Weekly Bulletin – November 1, 2009

Posted on October 29, 2009 
Filed Under Weekly Bulletin

The Lord’s Day!
Nov. 1, 2009
Welcome to our Church!

PREPARE TO WORSHIP
Loving Creator, help us gather our thoughts and focus on your will for our lives. May this time of worship be pleasing to you and a time of spiritual growth for us.  Amen

ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you are visiting us, please fill out a visitor’s card (available in the foyer) and drop it in the offering plate or hand it to an usher, as your contribution today. Thank you.

PRAISING GOD WITH SONG

GIVING TO GOD  Offering  /  SPECIAL MUSIC

(Children ages 4 -7 may be dismissed)

HEARING FROM GOD

WORSHIPING GOD IN SONG

PLEASE STAY FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL NEXT!

TODAY:. HARVEST DINNER / PASTOR APPRECIATION
Please join us at the Fellowship Center right after Sunday School.
If you’re not sure where that is, just follow someone down the road.

THIS WEEK :

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thanks for attending FIRST CHRISTIAN, please come again!

REVOLUTION, A journey into our past to discover our future

Posted on October 28, 2009 
Filed Under Pastor's Blog

Revolution is the title of my next sermon series. We will be exploring the book of Acts which is the only history we have of the early church. Acts tells us how it all got started and what the church did (that’s why it’s called “Acts”). Acts chronicles the first 30 years of the church’s life. And our future is embedded in that ancient text.

They say history has a way of repeating itself. I believe if we can better understand our past we can be more sure of the future God wants us to pursue as his people. We start with the ancient text (Acts) but we have to consider it in light of our present context. Life as it is now. Two thousand years was a long time ago. But you will be surprised at the similarities between then and now. Then there is the future texture of life and ministry,. What is the church supposed to be 20 years from now? Young people spend an awful lot of time wondering who they will grow up to be. Acts is an ancient text with a future feel. It tells the story of our (body of Christ) past and holds the keys to our future.

This is a journey. Acts has plenty of plot lines and characters to make for a great story.

What we will see though is that the Church is “on mission.” They are a driven people and sometimes being driven by God. What emerges out of the story is the Church’s sense of direction and purpose. They figured out who they were and where they were going.

I know Acts is a long book (28 chapters). Someone is going to ask, “how long will this take?” The answer is longer than usual. Most of my series don’t go past 8 weeks. You can forget about that. I don’t anticipate a problem though. There is a lot of variety in Acts and it’s a story so it should not get too redundant (me beating the same old drum or singing the same chorus over and over). Plus, we can make pitstops. Keep in mind that much of the NT was written during this time; Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Thessalonians and Galatians. As we advance through the story of Acts we will make appropriate stops. For instance you can’t talk about Acts 15 and not go to Galatians. So, we will spend time in other texts along the way.

Why this text now? Well the stars have lined up. There are more similarities between the 1st century and the 21st century than you could ever imagine. One example would be a crumbling decadent empire. The Roman Empire has passed the apex of it splendor and was spiraling downward in its decadent depravity. As she perished the world would fall into a period of chaos economically and politically (called the Dark Ages). Many are seeing striking similarities with the U.S. Ironically, the Church would thrive in this chaos. It was a movement that could not be stopped. Christ was revolutionary. The world has never been the same. We need this text. The Church in America is a monument, not a movement. Monuments are reminders of the past. Movements shape the future. The Church needs a new revolution.         WHB

Protected: Prayer Requests – October 28, 2009

Posted on October 28, 2009 
Filed Under Prayer Requests

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Weekly Bulletin – October 25, 2009

Posted on October 22, 2009 
Filed Under Weekly Bulletin

The Lord’s Day!
Oct. 25, 2009
Welcome to our Church!

PREPARE TO WORSHIP
Dear Lord, may the fire of your love burn away any false pride or selfishness that we find difficult to repel.  Amen

ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you are visiting us, please fill out a visitor’s card (available in the foyer) and drop it in the offering plate or hand it to an usher, as your contribution today. Thank you.

PRAISING GOD WITH SONG

GIVING TO GOD  Offering  /  SPECIAL MUSIC

(Children ages 4 -7 may be dismissed)
HEARING FROM GOD

WORSHIPING GOD IN SONG

PLEASE STAY FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL NEXT!

TODAY: There will be a short meeting after SS in the Chapel for all those that are part of the visitation program that was set up by Pastor Justin.  Please stay & help us keep this program active.

THIS WEEK :  Wednesday

UPCOMING EVENTS

______________________
“Prayer is the place where burdens change shoulders.”
_____________________
Thanks for attending FIRST CHRISTIAN, please come again!

Protected: Prayer Requests – October 21, 2009

Posted on October 21, 2009 
Filed Under Prayer Requests

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Going Home

Posted on October 20, 2009 
Filed Under Announcements

Well, Don Jackson has crossed over to the other side and we said farewell today. Don led FCC thru a period of the wilderness and was one of the pillars in this ministry. We will miss him. We had a great memorial service today and I am recuperating and contemplating. Will R (deacon Will) will be bringing the Word from God the next couple of Sunday’s. I am taking a bit of time to map out some more of our journey through Acts that is about to begin. Thanks to all those who helped with the funeral and dinner. And thanks to Will for giving me a breather.   WHB

JUDGE JESUS John 5:18-29

Posted on October 17, 2009 
Filed Under Pastor's Blog, Sermons

For modern times it is the unexpected reality of the historic Jesus. He is judge. Just call him, “Judge Jesus.” It is popular to refer to Jesus as Lord. But I wonder if that title has become more honorary than anything else. Kind of like the UK’s royalty. They may be rich, powerful and even inspirational (to some) but they aren’t really in control. No one actually fears them (at least in a political sense).

