Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Bible Challenge 09/29 - 10/05
Greetings All!
Here is a bit of background information for our reading this week. This week's reading moves through the
rest of the book of Ezekiel and begins the book of Daniel. The second section of Ezekiel, from chapters 25-32 is all revelations against foreign nations and the book finishes up with prophecies of hope and salvation in the third section from chapters 33-48. In particular the third section talks about the end of the Jewish exile and a new city and new Temple will be built.
The first two chapters of Daniel are the introduction to Daniel, his friends and their circumstances in exile. Daniel was one of the young men from Judah carried off to Babylon along with three of his friends. While there they were selected for leadership and given new names. We don't call Daniel by his foreign name (Belteshazzar), but we do call his friends by their exile names (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).
Here is the schedule:
29, Sunday: Ezekiel 23-26
30, Monday: Ezekiel 27-30
01, Tuesday: Ezekiel 31-34
02, Wednesday: Ezekiel 35-38
03, Thursday: Ezekiel 39-42
04, Friday: Ezekiel 43-46
05, Saturday: Ezekiel 47 - Daniel 2
May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His holy word. Amen.
Here is a bit of background information for our reading this week. This week's reading moves through the
rest of the book of Ezekiel and begins the book of Daniel. The second section of Ezekiel, from chapters 25-32 is all revelations against foreign nations and the book finishes up with prophecies of hope and salvation in the third section from chapters 33-48. In particular the third section talks about the end of the Jewish exile and a new city and new Temple will be built.
The first two chapters of Daniel are the introduction to Daniel, his friends and their circumstances in exile. Daniel was one of the young men from Judah carried off to Babylon along with three of his friends. While there they were selected for leadership and given new names. We don't call Daniel by his foreign name (Belteshazzar), but we do call his friends by their exile names (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).
Here is the schedule:
29, Sunday: Ezekiel 23-26
30, Monday: Ezekiel 27-30
01, Tuesday: Ezekiel 31-34
02, Wednesday: Ezekiel 35-38
03, Thursday: Ezekiel 39-42
04, Friday: Ezekiel 43-46
05, Saturday: Ezekiel 47 - Daniel 2
May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His holy word. Amen.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Friday Fives
1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we will continue our preaching series focusing on the life of the Apostle Paul. It’s very difficult to think of the New Testament without thinking about Paul, because so much of his influence and thought is found in the letters and epistles of the New Testament writings. His transformation from a man named Saul, who persecuted Christians, to a man named Paul, who became the great theologian of the early church, is perhaps one of the best-known stories in all of Scripture. Apart from Jesus, no single person influenced the history of the Christian community more than Paul did. This week we will look at how to find the silver lining in life. I encourage you to invite a friend and come be a part of the celebration!
2. Food 4 Kids - We are once again participating in the Food 4 Kids backpack program by sponsoring Shady Hill Elementary. Food 4 Kids was created in 2004 when it came to the attention of school teachers that many children were not being fed over the weekend. The "backpack program" as it's termed, was created to provide food for each child that qualifies at the school level for assistance. By volunteering to help fill these backpacks, you help ensure that children in Marion County do not go hungry over the weekend. Beginning soon, we will meet at InterFaith on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 A.M. and fill the backpacks. With four people, this averages about 20 minutes to complete. I hope you will considering volunteering this year, with whatever time you can spare. If you are interested in helping please contact Debby Baugher.
3. Pulpit Swap - I am excited to be able to tell you that this Sunday, September 29th, we will engage in our Fifth Sunday pulpit swap with Belleview UMC. I invite you to come hear the gentle spirit and inspired wisdom of Pastor Debbie as she continues with our series on Lessons from the Life of Paul.
I am confident that you will be blessed and transformed as you experience the Holy Spirit through her. Invite a friend and come be a part of movement of the Holy Spirit.
4. Nursery Help - We are looking for people to help us staff our nursery on Sunday mornings. The number of young people we have in the nursery is growing and needless to say, that is a good thing! If you are interested in helping Ms. Joy care for and teach our kids during worship, please let the church office know. You can email by clicking here, or call 629-5688. Thus far, we have had two people sign up and we are looking for at least eight. Remember the old adage, many hands make light work. I hope you will consider volunteering to help support this ministry.
