Once More With Feeling (11AM)
This morning we welcome Sonny Salsbury and the reunion of his much beloved Gospel Press. The sweet sounds, and sweet relationships, of Gospel Press started right here at First Presbyterian Yakima when Sonny and Linda arrived in 1969, continuing until 1977. Reminiscing about the significance of those years, Robert Redman, a member of Gospel Press, wrote, “Sonny and the Gospel Press planted in me the seeds of a growing interest in worship. First, Sonny taught and modeled worship. His godly influence focused my discipleship and attention on God alone and for no other reason than serving God. He communicated the majesty of an awesome God in a winsome, even playful way. An avid outdoorsman, Sonny’s songs used the grandeur of God’s creation as the doorway to a deeper praise and devotion of God found in Scripture.”
The passage for this morning comes from John chapter 13, verses 34-35. It is our clarion call as Christians, and it comes directly from Jesus … LOVE ONE ANOTHER. He did not tell us we would be known as His by how nice we were to each other, how helpful we were to one another, how we taught and served one another … we will be known by our LOVE. LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS JESUS LOVES US! His love inspires us, compels us, to help, serve, teach, be kind, give up everything because we LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Our love comes from His love, 1 John 4:19 “We love BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.”
Love God, Love others, that’s who we want to be here at Grace. I am so thankful for the faithful, gracious, LOVE OF GOD working in us, and among us, all through the years!