Rally Day - and every Sunday - Begin Again

Last weekend was our annual Rally Day. Typically churches hold "rally day" as time to kick off their Sunday School programs and other activities that had been on hiatus during the summer.  It's also a time when families get back to their routines - no more vacations or weekends away.  Now is the time for school, after-school sports, clubs, and other activities.  And, although we never want anyone to take a vacation from or go on summer hiatus from worship, sadly weekly church attendance does drop in the summer.  From statistics, it seems that no church is immune from this phenomenon. So, Rally Day is a good reminder to everyone to get back to regular church worship and involvement in church activities and serving.

Unfortunately, during the summer (and at other times of the year as well) many of us get in to the habit of sleeping in on Sundays.  After all, "it's been a long and busy week with school, work, activities, etc. and I need my rest on the weekend!"  Others plan activities during weekend worship time rather than setting worship as the priority. For many it's just some other excuse to not attend.  Hmmmm.

Thankfully our Lord never takes a break from us!  He never says that he is too tired to hear our prayers, nor too bored by them. He never takes a break from granting us grace.  He never gets too busy to comfort us in our sorrow.  And he never tells us that he needs to go to soccer practice (or "fill in the blank") instead of attending to our needs.

So, this year, if you've been a bit lax in your worship attendance, or if it's been a longtime since you've attended at all, and even if you missed Rally Day, there is always another Sunday coming up when you can "rally" yourself back to church and start anew.  This Sunday is the perfect time to repent, refresh, renew and start your new commitment to attend church weekly and worship our almighty Lord -- who ALWAYS has time for us!

Wednesdays in Lent

Don't forget about our Wednesday evening worship services during Lent.  Worship begins at 7 pm (following our weekly simple suppers, served at 6 pm in Fellowship Hall).

This week we'll hear the meditative song, "The Old Rugged Cross". We won't have Brad Paisley singing, but you can hear his version here:


)

Besides the meditative and inspirational music, our services also feature the drama series "They Followed the Master".  Each week we will meet one or more characters from the time of the Passion.  This week we encounter Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Come each Wednesday to be fed (physically & spiritually).

Micro-Epistle Reprint: Ash Wednesday

"Why do I need ashes on my forehead?"  The truth is that we do not need to have ashes on our foreheads, but that we choose to place ashes on our foreheads on the Wednesday which begins the season of Lent, as a sign of our desire to be made right with God.  Lent is a time of repentance, in which we acknowledge our sins before our Heavenly Father, as we ask Him to show us compassion and mercy for the sake of His Son Jesus who died for us.  This sacred day in the life of the Church was originally called "dies cinerum," which is Latin for "Day of Ashes," and it was so named after the practice of placing ashes on the heads of worshippers, as a sign of repentance. The observance of this day, set aside for repentance and prayer, began at least as early as 1091 (the earliest official record that we have of its observance). The practice of placing the ashes on worshippers' foreheads is offered as an outward sign of inward contrition, taken from the ancient Jewish practice of placing ashes on one's head as a form of public penance. The ashes, made in the form of the cross, are a sign of the inward change that is taking place as Christians lay the sins that burden their consciences at the foot of the Cross of Christ, and pray to be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God.

 

It is the Holy Spirit, speaking through God's Word, Who brings us to an awareness of our sins and our place under God's wrath. The same Spirit empowers us to repent and to be turned back to God, as the Father grants pardon and remission of our sins for the sake of His Son Jesus Christ.  As we hear the Gospel and are granted grace to believe it, we are transformed by its power and restored to God.  The work of repentance is not actually a work of ours at all, but what God brings about in us through the Holy Spirit working in us by His Word.  The forgiveness that is granted to all who believe in Jesus comes to us not on the merit of our confession, but on the basis of Jesus' obedience to the Father. Just as the work of repentance and forgiveness is an activity done by God upon us - in like fashion, these crosses of ashes are an outward sign of what God has done to us and for us. The same ashes which symbolize our repentance and remind us that "we are dust and to dust we shall return," also signify that on the Cross, God has redeemed us from death through the death of His Son. 