Advent Conspiracy Update - I have been incredibly moved at how this congregation has responded to support this challenge. Each week I will post an update of how much has been raised towards our goal. If you would like more information about this challenge and the charities that will be supported with the proceeds, please visit our website by clicking here.
Have a great weekend and I will see you soon!
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Bible Challenge 09/22 - 09/28
Greetings All!
This week's reading moves through the final chapter of Jeremiah, through the entire book of Lamentations and gets us almost halfway through the book of Ezekiel.
The name "Ezekiel" means "God will strengthen." His story is interesting. He describes his calling by God to be a prophet, going into a lot of detail about God riding a chariot of four wheels guided by cherubs. For the next several years, he preached alongside Jeremiah about the coming destruction of Jerusalem which he lived to witness. He was in his mid-twenties when he was exiled along with about 3,000 upper class Jews to Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem. There he and his wife lived in their own home and other exiles came to see his prophetic insights. Later he began to have visions of a new Temple. All total, his career as a prophet lasted for around 25 years.
Our reading this week carries us almost all the way through the entire first segment of Ezekiel (chapters 1-24) in which Ezekiel pronounces a judgement against Israel.
Here is the schedule:
22, Sunday: Jeremiah 5 - Lamentations 3
23, Monday: Lamentations 4 - Ezekiel 2
24, Tuesday: Ezekiel 3-6
25, Wednesday: Ezekiel 7-10
26, Thursday: Ezekiel 11-14
27, Friday: Ezekiel 15-18
28, Saturday: Ezekiel 19-22
May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His holy word. Amen.
This week's reading moves through the final chapter of Jeremiah, through the entire book of Lamentations and gets us almost halfway through the book of Ezekiel.
The name "Ezekiel" means "God will strengthen." His story is interesting. He describes his calling by God to be a prophet, going into a lot of detail about God riding a chariot of four wheels guided by cherubs. For the next several years, he preached alongside Jeremiah about the coming destruction of Jerusalem which he lived to witness. He was in his mid-twenties when he was exiled along with about 3,000 upper class Jews to Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem. There he and his wife lived in their own home and other exiles came to see his prophetic insights. Later he began to have visions of a new Temple. All total, his career as a prophet lasted for around 25 years.
Our reading this week carries us almost all the way through the entire first segment of Ezekiel (chapters 1-24) in which Ezekiel pronounces a judgement against Israel.
Here is the schedule:
22, Sunday: Jeremiah 5 - Lamentations 3
23, Monday: Lamentations 4 - Ezekiel 2
24, Tuesday: Ezekiel 3-6
25, Wednesday: Ezekiel 7-10
26, Thursday: Ezekiel 11-14
27, Friday: Ezekiel 15-18
28, Saturday: Ezekiel 19-22
May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His holy word. Amen.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Friday Fives
1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we will continue our preaching series focusing on the life of the Apostle Paul. It’s very difficult to think of the New Testament without thinking about Paul, because so much of his influence and thought is found in the letters and epistles of the New Testament writings. His transformation from a man named Saul, who persecuted Christians, to a man named Paul, who became the great theologian of the early church, is perhaps one of the best-known stories in all of Scripture. Apart from Jesus, no single person influenced the history of the Christian community more than Paul did. This week we will look at the vital importance of Paul’s mentoring of Timothy as we look to the idea of passing the torch. I encourage you to invite a friend and come be a part of the celebration!
2. Food 4 Kids - We are once again participating in the Food 4 Kids backpack program by sponsoringShady Hill Elementary. Food 4 Kids was created in 2004 when it came to the attention of school teachers that many children were not being fed over the weekend. The "backpack program" as it's termed, was created to provide food for each child that qualifies at the school level for assistance. By volunteering to help fill these backpacks, you help ensure that children in Marion County do not go hungry over the weekend. Beginning soon, we will meet at InterFaith on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 A.M. and fill the backpacks. With four people, this averages about 20 minutes to complete. I hope you will considering volunteering this year, with whatever time you can spare. If you are interested in helping please contact Debby Baugher.
