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April 3 Worship

3/28/2016

After Jesus' death many folks thought that he was gone for good. Imagine what was racing through the minds of his disciples following his crucifixion. Then, on that Sunday the women who went to the tomb and learning that Jesus was not in the tomb, they bring the message to Jesus; disciples. In essence, they would have stated: He is not in the tomb; he has risen.

This Sunday we come to the time when the risen Jesus appears to his disciples as they are behind locked doors. We have these words in our Gospel reading:

"When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord." John 20:19-20

Those disciples were hiding out of fear. Possibly they thought what happened to Jesus could also happen to them. But note that Jesus understood their fear and brought them a word of peace. Could anything greater have been said by him?

Think about your own life and what fears you might have to live fully as a disciple of Jesus. Are you in fear of what someone might say in response to you talking about Jesus? I believe we all tend to want to play it safe. Yes, we know we are saved and maybe we can be a good witness just by people seeing our attending church. However, we are called to more than that and to witness to our Lord wherever that might take us. Are you willing to do that?

I would ask you to meditate on these words from John's Gospel or you may read the entire reading which is John 20:19-31. May God's blessing be upon your worship this Sunday.

Pastor Marty

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March 27 Worship

3/21/2016

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This Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. How grateful we ought to be that after the arrest, trials, and crucifixion of Jesus, he would come alive through the power of God. He has conquered death.

The text for this Sunday is taken from 1 Corinthians 15:19-26. Let me say that Chapter 15 is the great chapter on the resurrection written by the apostle Paul. He lays out the importance and implications of this event for believers. Here are some excerpts from this chapter:

"If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied."
"Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death." 1 Cor. 15:29, 24-26

The resurrection brings us the conviction that there is life beyond the grave. How much we need to take this to heart when we realize that many of the things we may have hoped for in this life might not materialize. With faith in Christ, we can look forward to a future to be with Christ.

Notice here, too, in Paul's words that Christ is active today and will be involved as ruler until the end of time. He is one who will bring everything to a close and to a time when there will be no more death. It is all within his power and at the end of time he will hand over the kingdom to his heavenly Father.

In preparation for worship you may meditate on these words and reflect deeply on Christ's activity and also what it means for your life.

Pastor Marty

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March 20 Worship

3/14/2016

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This Sunday brings us to Palm./Passion Sunday. It is the time when Jesus makes his entry into the holy city. We have these words recorded for us from John's Gospel:

"The next day the huge crowd that had arrived for the Feast heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem. They broke off palm branches and went out to meet him. And they cheered: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God's name! Yes! the King of Israel! Jesus got a young donkey and rode it, just as the Scripture has it: 'No fear, Daughter Zion: See how your king comes, riding a donkey's colt.' The disciples didn't notice the fulfillment of many Scriptures at the time, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that what was written about him matched what was done to him." John 12:12-16 Message Bible

What is interesting here is that the disciples would come to see that Jesus is the fulfillment of what was spoken in the Scriptures. He fits the picture of the Messiah presented to us in the Bible.

In our worship we will have a guest speaker who will talk further about this fulfillment. He will also speak to us about the meaning of the Passover Meal which Jesus and his disciples would celebrate later in the week.

I would invite you to come for this special presentation and learn more about Jesus as being the promised Messiah. Each worshiper will also receive a palm branch to take home. Weather permitting, we will have an outdoor procession of the palms into the church at the beginning of the service.

Pastor Marty

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March 13 Worship

3/7/2016

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We come now to the end of the trials of Jesus before the authorities. Pilate and Herod have both found Jesus to be innocent. Pilate now is to have the last word, and it's his decision to release Jesus. However, as a crowd is present, there is the demand from them for Pilate to release Barabbas and have Jesus crucified. We have these words in our reading:

"I (Pilate) have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.' But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished." Luke 23:24-25

Pilate was challenged to make a strong decision and stand firm. He wanted to release Jesus and the chief priests, the leaders and the people wanted him to release Barabbas. Pilate would here give in to the crowd and release Barabbas - only to have Jesus crucified.

Have you ever had the time when you needed to stand firm in a decision you made? There can always be pressure around us. It can come from family or from our peers. If we feel we are doing right and it is in accord with what Christ would want for us, don't we need to stand firm?

Jesus who is innocent then suffers. I would also think that today there are many innocent folks who suffer - even under our present legal system. Would you be able to name such individuals?

I would have you contemplate this episode in the Passion narrative and how it might relate to your own life. The complete reading is Luke 23:13-15. May your contemplation and worship this Sunday be a blessing for you.

Pastor Marty

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April 3 Worship

March 27 Worship

March 20 Worship

March 13 Worship

I invite you to reflect on these words of Scripture in preparing for worship.

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