Centuries before the hit song of 1965 (Turn Turn Turn by the Byrd’s), the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote:
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 goes on to give illustrations of this statement: birth and death, war and peace, weeping and laughter, mourning and dancing, silence and speaking. All things have a season, a start and a beginning. We see this even in the creation narrative of Genesis, God began his work and he completed his work:
“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good…and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.” Genesis 1:31, 2:2
In our non-stop, always on the go way of living, I think we may have taken on an unspoken tendency to consider “stopping” a sin. But there is no 11th commandment saying, “Thou shalt not stop.” You can’t turn to First Opinions and quote a chapter and a verse that that says, “All things whatsoever you undertake shall be carried on until by death you part.” No, not one.
A dear brother and friend of mine, through the merging process last fall, would say to me, “It’s good for things to end.” Interestingly, the author of Ecclesiastes (the inspiration, I know, for my friends words) said the same thing:
“Better is the end of a thing that its beginning.” Ecclesiastes 7:8
The idea here is that completion is a good thing. It is good for things to come to an end; to completion
With that thought in mind, we want to begin sharing information about our Sunday School schedule. Lord willing, over the next few weeks will see the completion of the 9 Marks of a Healthy Church Adult Sunday School class; the completion of the Bringing Up Boys Sunday School Class, the youth and children's classes will complete the current units of their curriculum.
For the summer months, from June 16 thru September 8 we will rest from Sunday School. While that may fall on the ears of some as a negative thing, it’s a very good and positive thing from our stand point as elders—pastors and teachers.
We are very excited to think about and pray through and plan new classes. To consider what classes may best serve our body and our increase in the knowledge of our great and glorious God. Also, faithful Sunday School teachers that have served week in and week out will have a chance to be renewed for future teaching as they rest and worship with the church. Our Sunday worship gathering, nursery care and children’s church will continue right on at 10am each week.
The season that we are ending was a season of carryover from our merging last October; The Village Church and Byron Baptist Church both ending Sunday School classes that had started before we merged. The next season of Sunday School classes that will begin this fall, Lord willing, will be the first season of Sunday School for Village Bible Church.
I have many thoughts on that last statement. Your pastors pray about the potential of Sunday School classes and biblical education here at Village Bible. For now let us simply pause and thank God, that by his grace we have see the end of something…and it is good.
Grace & Peace,
John White
You can reach the elders anytime by email, call, or text at:
Jon Collins, jcollins@thevillagemi.com, (810) 869-3949
John White, jwhite@thevillagemi.com, (810) 275-4267