Good morning, FPC family.

No video this week, but I wanted to share just a bit about the value of play. The older we get, it seems as though most of us get farther away from this valuable asset–no matter our age.

As kids, we played a lot in the traditional sense: with toys, games inside and out, riding bikes, etc. As we advance in years, though, our level of play is often taken over by our adulthood commitments: work, raising families, managing households, helping others. Yet, it’s important to hold onto the activities that renew our spirits and give us a sense of pleasure and fun.

Play is really anything that takes us away from the stuff we must do and allows us to use our passions in child-like ways–with creativity, winsomeness, and passion.

So whether it’s reading a novel, building something in your woodworking shop, playing golf, going on a cruise, or going for a walk, let’s embrace play as part of our journeys toward wholeness.

In Zechariah 8:5, there’s a prophetic vision of God’s restored Jerusalem, where safety, peace, and the care-free play of children symbolize the fullness of God’s blessing:
“And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.”

So, play on!

Join in worship this Sunday – 9:00 (casual) outside (weather-permitting) and 11:00 (traditional) in the sanctuary.

Rev. Matt Nieman