3. Support for InterFaith - September 25th, from 11am - 9pm, Blue Highway Pizzeria will host a charity day for InterFaith. Blue Highway Pizzeria, located at 2130 E Silver Springs Blvd is a great new restaurant that has opened up recently here in Ocala. I have been several times and have never left disappointed, but always full! On the 25th, Blue Highway will donate 10% of the proceeds to InterFaith's Food 4 Kids program. I encourage you to grab your family and friends and go enjoy some great food, while helping a great cause. I hope to see you there!
4. Nursery Help - We are looking for people to help us staff our nursery on Sunday mornings. The number of young people we have in the nursery is growing and needless to say, that is a good thing! If you are interested in helping Ms. Joy care for and teach our kids during worship, please let the church office know. You can email by clicking here, or call 629-5688. Thus far, we have had two people sign up and we are looking for at least eight. Remember the old adage, many hands make light work. I hope you will consider volunteering to help support this ministry.
Advent Conspiracy Update - I have been incredibly moved at how this congregation has responded to support this challenge. Each week I will post an update of how much has been raised towards our goal. If you would like more information about this challenge and the charities that will be supported with the proceeds, please visit our website by clicking here.
Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday!
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Midweek Moment
This past Sunday in worship we talked about the idea of grace. We talked about how God’s grace is sufficient for all we face in this life. We looked about at how no one person is ever “too far gone” to receive God’s grace. We sought to understand that God’s grace is not wimpy, but aggressive as God’s grace searches for us, comes after us, and if we let it, washes over us and drenches our entire soul.
At certain times in our lives, we have all felt guilt. We have had felt guilt over words spoken, or not spoken; over how we have treated other people; or how we have not gone when God called us. There are hundreds of other situations I know we can add to this list, but you get the idea. Our lives have been and will continue to be exposed to guilt.
What I want you all to remember, is that guilt will never be the last word. Our God is a God of redemption. Every feeling of guilt you have in life, every instance where you seek a “do-over”, every time you find a desert between you and Almighty God, do not fret, because redemption is coming, God’s grace is coming.
God will come to you, God will redeem you, and God will redeem your situation. God does not want you to wander or to suffer. God will not abandon you in those dark and chaotic seasons of life. What God will do, is reach out to you, walk with you, and give to you his grace. Remember the story of Paul we talked about Sunday. A man that persecuted the early believers, but through God’s grace and redemption became one of the early church’s greatest advocates. This was not accomplished through Paul’s own will, determination, or strength. This was God grace working in and through Paul.
Dear friends, there is no past deed, no past action, no past thought, that will make God give up on you. That’s the wonderful thing about grace – there’s nobody too far gone, no one beyond God’s reach. God’s grace is better than that; God’s grace is stronger than that.
I encourage you to let God’s grace be sufficient for you as you trust in God’s grace, share God’s grace with others, and are transformed by God’s grace.
Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!
At certain times in our lives, we have all felt guilt. We have had felt guilt over words spoken, or not spoken; over how we have treated other people; or how we have not gone when God called us. There are hundreds of other situations I know we can add to this list, but you get the idea. Our lives have been and will continue to be exposed to guilt.
What I want you all to remember, is that guilt will never be the last word. Our God is a God of redemption. Every feeling of guilt you have in life, every instance where you seek a “do-over”, every time you find a desert between you and Almighty God, do not fret, because redemption is coming, God’s grace is coming.
God will come to you, God will redeem you, and God will redeem your situation. God does not want you to wander or to suffer. God will not abandon you in those dark and chaotic seasons of life. What God will do, is reach out to you, walk with you, and give to you his grace. Remember the story of Paul we talked about Sunday. A man that persecuted the early believers, but through God’s grace and redemption became one of the early church’s greatest advocates. This was not accomplished through Paul’s own will, determination, or strength. This was God grace working in and through Paul.
Dear friends, there is no past deed, no past action, no past thought, that will make God give up on you. That’s the wonderful thing about grace – there’s nobody too far gone, no one beyond God’s reach. God’s grace is better than that; God’s grace is stronger than that.
I encourage you to let God’s grace be sufficient for you as you trust in God’s grace, share God’s grace with others, and are transformed by God’s grace.
Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!
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