Dear Caldwell,
I’ve got a question for you: What’s your Goliath?
No doubt you know the story from 1 Samuel 17 of David and Goliath. When or where have you faced a seemingly unbeatable foe? When have you had to call on God for the courage and assurance to overcome an enormous challenge? It may be a health challenge, an emotional one or an actual person who stood in your way and meant only harm to you. Perhaps it was a life circumstance that posed great, maybe even existential danger? When have you confronted a Goliath-like challenge to your faith?
That old story is one of the scriptures we are given for this glorious Sunday of our reunion in the sanctuary. The Revised Common Lectionary, a three-year rotating guide to scriptures for preaching, sometimes has an uncanny knack in timing. Not only does it lift up David and Goliath but also the gospel reading for Sunday from Mark 4 is the story of Jesus calming the storm as he and the disciples crossed over the Sea of Galilee.
Goliath? A raging storm? Can you say COVID? And yet we are here and resuming in-person activities.
So give my question some thought and feel free, if you like, to email me with your answers. It will help inform my sermon prep for Sunday. jcleghorn@caldwellpresby.org Or feel free to make it part of a conversation over on the Facebook Caldwell Conversations page.
And … because David used a stone to fell the giant, we have another reason to pick out a stone or rock (about the size of your hand or so) and bring it to worship on Sunday. We’ll be combining them to create an “ebenezer” tribute to how God has seen us through COVID, just as God’s people have done for eons.
Operation Sandwich
One might say that hunger and poverty are giants that still call for our help. We still need several more people to sign up for Operation Sandwich this Sunday. It’s a chance to make a pile of simple sandwiches for our neighbors who need help. Read all about it and sign up here. http://www.caldwellpresby.org/operationsandwich
Pastoral Concerns
And … we can and should always pray. Please lift up Susan Culpepper, Jessica’s mom and Rev. Justin’s mom-in-law, who came through an 11-hour surgery for advanced esophageal cancer. She faces a long and difficult recovery. THanks to all the other ways you have already helped the family.
Prenetta Martin, friend of Caldwell, Kevin Martin’s mom, is in Novant Presbyterian . Please lift her up as well as her loyal husband, Ted Martin. Finally, we give thanks that Mike Watson came though a car accident Saturday and is OK.
In Closing
Watch for a letter from the Safe Return Planning Team tomorrow with all the details of our return come Sunday. You may want to get to church a little early as we may be fairly full. Hope to see you then!
In Christ,
John