|
The Weekly News May 4, 2008 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Thessalonians 5:16 - 18 WE PRAY WITH REJOICING: Victoria, born 4/28 to Bethany & Keith Ladd; 5lbs, 14 oz. Mom, dad & baby all doing well WE PRAY FOR THOSE IN NEED OF HEALTH, HOPE AND HEALING:
WE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER IN CENTRAL STATES SYNOD:
WE PRAY FOR THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY:
Michael Best, Bryan Collver, Geoffry Collver, Mike Flowers, Bill Hibner, Mae Hibner, Melvin Leonard, Derek McDonald, Scottie Penney, Nick Sanford.
CALL COMMITTEE SURVEYS need to be returned by May 18. They may be put in the purple box, in the Call Committee mailbox, or handed to a Call Committee member: Darrell Rose (chairman), Jim Brauer, Diane Huffman, Kathy Morton, Kyle Scheel, & Betty Tuttle, and Donna Linn (Council liaison).
PENTECOST IS NEXT SUNDAY, May 11. Please help us celebrate by wearing red. Red is the liturgical color for Pentecost, symbolizing the tongues of flame that came to the disciples that first Pentecost. White birds will be released to symbolize the Holy Spirit. THE CONGREGATION IS INVITED to a graduation party for Emma Jo. It will begin at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, May 10th in Servant Hall. Our congratulations to Emma for her accomplishment! THE CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE PROJECT for May is to raise awareness of abuse in our community, and concentrate on stopping it. Phone numbers will be made available for a person to get help, or to pass to a loved one or acquaintance who needs this service. The website www.endabuse.org states that an estimated 960,000 – three million incidents of physical abuse occur per year from significant others. THE ANNUAL “STAMP OUT HUNGER” food drive is this Saturday, May 10. Belton Postmaster Kevin Billings and Belton’s Steward with the National Association of Letter Carriers, Mike Larkey, ask for your assistance in this year’s effort. Simply place non-perishable food items out by your mailbox Saturday, to be picked up by your letter carrier as they deliver your mail. Please share this information with your neighborhood. Last year, Belton collected over 2,000 pounds of good, which was donated to Heart-n-Hand. The goal for this year is 4,000 pounds CONGREGATIONAL MEETING June 1st, 10:00 a.m. It will be a ministry update, and election of new council members. Please plan your attendance so that your voice may be heard. OPENINGS ON Church Council: Finances and New Ministries. Please prayfully consider taking one of these positions if you are approached by the nominating committee. Or if you feel God calling you, please volunteer. Nominating committee members are: Joye Conklin, Tom Eagan, Gale Hankins, David Salmon, Fred Sears, and Ken VanSickle THE BOOK CLUB SELECTION for May is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Read up, & join us at 7:00 p.m. on May 15th at Lord of Love. CORRECTION: The service project for June of collecting fans to be donated to Heart & Hand is a Church-wide project, so everyone may donate to this worthy cause. June Eagan will be the contact person for this project.
FROM OUR HISTORY: From 1969 Annual Report, February 1, 1970: (Does anyone remember how this worked?)
