June 29, 2025

 

To those gathered together unto the name of the Lord Jesus Christ elsewhere,

Dear brethren,

it is with a real sense of weakness, but trusting in He who is able, that we send you this letter to invite you all to join us for special meetings again this year. It seems only a short while ago that we hosted the conference in Montrose, but we realize it was almost 10 months ago! We are remined of what James wrote about our life, “It is even a vapour, appearing for a little while, and then disappearing…” (James 4:14).

As time marches on at a steady pace, we consider too what the Apostle Paul instructed as to how we ought to spend that time: “walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:15-16). To redeem, we know, is to purchase and set free, and so he’s telling us that we should purposefully use the opportunity of our free time for Christ’s interests! What better way than to be together with other believers, enjoying the truth together in true fellowship!

As strangers and pilgrims here, we’re also instructed by the Apostle Peter to have “girded up the loins of your mind” (1 Peter 1:13). In Bible times, girding the loins was a method of tying up one’s robe or garment so that it was out of the way for working or fast movement – they didn’t want to trip. The Lord wants us to have our minds girded up, prepared for our fast movement – when the Lord comes! We trust that this time together will have that effect: giving us each a fresh sense of the nearness of His coming for us, and not long after, His coming with us.

“But you, may the Lord make to exceed and abound in love toward one another, and toward all, even as we also towards you, in order to the confirming of your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” 1 Thess. 3:13

After prayer together, we believe we have the Lord’s mind to invite our brethren to join us for reading, prayer, and breaking of bread on September 6^th and 7^th, 2025.

The schedule of meetings will be as last year at the Montrose Bible Conference. We value highly your prayers for a profitable time, and one honoring the Lord Jesus.

With love from those gathered to the name of the Lord in Scranton,

Gary A. Gruen                                      Kenneth Tansits                                            Aaron Stewart