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In the past two weeks, only one person has viewed this blog, so for now I am putting it on hold.

Over the past 10 years if you could identify one defining moment what would that be?

Worship for Sunday, September 19

Text: Revelation 22.1-5

"We are called to worship"

The bible starts with Adam and Eve in the garden in full communion with God. Very quickly, sin enters the picture and the relationship is destroyed. Yet God does not abandon us; the bible is a story of God's continued efforts to restore us to fellowship. Revelation, the last book in the bible, ends with a vision of restoration as the children of God worship God in spirit and in truth.

If this is our calling, our goal, how do we worship God today.

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Over the past 10 years if you could identify one defining moment what would that be?

Prayer Vigil September 16

Don't forget our new building prayer vigil on Thursday night. From 6 pm to10 pm, the sanctuary will be open for all to come spend time in prayer. If you cannot come by the church, please spend some time where you are in prayer for our building program.

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Worship for Sunday, September 12

Our text for Sunday is John 21.15-19, Jesus' post-resurrection appearance to Peter. Jesus asks Peter "Do you love me?" three times, Peter responds, "yes, you know I love you", then Jesus commands, "then feed my sheep."

As we continue to look at our mission statement ("We are called to love, worship and serve as we seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ"), we will look at how and why we love others. I think why we love points us to how we should love, but you'll have to wait until Sunday to see how that works.

Don't forget that the Wednesday Night Program starts this week (dinner at 6, Bells, Youth Bible Study, Drop-in Bible study at 6:45, Adult choir at 8:00). The drop-in study will be a Tony Campolo video. The Beth Moore study on Revelation will start next week.

See ya Sunday!

Jeff

Worship for September 5

Sorry, I haven't posted for a while, but I should be back on track for weekly postings.

This Sunday starts a five-part series on our church mission statement: "We are called to love, worship and serve as we seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ." As we look to building a new facility, as we grow in numbers and spiritually, we need to be sure that we stay on track with who we are and our mission and purpose.

This week, we'll look at the meaning of a call from God. Jeremiah was a young man ("only a boy") whom God called to speak to a people in turmoil, a nation being threatened by the superpower Babylon. Although Jeremiah resists his call, God persists and he acquiesces.

What does it mean for us to be called by God? How does that affect who we are and what we do? Does that make us different from other people with a mission and purpose?

Come this Sunday and find out.

Jeff

Worship for July 18

Since the youth had such a powerful message on Sunday and I did not preach, I will be preaching the Amos text (7.7-17) at the 11 o'clock service. I will preach on the Luke text (10.28-42)about Mary and Martha at the 8:45.

The Luke text challenges us to think about our priorities -- sometimes we get so caught up in doing things that we forget about the presence of God right in front of us. How do we learn to stop and learn from Jesus' presence among us?

God shows Amos a plumb line against which the people will be measured. Amos tells the people that acts of justice and mercy are more important than "proper" worship. How are we doing against God's plumb line of love?

Worship for Sunday, July 11

Text: Amos 7.7-17

God shows Amos a plumb against which Israel is measured. In this day of changing standards and morals, God's plumb line hasn't changed. How do as a church measure up? How do you measure up?

Worship for Sunday, July 4

Text: Luke 4.23-27 "And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."

Frank Howarth is preaching, as Kim and I will be in Pennsylvania for our anniversary.

We will not celebrate Holy Communion until the 11th.

Worship for Sunday, June 27

Text: Galatians 5.1, 13-25. "Freedom"

What is freedom? Christ set us free, but from what and why? What do we do now that we are free? On Sunday we'll talk about these things as we also celebrate Peace with Justice Sunday.

Worship for Sunday, June 20

Text: 1 Kings 19.1-15a

I love this section of the Old Testament. Elijah has just finished demonstrating God's power over Ba'al and then he destroyed Ba'al's prophets. Our passage begins right after this, when Queen Jezebel threatens Elijah because of that

It's interesting that she threatens him from afar, rather than bringing an army to him to deal with him. Is she afraid to leave the palace, afraid that Elijah (or God) will destroy her?

Anyway, Elijah runs away. Although he's just proven God's power over Ba'al and Ba'al's prophets, he isn't so sure about God's power over Jezebel.

God brings a mighty wind, a powerful earthquake, a roaring fire, but God's presence is not in those. Instead, God's presence is in the quiet (a "still, small voice" or "the sound of sheer silence").

It's wonderful to see God in the spectacular, but we need to remember to seek God in the quietness of our heart. Sometimes, we reveal God in our actions better when we act in quiet ways, rather than in large, bombastic acts.