Announcements
Playground
Dedication—Sunday, March 24 @ 12:15. We'll also
have a hot dog social, so feel free to bring hot dog side items to
share! (Oh, and pray for sunshine!)
Potluck
Wednesday Night—Next
Wednesday @ 6:00
Community
Kitchen Spot
There are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God
and the community needs some help feeding them. If you would like to
help out, please bring the following items to church this Sunday &
put them in the grocery cart.
8 oz. Styrofoam bowls
Cooking Oil
Pasta (any)
Dry Milk
Black Pepper
New
Hope News
Sunday
School—This Sunday, the adult class will study
Galatians.
Easter
Schedule—Maundy Thursday, March 28 @ 6:30. Sunrise
Service: 6:45. Cantata @ 10:45
Pray For:
Christine
Dyer
The
new pope & the Catholic church
Those
nervously awaiting medical procedures and test results
Pray
for those who do not know Christ.
Links
Keith's
Random Thoughts
Not
long ago, I finished a wonderful little book on the origins of the
Oxford English Dictionary. I'd never given much thought to the
dictionary—it was one of those objects, like many others, that
exists with little recognition to the Herculean effort devoted to
bring it into existence. Who thought to make a list of all the words
in English, making sure to include rare as well as common words, and
then devote their life to defining these words, ensuring that every
possible meaning was covered? Simon Winchester covers this all in
The Meaning of Everything.
From
the outside, to take up such a task is impossible. Imagine being
told to list & define every word in English. You would be
drowning in possibility.
Yet,
such a task is possible, given the right system and the dedication of
people willing to make sure the task is completed.
When
we reflect on the current age and the perceived irrelevance of the
church in society by many, attempting to stem the flow from the pews
seems to be a similarly Herculean task. Many might be more willing
to tackle the dictionary project than the church project, because it
would seem simpler.
I
don't believe, however, that the future is filled with doom and
gloom. I believe there is great opportunity before us, and I believe
that there is hope, because in Christ, there is always hope. (He
wins, by the way!)
While
the task is sizable, the role for each and every Christian to play
fits them perfectly. Nothing more is asked of you than what you can
give, and you have the gifts available to perform your role to a tee.
All we have to do is pick up our tools and use them.
All
we have to do is focus on Christ, do our work to the best of our
abilities, and let Christ guide our vision so that we see, and love,
the people around us. (All of them. Not just the ones we like and
the ones that look like us.) In serving Christ with passion and
integrity and the people around us with humility and patience, we
will change the world. Society will be transformed, and you will
influence those around you. The Holy Spirit will use your passion
for Christ and your service to others to spread the Good News
throughout the land. I believe this in my heart of hearts—when the
church is focused on Christ and serving others, particularly the poor
and needy, the Word of God will flourish in and through us, and
others will come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.
May
we each play our part with energy, imagination and love, from the
frailest member of the smallest church in the most rural town in the
farthest country to the new pope in the heart of the Vatican, and may
others see our good works and give glory to God.
Text
for this Sunday
James
1:22-27
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive
themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they
are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at
themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were
like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty,
and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they
will be blessed in their doing.
If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but
deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is
pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for
orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained
by the world.
New
Hope on iTunes
Keith's
Blog
& Devotionals
for your Kindle
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