Summertime is when our days become longer, schedules become less regimented, sleeping in becomes a thing again (well, let’s be honest, for the kiddos!), and the sun always shines! It’s a time for taking a break from our usual schedules and gives us the excuse to wear shorts daily. It’s also a time when we attend family reunions, birthday parties, and weddings, eat barbecue, dip our toes in the sand, sit poolside, enjoy vacations, travel with friends and family, and have picnics. And you know what else? Each of these summer activities is also an example of Doing Life Together! 

But have you ever thought about how summer can offer us a new life? Because life can be challenging and messy, summer provides a time to Do Life Together at a relaxed pace. While summer is often recognized for vacations, it also offers a chance to build our spiritual foundation by maturing our faith. The extra leisure time that summer can bring means more time for Bible study, devotions, reflection, and quiet time. Being out in nature is the perfect steppingstone to spontaneous praise and worship. Summer also offers an excellent time to practice the four habits of Doing Life Together.

• Spending Time with God in Worship or Prayer
• Spending Time with Others Over a Meal
• Sharing and Listening to Stories of Life
• Using Our Gifts to Serve a Need in the Community

Here are two opportunities to practice the four habits in our community and congregation during June, which invite us to invest in our community to begin a journey of hope toward a new life.

• Serve at the Southeast Gwinnett Co-Op Meal, June 5th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Volunteer for Vacation Bible School & Parent’s Night Out, June 12th - June 15th from 5 p.m to 8 p.m.

The new life experience can be an uncomfortable journey with challenges and opportunities. While we’re all enjoying summer on the calendar, others may be experiencing an emotional and spiritual autumn where things change or might be in a spiritual winter. They feel they’re wandering in the wilderness in a barren land and can’t see beyond the darkness. 

Recognizing that we all want to move through our spiritual autumn and winter seasons to experience the new life of spring and summer, for the months of June, July, and August, we’re offering a sermon series called Life: The Uncomfortable Journey. 

In the summer series, we will look at the stories of Joseph, Moses, and Joshua and how God led them through their challenges and opportunities to help our congregation move toward a hopeful future of a restored community and transformed lives. We will focus on both our individual and congregation’s journey of Where We’ve Been (Pre-Exodus story), Where We Are (Wilderness story), and Where We’re Going (Promised New Life story). 

I hope that you will join us this summer season to Do Life Together and attend our Summer Series, New Life: The Uncomfortable Journey, at 9:30 a.m. (casual worship experience), 11:00 a.m. (traditional worship experience), and 12:30 p.m. (Hispanic/Latino worship experience). 

At the Intersection,

Dr. Quincy D. Brown

Senior Pastor