpredictable nature of life and faith.

We’ll begin our summer down by the water of the Nile as we conclude the VBS fun with our final Bible Story of the week on VBS Sunday. Our kids have been learning all week what it means to serve an Awesome God through the story of Joseph. They have been discovering all of the ups and downs of Joseph’s life, from prison to leading a country. This Sunday we’ll conclude our journey and explore Joseph’s dream that involves the Nile River, some unlikely animals, and you.