"But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today" (Deut 8:17).
Whether you feel like you are wandering in the wilderness or are living it up in the Promised Land, pause to give thanks this season. The Biblical way of thanksgiving is through remembrance, remembrance of the Lord our God who brings us out of the desert, walks with us through the valleys and hears our shouts from the mountain tops. This day will find us in various spiritual, family, social, and economic situations, but regardless of where we are, give thanks through remembering our Lord. How and when can we remember? Remember the Lord by “talking about them [God’s Words] when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise” (Deut 6:7). In other words, make thanksgiving a part of everyday life. God Bless you and your family. Amen
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Sunday 11:45 Worship
Thanks for those who participated in planning the special worship for this Sunday. Below is the order of service that we agreed upon. We look forward to having a faithful and fantastic time. God Bless.
Call To Worship – God is an Awesome God – Joe and children
Greeting – Pastor John
Songs of Praise - Congregation
Special Activity
Luke 17:11-19 - Jacob Anderson
Message
An Opportunity of Thanks
Offering - Rapid Deployment
Closing Song - Congregation
Call To Worship – God is an Awesome God – Joe and children
Greeting – Pastor John
Songs of Praise - Congregation
Special Activity
Luke 17:11-19 - Jacob Anderson
Message
An Opportunity of Thanks
Offering - Rapid Deployment
Closing Song - Congregation
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Praise and Thanksgiving
"Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God..." (Deut 8:11a)
Trinity wil be hosting two special services in the next week. We would love to see you on Sunday, November 23, 2008 at 11:45 where we will have a contemporary family service. This service will offer up praise and thanksgiving to God in an interactive atmosphere. Come help us remember what God has done for us this past year. If you would like to help out or participate, please respond to this post, email, or attend a planning meeting on Wed (19th) at 7pm.
On Thanksgiving Eve we will be hosting the Emmitsburg Council of Churches Thanksgiving Service at 7pm. Please join us for a wonderful community event. We will also be collecting cereal for the Emmitsburg area foodbank. See you then!
Trinity wil be hosting two special services in the next week. We would love to see you on Sunday, November 23, 2008 at 11:45 where we will have a contemporary family service. This service will offer up praise and thanksgiving to God in an interactive atmosphere. Come help us remember what God has done for us this past year. If you would like to help out or participate, please respond to this post, email, or attend a planning meeting on Wed (19th) at 7pm.
On Thanksgiving Eve we will be hosting the Emmitsburg Council of Churches Thanksgiving Service at 7pm. Please join us for a wonderful community event. We will also be collecting cereal for the Emmitsburg area foodbank. See you then!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Jim and Casper go to church
Last night at Bible study we started working with Jim and Casper. Jim is a Christian who purchased the right to take Casper, an atheist, to church. They visited 10 churches and began to have conversations about what they experienced. Jim felt that Christians could learn a great deal from what an Atheist thought about our churches. Casper and Jim noticed several things in their visits. 1. Churches did not reflect how the Church was depicted in the Bible. 2. Churches had little sense of community. 3. Other than the greeters they were not talked to by anyone except in two churches. 4. The churches seemed to be overly interested in spectacle. 5. The churches were solely interested in growing large.
Take time to reflect on these comments and feel free to offer some of your own.
Take time to reflect on these comments and feel free to offer some of your own.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Staying In Love With God
"As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love" (John 15.9).
Jesus said that "they will know you are Christians by your love." At the end of the day it is love that defines who we are. As we search the Scriptures it is impossible to ignore commandments, laws, traditions, expectations, and customs; how could we possibly meet them all? The original Disciples had the same question. Jesus answered, "love your God with all your heart, mind and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself. All the other commandments are wrapped up into this." John Wesley also struggled with these expectations and he demamnded evidence of salvation. When he looked within himself and around his community he became discouraged at what he saw. His solution and comfort came by remembering the words of Christ and lifted them up by developing and implementing three simple rules for his general societies. He believed one could evidence their salvation first by doing no harm, then by doing good and thirdly by staying in love with God. It was the third rule which could be lived out by participating in the ordinances of God such as public worship, hearing the Word read or expounded, partaking of the Lord's Supper, family prayer, and searching the Scriptures. It is within this third rule that the possibility of doing no harm and doing good becomes a reality. Let us all be challenged to go forth and fall in love all over again and to remain strong by staying in Love with God.
