Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! This Sunday is our annual Dads and Grads Sunday, which means four things: 1) we will be acknowledging Father’s Day, 2) we will be celebrating our graduating students, 3) it will be our last Sunday for the summer with two services - 8:30am and 10:00am, and 4) we will be having our annual strawberry social with ice cream from Pittsford Farms Dairy and fresh strawberries!

During strawberry season, I think about two things. First, one of our daughters was born in June, and my wife Laura and I were eating lots of strawberry shortcake the weeks leading up to her birth. In fact, our last meal before rushing off to the hospital was strawberry shortcake. Strawberries have had a sentimental meaning to us ever since!

Second, I learned that, unlike peaches, plums, tomatoes, and bananas, strawberries do not continue to ripen after they are picked. This reminds me of what Jesus said in John 15:5,  “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.” The more we stay connected to God, the more the fruit that God wants to grow in our lives (love, joy, peace, etc.) will ripen. Like a picked strawberry, the Holy Spirit’s fruit in our lives won’t continue to ripen if we don’t remain in communion with God. What can we do to stay in communion with God? Praying, reflecting on scripture, encouraging one another in our faith, and serving our neighbors. 

Let’s focus on growing bright red spiritual strawberries this summer!

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron