These are special days around St. Paul Presbyterian. Our 40th Birthday celebration continues. We had that delightful HOMELAND concert last night; we look forward to the BBQ/Talent Show on the 21st, then Jerry McCann's return to this pulpit on the 22nd. Good times.

Times such as these provide an opportunity for celebration but they offer a good incentive for reflection, for creative dreaming as well, days that the church needs every so often if we understand ourselves as people with a mission. To my mind, there is no better passage of scripture than that which we just read that better explains our task over the PAST 40 years and affirms our calling for the NEXT 40 years: GO, MAKE DISCIPLES, BAPTIZE, TEACH...our heavenly commander's marching orders (and make no mistake, these are ORDERS, no…