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Pastor's Study
Each month this little article will appear as a spiritual blessing and lift for you to consider.
May these faith-like seeds take hold, root and grow in your life.
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"Bless You Forward"
In God's Name 2012
Lose weight, organize my life, walk more, or budget my income, the list is endless this time of year as we make New Year's resolutions. I have one for your church family - it comes from Jesus in Matthew: "The king will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me". Bless others, and you shall "bless it forward".
As we enter this New Year, I look back and recall the places the Lord has taken this congregation, and I am amazed at the level of activity and faithfulness for this size of a congregation. We have baked sugar cakes for missions, served luncheons for missions, collected shoes and funds for Sole Purpose, and helped with financial drives for the Tesh’s at our adopted Kenya orphanage. As I gaze back, I think of the coats collected for children, the food drives, the toy drives, the work at Harbor House, the pillows and prayer shawls given out, the mission trips to Bethlehem for music, Doc Scott and Lorrigan to Ahuas Clinic in Honduras, the Senior High trip to New York City for aid, volunteers working at Camp Bethany, and the money spent on our mission benevolent giving, and I cannot believe how blessed we are!
The Journey, (the Senior High program under the leadership of Bev and Todd Handrich, Brianne and Brent Yackey, Russ and Amy Korns, Edie Armstrong, Mel Cronebach, and Julie Burrell), have pegged the third Sunday of the month as "Pay It Forward" night. That night the youth will always step out into mission - to our neighbors, members and strangers in a variety of places and ways to be a blessing to them, while they model good Christian behavior and a newly developing passion for mission, which spreads throughout the congregation.
Join us as we explore new ways to embrace Jesus' message: "The king will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:40) Our Lord and this congregation need your time, talent and treasure to craft this outreach ministry. Help us to "Bless You Forward" in God's name for 2012.
Pastor John
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