Andy Zay
Devotionals: DailyWalk Day 1: Monday, May 5, 2008—Prayer as Preparation The Holy Spirit empowers us to tell others about Jesus and bring glory to God. We do this with our words and with our lives. Read Acts 1:4-14 and John 17:1-11, and consider our theme, “Reanimated for Spirit-powered witness.” At first glance, each text might appear to have little to do with the other, but consider that in John 17, we have Jesus’ prayer on the night before his crucifixion, and in Acts 1, we find Jesus’ followers in prayer before the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost. Do you see prayer as an essential preparation for service and/or sacrifice? Does God value our prayers (see Revelation 5:8)? Pray for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit in your life. Day 2: Tuesday, May 6, 2008—In the Beginning Sunday we will celebrate the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 2); this week our focus is Spirit-powered witness. However, discussion of the Spirit’s activity in us is best understood in the context of who the Spirit is. God is One, but God manifests/expresses God’s self as Father, Son, and Spirit. In Genesis 1:2, the Spirit acts in creation (some translations say “wind”/“breath”). In the Old Testament, we see the Spirit equipping people to serve God and inspiring the prophets to speak God’s message. What do you learn about the Spirit in Luke 1:34-35,41-42,67; 3:21-22; 4:1 and John 3:5; 7:37-39; 14:16-17,25-26; 15:26; 16:12-15? Ask the Spirit for understanding. Day 3: Wednesday, May 7, 2008—Something New Read John 14:16-17, observing that Jesus makes a distinction between the presence of the Spirit with them and in them. Notice the use of the word “in” (or the concept of indwelling) as you read John 7:39; 14:20; 15:4-5; Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18b; Philippians 2:13; and 1 John 4:13. What difference does it make that the Spirit actually lives in believers? In light of what we have learned, read Acts 1:4-14 and 2:1-4,36-38. In whose power do we love others and testify about Jesus? Thank God for the life-giving, indwelling presence and power of the Spirit. Day 4: Thursday, May 8, 2008—Waiting on God’s Timing Read Galatians 4:4-5, noticing what it says about “time.” Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he was aware of waiting for God’s perfect timing. As you read John 2:4; 7:8,30; 13:1; 17:1, notice the words “time” or “hour.” Now read John 17:1-11 and Acts 1:4-14, observing the importance of timing. Do we sometimes run ahead of God and then pray, “God bless our plans”? Or do we hesitate and linger when God is calling us to act? Notice again the importance of prayer as you read Luke 3:21-22; John 17:1ff; Acts 1:14. Talk to Jesus; ask him to help you discern God’s timing. Day 5: Friday, May 9, 2008—“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit” Read Zechariah 4:6. How often do we try to do God’s work in our own strength and then falter or burn out? Notice Jesus’ instructions and his followers’ response as you read Acts 1:4-8,12-14 and 2:1-4. Peter, who had denied Jesus and then fearfully hid behind locked doors (John 18:15-27; 20:19), now boldly testifies about Jesus. The Spirit empowered him to do so. ALL Christians have the Spirit living within them (see Day 3); ALL have spiritual gifts (Romans 12:4-8) to be used for the good of others and for God’s glory (1 Peter 4:10-11); ALL are called to be witnesses (John 17:20-23). Meditate on Zechariah 4:6; thank God for the GIFT of the Spirit. Day 6: Saturday, May 10, 2008—The Spirit Equips Us to Testify with Our Words and Lives We’ve read about the precious and empowering gift of the indwelling Spirit, but we must remember that the Spirit is given for a purpose, and the purpose includes testifying to Jesus’ love and saving grace and blessing others in his name and for his glory. On Day 5, we mentioned Spirit-given gifts, which are used to edify other believers and point people to Jesus. The Spirit also produces fruit in our lives as we abide in Jesus. Read John 15:4-5 and Galatians 5:22-23a. Notice that “fruit” is inclusive/singular; one Christian does not have joy and another patience; all manifestations of the fruit are to be apparent in all believers. Tell Jesus you want to abide in him and bear fruit. Day 7: Sunday, May 11, 2008 [Pentecost]—We Live and Testify for God’s Glory the Toolkit All content © Changing Church Forum, Inc. Reproducible for church use only.At the bottom of each of his compositions, Bach wrote letters SDG (Soli Deo Gloria), a reminder that all he did was to the glory of God alone. As you read Psalm 115:1; Matthew 5:16; John 17:1-11; and 2 Corinthians 3:18, consider marking the words “glory” or “glorify.” Now read John 3:16; Acts 1:8; 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:4-6a; and 2 Peter 3:9,18. Observe God’s heart of love for people. Do you hear God calling you to testify with your words and with your life? Consider how the fruit of the Spirit can give our lives a winsomeness that might awaken in others the desire to listen to the testimony of our words. Re-read Matthew 5:16. Pray you will point others to Jesus and glorify God.
|
||||||||
