A Charge

Message Notes

After 20 years of serving First Church Stratford, Reverend Ed Rawls retired on June 1, 2024. His last service was on May 26, 2024.

Rejoice, O people of God! Sing your praises to the creator!
We rejoice in singing praises to thank God for unconditional love.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
A time to weep, a time to laugh. A time to break down, and a time to build up.
A time to seek, and a time to lose.
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.
A time to welcome, and a time to say goodbye.
A time to welcome, and a time to say goodbye.
Fill our hearts with gladness, amazing God. We come to worship You and to thank you for bringing Ed Rawls to us, and for his wonderful 20 year ministry to this church.

6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another and said,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

4 The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. 5 And I said, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 The seraph touched my mouth with it and said, “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”

Isaiah 6:1-8