June 19, 2022 (Sunday)
Father’s Day comes around again today. It gives people a chance to express their love in a special way. For many it offers an opportunity to show appreciation to fathers who may find it hard to be affectionate under other more “normal” circumstances.
I had three fathers as I grew up. There was my father, Charlie, who was a very quiet, hard-working man, always kind to me. Then there was my grandfather, Forest, who taught me many things about courtesy and tact and appreciation of others. Since my parents divorced and remarried, we children found ourselves living with one, then the other, and much of the time with our grandparents. The third father I had was my stepfather, Joe, who was an energetic, hard-working businessman who was good to his stepchildren as well as his children. I called my three fathers “Daddy,” “Big Dad,” and “Joe.”
When Father’s day came around, I had three cards to put in the mail: one each for Charlie, Forest, and Joe. Wanda always was the one who purchased the cards, one for my father, one for my grandfather, one for my stepfather, and one for her own father, Louie, school superintendent, rancher, and man of great integrity. She always remembered Father’s Day and each of them.
Forest died in 1957, Charlie in 1979, Louie in 1987, Joe in 1994, Wanda in 2002. Now there are no more cards to buy, and the one who always did it is gone, too. Father’s Day now is different for me than it used to be. Now I’m the oldest. Time moves along and opportunities pass. If there is someone you should remember on Father’s Day, or someone you need to remember for any reason, please do it while you can. You may not always have the privilege of doing it again. Whatever the circumstances, you’ll always be glad you did.
The hymn, Faith of Our Fathers, was sung at the funeral of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It will no doubt be sung in churches all across our country today as we celebrate Fathers Day.
Monday – Ministry. The church is to do something. It is here to serve. The types of ministries a church performs depend upon the needs it seeks to meet. Jesus emphasized the need for such work as visiting the sick, imprisoned, and needy, and helping them as far as it is possible.
Tuesday – Witness. The church is to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ in its community and is to be involved in some way in a witness to the world. Evangelism and missions are the heart of its life.
Wednesday – Fellowship We live in a world in which many people feel alienated and unloved. The church is to be an oasis of love and acceptance for all.
Thursday – Worship Every time the church comes together, the members are to worship God in their hearts. The elements of worship are intended to help a person come face to face with the living God.
Friday – Nurture. Christians help each other grow in the grace of God. This takes place in many ways of teaching and training.
The printed order of these five objectives is not necessarily the order of importance. They are all important, and each one is needed in the church. Local churches determine priorities as they are led by the Holy Spirit.