September 8, 2020
Dear Kirk family,
This week, Pastor Keith finished up the “Book of Life” sermon series with a sermon on loss. As he was early to point out, he had a wide variety of losses to choose from. We all would have connected with him if he preached about the loss of a loved one or the loss of a year (thanks, 2020!), but he chose to speak on the loss of innocence - another universal loss - and helped us to see how God works through that too.
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He shared stories about innocence he lost when his uncle died in the Korean War, when JFK was assassinated and Jack Ruby killed Lee Harvey Oswald on live television, and a time when he lost a job for reasons he still doesn’t completely understand. As he wrapped up the sermon he said, “God walks with you in the moments when innocence is lost, holding you up as only God can … guiding you through your losses … sometimes you need patience to see God was there all along.” |
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This was an especially appropriate message this week since a loss of innocence was felt close to home. Over the past week, the Accent Pontiac and Kirk community have come together to support an Accent Pontiac family that was affected by a drive-by shooting. While everyone will be okay physically, an Accent Pontiac student and her two nieces were injured in the shooting. The Accent Pontiac student, Keola (far right), was also a member of the Kirks' Junior Girls choir. From providing groceries, helping to fix broken windows, delivering a new bed and saying countless prayers, together we have been able to support the needs of the family. We ask that you keep Keola and her family in your hearts and prayers, that someday she might look back and see how God was holding her up. |
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As you think about how you can come alongside God and “hold up” children like Keola as they experience loss, I encourage you to participate in the AP Block Party this Friday, September 11 at 7:00 pm. Join us for this virtual benefit concert featuring performances by Accent Pontiac students and guest artists including Thornetta Davis, Gwen and Michael Dease and more. All proceeds benefit Accent Pontiac's continued work in the Pontiac community. Find more information and RSVP at www.accentpontiac.org/apblockparty. A video with more information about the party can be found here: https://vimeo.com/454506555.
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This week the Kirk also joined God in holding up the Harris family as they got to spend the day at Camp Skyline. Valerie, the mother of 5, said she loved every second of the day! They got to walk the goats, let the pigs, make s'mores by a camp fire, shoot archery, go boating, swimming and fish!
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Pastor Kelsey continues her work in assuring our young people that God is holding them up too. This week she and Pastor Angela produced a stunning prayer video with church leaders and children. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can view it here: https://vimeo.com/user14258828/review/455866537/d32a73cb8a. Kelsey also enjoyed a chicken nugget lunch with a few of the youth this week - and looks forward to seeing the youth and their families on Sunday night when an ice cream truck visits the Kirk parking lot at 7 pm. Wear your masks! Kelsey can be reached at [email protected] if you have any questions or want to connect!
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Our fall series will pick up from Pastor Keith’s sermon since, as we affirm that God holds us up in our losses, we rejoice that he doesn’t just hold us - he heals us. Our “Made Well” fall series (learn more here) kicks off this week with Homecoming Sunday online and in the garden at 10 am. Reservations are not required for garden, sanctuary (simulcast), or refectory (simulcast) seating, but we will have a capacity limit in each location. A boxed lunch will be offered after the service and a brass quintet will play on the back patio. In addition, Pastor Marjorie will unveil a prayer walk that she has created for the Kirk grounds. Masks and social distancing will continue to be part of our time together.
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For a deeper dive into this fall theme, we invite you to take a look at our fall course catalog. Pastor Angela and the Christian Formation team have done a wonderful job intertwining the classes with our focus on healing. I am particularly excited about Be Well: Healing Narratives in the Bible on Zoom with Dr. Brennan Breed and Dr. Karoline Lewis which starts this Sunday, September 13 at 12:15 pm and continues every Sunday through November 15. Register for the link - and see other class options here: https://kirkinthehills.formstack.com/forms/fall_cat.
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And, for children, there will be Sunday school take-home packets waiting for them during Homecoming and throughout the week in the Welcome Center. Pastor Angela will be sending out a targeted email to all of the parents so keep an eye out for that! |
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As Pastor Keith said on Sunday,
“sometimes loss sets on a path to learn who we really are and learn how much our faith means to us …”
Where have your losses taken you?
Have they taken you to despair?
Have they taken you to deep sadness?
We mustn’t deny those stopping places in our journey with loss.
Have they taken you to growth?
Have they taken you to new adventures?
Wherever they have taken you, what we look to amplify this fall is the hope that the path of loss will ultimately take you to a place of God’s own healing.
Stay warm,
Pastor Nate
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Relational Mission Opportunities
CROP Walk
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Life Remodeled
The Kirk is rounding up 3 teams to go down to the Durfee Innovative Society neighborhood of Detroit to share God's love with their community thru yard beautification projects in collaboration with Life Remodeled!
But they need our teams signed up by Sept 6th (tomorrow)
So please check your calendar for Oct 8, 9 and 10th from 12:45- 5:00 p.m. and see if you can join us for one of the 3 days!! (Or all 3 if you can swing it?!)
Registration and all event details can be found here:
Looking forward to watching God work thru us to help our neighbors in Detroit!
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All Saints Episcopal Church Breakfast
If you would like to offer help in this way, the Kirk is partnering with All Saints Episcopal church every 4th and 5th Saturday of the month to serve breakfast and offer essentials from 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. to the our homeless neighbors in Pontiac and those with food insecurities. We are forming a core group of people to take turns leading the four different areas of the breakfast and will eventually have our small groups join them. If you would like to serve on the core team please contact Julie Walker at [email protected].
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We envision a world where every heart experiences
God's transforming love.
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