Then there is Jesus. In John 5 Jesus firmly aligns himself with God the Father. And he intimates that it is the Father who has bequeathed to him the function of judge. It is the voice of Jesus that calls you back from the dead, to a resurrection of life or a resurrection of judgment. No one can avert facing Jesus. He will find you. But he also loves you. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.” This is the belief in a crucified and risen savior/judge.

Jesus’ voice echoes the language of accountability. We answer to him. Our destiny is in his hands not our own. A sappy Jesus may be vogue but a dangerous Jesus is the biblical reality. We don’t need a philosophical, professor-like, mealy-mouthed, social justice jesus. We need a rugged Jesus who can carry the cross and the burden of our sin. Welcome to Judge Jesus, the Savior of sinners like you and me.           WHB

Life, Deserts and Instability

Posted on October 13, 2009 
Filed Under Announcements

Just a note to the body. Thanks for great feedback on Sunday’s homily “Takla Makan,” How to find God in the desert. Speaking of deserts, Terry our church secretary has been ill lately. That means a few things are not getting done. Fortunately we can live without them. Right now please be in prayer for Terry. A lot of you call the office looking for her, but she is not here. If you need something call Art (don’t tell him I said this) or you can try me. Who knows maybe I will be able to help you.             WHB

An Open Letter to the People of FCC

Posted on October 6, 2009 
Filed Under Pastor's Blog, Sermons

“God leads into the dark night those whom he desires to purify from all these imperfections so that he may bring them farther onward.” St. John of the Cross

Sunday’s always comin’.  Such is the life of the preacher. I put a lot of thought into sermon series. Not just preparing them but actually figuring out what they actually are. Sometimes they are germs of an idea that lingers for months and may even push into a year. Then like some seed you planted, left for dead and forgot about, suddenly blooms. At least that’s the  way it is with me and sermons.

Now mind you, this is not without rhyme or reason. I take seriously our need for a healthy dose of the whole text. That’s why we are in and out of the OT and the NT. Then there are those dreaded topics. People ask me, “have you thought about preaching on this or that?” Well as a matter of fact I have. The only problem is that  I don’t know much about “this or that.” About all I know is the text. Sometimes we are lucky enough to discover that “this or that” is in there. Unfortunately it is not enough to know the text. Sure I know it but I readily admit I often do not understand it. And more often than not I find living it even harder (Mama told me there’d be days like these, Mama said, Mama said). So preaching is part of my pain. James said not many should become teachers. That guy knew what he was talking about. So, I am often left wondering what will come out of my preaching. I wonder what will become of me.

For some time I have wanted to preach Acts. Somethings always held me back. For a number of years I taught Acts (history of the early church) at the collegiate level. When that gig dried up I started thinking about Acts in terms of worship and preaching rather than academics. For a while now I have known that I had to preach Acts. Little did I know that about the time I would finally relent and walk perilous paths with Paul I would be called upon to return to the classroom. It is just a bit ironic. My hesitancy has been twofold. First, I did not want to make the impression I was cheating. In my conflicted self I thought it heretical to be preaching and teaching the same text in different venues. Second, I’m scared to death of what I might say. Acts mind you is the only history we have of the early church. It is the story of her birth. And a turbulent one it was. You see it in its awkward infancy. Its vibrant (even rash) youth. Back when it was radical, rebellious, controversial and risky (kind or reminds me of my young son, Tristan). This is long before we became domesticated, institutionalized, muzzled and marginalized. It  was a time when image was nothing and the church had not sold its soul to a political party.

Perhaps some of the vintage feel of the early church will rub off on us. I expect the preaching will be perilous. I am almost certain to offend somebody along the way. As I assess my preaching over the last year I wonder if I have been a bit too soft (Olsteenish). To be honest I like the rough around the edges Bill. Who needs friends when I have Art Finch.

So, within the next month the journey begins. A journey into our past that we might discover our future. The quest to walk on holy ground and remain earth-bound. By divine perogative we are the body of Christ, salt of the earth, light of the world. The voice of the gospel of Christ crying out to a lost world, a barren landscape of the soul. May the fire of the Holy Spirit burn within us, even burn us.            WHB

Weekly Bulletin – October 4, 2009

Posted on October 1, 2009 
Filed Under Weekly Bulletin

The Lord’s Day!
Oct. 4, 2009
Welcome to our Church!

PREPARE TO WORSHIP
It is you alone, O Lord, who can give us the inner peace we need. Your presence can make us whole.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you are visiting us, please fill out a visitor’s card (available in the foyer) and drop it in the offering plate or hand it to an usher, as your contribution today. Thank you.

PRAISING GOD WITH SONG

GIVING TO GOD  Offering  /  SPECIAL MUSIC

(Children ages 4 -7 may be dismissed)

HEARING FROM GOD
Today’s Sermon

WORSHIPING GOD IN SONG

PLEASE STAY FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL NEXT!

TONIGHT: Baptism/Communion Service, 6:00 PM @ Steve Roe’s. From Route 7S (Corbettsville) to Route 29S (Montrose Drive) to Brookdale, turn right unto Rhiney Creek Road just past Snake Creek Fire Co. go approx. 1.5 miles, stay on the hard road, first large farm after rounding sharp corner. If you’re lost, call (570) 967-2750.

THIS WEEK :

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Congratulations go out to Pastor Justin & Annie Bleuer. They were blessed with the arrival of little Daisy Mae on Sept. 29.  She weighed in at 6 lbs 4 ozs and is 19 inches long.  You can send your best wishes to them @ 115 County Road 2 – Greene, NY  13778

Thanks for attending FIRST CHRISTIAN, please come again!