District Worship

I listened to Dr. David Jeremiah and fully intended on using the Mars Hill discourse for the sermon on the 27th. However, at District Worship today Rev. (Pat) Harbison used the text of Mary at the tomb on Easter (she preaches one sermon four times in the district each month and this was her 'after Easter' sermon) and said something that really resonated with me and hopefully with my congregation.

When Mary goes to get the disciples and the two follow her it says, 'he saw and believed'. We always have assumed he believed in the resurrection, he believed that Jesus did what he said he would do -- but what if he believed that Mary was right when she said someone had stolen the body!! How does that change our perspective of Easter morning? I think this is a very important subject to spend time with.

I also think that the Mars Hill text will preach on Ascension Sunday. So I'm going to put those notes away and work on the other text!

Also, I've written how the Kid's Club is falling apart between snow days and illnesses - well now we're dealing with school work and spring stuff. We won't be exploring 'coffee house church' tonight, but on the plus side I get a night off since Praise and Prayer was also cancelled due to lack of expected attendance. Jack and I spent the weekend outside enjoying the weather, so tonight I'd love to do some spring cleaning - the kitchen is very cluttered and needs a good scrubbing. But I'm thinking there'll be a push to go to the park on our bikes! (I might actually get in shape early this year - I bought a new bike - a woman's bike that you actually sit up on and I love it!)

update

I was just sitting here upset because my favorite blogs are not updated and thought -- well, neither is yours!!

I heard Dr. Jeremiah on Monday as we came home from praise and prayer - the only time I get to hear him and he was teaching on Paul's Mars Hill sermon which is the lectionary text for the next sermon I'm doing. So I listened to the entire message on line yesterday and got a few good points including the quotes from the Greek poets!

The Seder service on Monday only had one other youth in attendance. The others all either forgot and made other plans or had homework etc. But the five of us had a good time and the youth said she got a lot out of it. One of the other adult leaders (who was there two year's ago when I used the same Haggadah) said this time around she actually understood what was going on. So I feel God knew what he was doing (doesn't he always!) when he made the group so small.

I got distracted yesterday at my day job and forgot to check to see if one of my members was still in the hospital. She was -- and today I have my meeting with DCOM so I can't go see her. Hopefully, she will be released this afternoon - but that means I won't have visited her and I really should have. She is one of my hard cases.

If you are anywhere in Western PA, the weather is gorgeous. It's the first truly beautiful day. Yesterday was warm but windy so it didn't feel as nice. Today is just plain pleasant!!

3:16 finite

We finished the three part series on Max Lucado's book "3:16" and the congregation absolutely loved it. Using Max's cues I hit them pretty hard with looking inside themselves to make changes, to accept Christ and all that means, and then to be a beacon to others.

I ended the series encouraging them to take what they had learned and hopefully took into their hearts to share with others. I also encouraged them to read the book for themselves. Then I handed out copies of the "Simple Steps" booklet based on Bill Hybel's "Just Walk Across the Room" and told them it's not a step by step tool to evangelism, but Bill sharing with them how simply being a Christian can open doors to someone's salvation.

I meet with DCOM on Friday re my recertification and this will be the 'high point' that I have been asked to share. The low point is still ongoing and will not be shared here!!