Jesus said that "they will know you are Christians by your love." At the end of the day it is love that defines who we are. As we search the Scriptures it is impossible to ignore commandments, laws, traditions, expectations, and customs; how could we possibly meet them all? The original Disciples had the same question. Jesus answered, "love your God with all your heart, mind and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself. All the other commandments are wrapped up into this." John Wesley also struggled with these expectations and he demamnded evidence of salvation. When he looked within himself and around his community he became discouraged at what he saw. His solution and comfort came by remembering the words of Christ and lifted them up by developing and implementing three simple rules for his general societies. He believed one could evidence their salvation first by doing no harm, then by doing good and thirdly by staying in love with God. It was the third rule which could be lived out by participating in the ordinances of God such as public worship, hearing the Word read or expounded, partaking of the Lord's Supper, family prayer, and searching the Scriptures. It is within this third rule that the possibility of doing no harm and doing good becomes a reality. Let us all be challenged to go forth and fall in love all over again and to remain strong by staying in Love with God.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Harvest Celebration
“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it” (Gen 2.15).
Sounds like God thinks highly and gives a prominent Biblical place to farming. As it turns out we think highly of agriculture too. On Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 11:45, we will be celebrating the harvest and having a tribute to farming. Because of time limitations we will not be meeting before the service, but I will gladly take suggestions here in the blog, by email, or at church. In addition, we will use some of the ideas from the previous meetings that we had for the Sept celebration.
As of this date, Megan and Priscilla will be giving a message using pumpkin carving as an illustration that will be interactive and fun for all ages. We will sing contemporary music in a relaxed and casual atmosphere. It would be great to have a few decorations that celebrate farming and the harvest.
As everyone knows, the local food bank is in desperate need. We will be taking a food offering during this service. We will try to fill a wheelbarrow or wagon with food. Please spread the word.
Thanks for your prayers and your input.
God Bless.
Sounds like God thinks highly and gives a prominent Biblical place to farming. As it turns out we think highly of agriculture too. On Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 11:45, we will be celebrating the harvest and having a tribute to farming. Because of time limitations we will not be meeting before the service, but I will gladly take suggestions here in the blog, by email, or at church. In addition, we will use some of the ideas from the previous meetings that we had for the Sept celebration.
As of this date, Megan and Priscilla will be giving a message using pumpkin carving as an illustration that will be interactive and fun for all ages. We will sing contemporary music in a relaxed and casual atmosphere. It would be great to have a few decorations that celebrate farming and the harvest.
As everyone knows, the local food bank is in desperate need. We will be taking a food offering during this service. We will try to fill a wheelbarrow or wagon with food. Please spread the word.
Thanks for your prayers and your input.
God Bless.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
High Expectations
When Jesus called Levi, the tax collector, the Bible says, “he got up, left everything, and followed him” (Luke 5:28). It would seem from the Biblical record that if people are not willing to drop everything in the beginning, then when it is all said and done, the likelihood of dropping anything is slim. Maybe that is one of the most difficult obstacles of discipleship; the willingness to leave it all behind and follow a new Way.
It is true that sometimes we don’t want to hear that anything is required of us, but other times it is exactly what we need to hear. Anytime we are asked to “join” an organization or team, we want to know what is required of our time and us. It has become common for recruiters to give say what they think people want to hear, “oh not much, just show up when you can.” But not so fast my friend.
Just maybe people are more like Levi than we give them credit. Just maybe church participation is down because people want more than to just “show up,” or maybe people want not just expectations, but high expectations; maybe when they ask, “what will be required of me?” The answer should be, “everything.” If we want to faithfully invite people to follow Christ, then we need to show them that much will be required. The expectation won’t be to show up on Sunday mornings, but to actually allow the Gospel to transform their lives even when that means leaving it all behind and following Him.
It is true that sometimes we don’t want to hear that anything is required of us, but other times it is exactly what we need to hear. Anytime we are asked to “join” an organization or team, we want to know what is required of our time and us. It has become common for recruiters to give say what they think people want to hear, “oh not much, just show up when you can.” But not so fast my friend.
Just maybe people are more like Levi than we give them credit. Just maybe church participation is down because people want more than to just “show up,” or maybe people want not just expectations, but high expectations; maybe when they ask, “what will be required of me?” The answer should be, “everything.” If we want to faithfully invite people to follow Christ, then we need to show them that much will be required. The expectation won’t be to show up on Sunday mornings, but to actually allow the Gospel to transform their lives even when that means leaving it all behind and following Him.
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