Happy Father's Day to all fathers out there today! God bless you!
Today's sermon is about grace and forgiveness. Jesus got into trouble for the company he kept at table. The charge against Jesus that "This man eats and drinks with sinners," is well documented. The church lives in the great, gracious promise that Jesus eats and drinks with sinners, welcomes sinners, forgives sinners - like us! In our text this morning Jesus praises a sinful woman who comes to Him out of humility and gratitude. Others want to reject her, but Jesus accepts her and forgives her. Will we do the same to others?
Here are some upcoming events on our calendar:
Mailing Fundraiser—we have another mailing to do from Ramsey Rehab as a fundraiser for CHIC.This one is 7,000 postcards.We will meet at church this Tuesday evening (19th) at 6pm.Come then or later when you are able.
Bible Study--Thursday at 7pm at church. We are studying the Gospel of John. All are welcome.
Youth Group—this Friday we will be going to Blackstone Valley Cinema to see the movie “Evan Almighty.”Probably around 7pm—showtime to be determined.
Movie Night--on Saturday, June 23rd at church.The movie this month is “Bruce Almighty.”This is a comedy starring Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman and Jennifer Aniston and it is rated PG-13.Here is a brief synopsis: BruceNolan (Jim Carrey) toils as a "human interest" television reporter in Buffalo, N.Y. Despite his high ratings and the love of his beautiful girlfriend, Grace (Jennifer Aniston), Bruce remains unfulfilled.At the end of the worst day in his life, he angrily ridicules God—and the Almighty (Morgan Freeman) responds, endowing Bruce with all of His divine powers. The question is, can Bruce improve on perfection? The movie is about an hour and forty minutes long.We will meet at 5:30pm for pizza (please try to let Pastor Dave know ahead of time if you are coming for pizza) and the movie will begin shortly after 6pm.A discussion time will follow.
Today (Sunday May 27th) is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost Sunday celebrates the gift of God's Spirit to the church. It celebrates the birth of the church in a large sense. Pentecost, originally a Jewish festival day, had an agricultural purpose, celebrating the completion of the grain harvest. "Pentecost" means "fiftieth," and Pentecost came fifty days after the start of Passover. For Christians it marks the giving of the Spirit, adn comes seven weeks after Easter.
Here are some upcoming events on our calendar:
Thursday--Bible study on the Gospel of John. At church, 7pm.
Church Picnic--Sunday June 10th after the worship service. It is also Children's Sunday as well.
Starting on Sunday, June 17th we will be on our summer worship schedule. Worship will begin at 9:30am.
This past Sunday's sermon was taken from Acts ch. 1 and was entitled, "A Gospel for Everyone." Acts 1:8 is like a table of contents or outline for the entire book: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Jesus says this is a message, good news, a gospel for everyone.It is not just a message the apostles are to preach to people like them, people they are used to and are comfortable with.They are to start with their own and are then to go all the way to the ends of the earth—to make disciples of all nations. The Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ is meant for everyone.
Here are some upcoming events on our calendar:
Wednesday, May 23rd---youth group at church from 7-8:30pm.
Thursday--Bible study on the Gospel of John. At church, 7pm.
Church Picnic--Sunday June 10th after the worship service. It is also Children's Sunday as well.
Sunday's sermon focused on the question of "Who is the Holy Spirit?" Jesus is going away but He promises His disciples that He will send them "another counselor" or "advocate" to be with them. He will not abandon them, will not leave them alone. The word translated as "counselor" or "advocate" literally means "one who comes alongside." In the ancient world a paraclete was someone summoned to give assistance in a court of law.The paraclete was a legal advisor who pleaded a person’s case in court. What Jesus is saying is that "I am going to send someone who will do for you all the things I have been doing for you." It is the Holy Spirit who empowers the church and individuals to live out their lives as Jesus did.
Here are some upcoming events on our calendar:
Board Meeting--Tuesday, May 15th at 7pm at the church.
Movie Night--thisSaturday, May 19th at church.The movie will be “The Apostle” starring Robert Duvall and Farrah Fawcet.It is rated PG-13.We will meet at church at 5:30 for pizza if you would like—please let us know if you are coming for the pizza so we can plan ahead.The movie will start around 6pm.Following the film we will have a discussion time.The movie is about 2 hrs and 15 minutes long and so we should be finished around 8:45pm.
Sunday's sermon was about welcoming those who are different from us--loving them as Christ loves us. It's not always easy, but it's powerful and worth it for all of us. Loving those who are different is church as it should be--the title of the sermon.
Also on Sunday the congregation voted unanimously in favor of a new vestry floor and a new sound system for the sanctuary. We are excited about this because the vestry floor is used constantly and has been in need of an overhaul for a while. This will make our meeting space all the more better and beautiful. The new sound system will enhance our worship and allow us to do much more in terms of worship and concerts, etc.
Here are some upcoming events on our calendar:
Youth Group—this Wednesday from 7-8:30pm at church.
Car wash--this Saturday from 9am to 12pm at church. Proceeds to benefit the youth group.
Board Meeting--Tuesday, May 15th at 7pm at the church.
Movie Night--on Saturday, May 19th at church.The movie will be “The Apostle” starring Robert Duvall and Farrah Fawcet.It is rated PG-13.We will meet at church at 5:30 for pizza if you would like—please let us know if you are coming for the pizza so we can plan ahead.The movie will start around 6pm.Following the film we will have a discussion time.The movie is about 2 hrs and 15 minutes long and so we should be finished around 8:45pm.
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