    

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Roser

Message and Music

This weekend our Gospel and the sermon message speak about how Jesus tells us that we are "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world". But, wait... isn't Jesus the "light of the world"?  Yes! But He says that we also are the light of the world -- because we reflect Him, just like the moon reflects the sun. Without the sun, the moon does not shine of its own accord.  Likewise, we do not shine of our own accord, but rather, we shine because of Him.

If you listen closely to the music sung and played in worship on any given weekend, you will often hear the words/message/theme of one or more of the readings echoed in the lyrics. Last weekend, for example, the youth led our opening song, "Better Is One Day" (below).  Read the Psalm for last weekend and then listen to the song.

Psalm 84
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! 
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young-- a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob.
Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. 
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 
O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.




This coming weekend listen for these songs:

You will hear the chorus from the song "Shine" immediately following the sermon:

Lord let me shine shine like the moon
A reflection of You in all that I do
Lord let me be a light for Your Truth
Light of the World I wanna be used
To shine for You


and "We Are" for the prelude during the call to worship:



We Are (refrain)
We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
And we gotta we gotta we gotta
Let the light shine

Youth Weekend: February 1 & 2

Youth Winter Retreat 2014

Looks like they had fun, doesn't it? But there is so much more to church youth retreats than fun.  Retreats are great opportunities for giving a boost to their faith development! This year the youth took time to really listen to some of the great contemporary Christian music. They discussed the Biblical links as well as what it means for them in their lives right now.

Interested in knowing more?  Come to worship this weekend.  Our youth will be leading worship and will share what they learned and experienced this past weekend. And yes, it definitely included plenty of fun!

December 5th Mark Schultz Concert - We are blessed!

One week ago we were in the midst of final preparations for the Mark Schultz Concert that was to begin at 7 pm.  Anticipation and expectations were running high.  And when the hour arrived, Mark Schultz did not disappoint! You could probably ask anyone in attendance and they would say that the concert went above and beyond their expectations!

The concert was a near sell-out crowd and the pews (and extra chairs) were essentially full. Yet,
the smaller venue made for an intimate setting and the feeling that Mark was singing "just for me". At one point Mark even made the comment that it felt like being in a big living room surrounded by friends!

For more than an hour and a half the crowd listened to and sang along with some of Mark Schultz's biggest hits - "I Am", "Letters from War", "Walking Her Home", to name just a few.  The Mark Schultz favorites were interspersed with a multitude of treasured Christmas carols such as "Silent Night" and "Joy to the World".  All in all, the entire evening was truly a blessing and those who attended indeed felt blessed to be there.  Check out the pictures from the concert here:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151865893414385.1073741831.248295764384&type=1&l=fb68237816


The only downside of the night was that we were not able to have video with the music, as the set-up was not compatible with the way our system is currently configured.  So, for those who have not seen a Mark Schultz concert before and would like to see the video that goes with the song "Letters from War", here you go: (Enjoy! And, Merry Christmas!)

Trunk or Treat

Bring your kids!  Bring your grandkids! Bring your friends!  Bring your neighbors! Bring everyone to this fun-filled afternoon! 

Here is the plan for our Trick or Treaters:

• 11:15am  Get ready in fellowship hall!  Put on your costume and munch a snack.
• 11:30 am  Decorate treat bags, provided by Family Ministry            
• 11:45 am  Trick or Treating in the East parking lot of church.
• 12:15 am   Decorate pumpkins and enjoy a Halloween treat in Fellowship Hall.

Don’t have trick or treaters?  Join in the fun by opening your trunk and passing out treats!

• 11:15 am  Relocate and park cars for event
• 11:30 am  Set-up your trunk! Feel free to bring your carved pumpkins, friendly Halloween decorations, etc. to set the mood! Don’t forget a lawn chair so you have somewhere to sit!
• 11:45 am  Pass out treats to our great kiddos!