ROCKBURN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PRAYERS AND CONCERNS. REACHING OUT...PERSONAL GROWTH...COMMUNICATE
  • Welcome
    • A bit of history
  • What's up!
  • Praises and prayers...
    • Harley Bye
    • Nelson Weippert : celebration of his life
    • God's gifts
    • Slide show
    • Chenaniah, Rockburn Carolers
  • Youth
  • Services, recap and more...
  • Reach us!
  • Newsletters



Services, recap and more... 

February 24th, 2013

2/24/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
                                                                                                                                                                                              
CALL AND RESPONSE:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ONE; We come, trusting in God's mercy and love,  longing to know more about God's ways.                                                  

ALL: We come, to be guided in the ways of God's truth, to experience the joy of God's salvation.

ONE: We come, in the middle of our Lenten journey, aware of God's steadfast love helping us to Overcome the trials and temptations we constantly face                            


ALL: Lead us, 0 God, to do what is right in Your eyes and teach us to follow the humble way of Christ, Your Beloved Son, our crucified and risen Lord.


OPENING PRAYER:


All knowing and all caring God, we gather this daydrained by another week. We are like a parched desert, empty and in need of replenishment. Visit us with Your Presence, saturate us with Your Spirit, and bathe us in Your streams of living water, that our lives might acknowledge and worship You to Your promise and honour.


Jesus, Lamb of God, when You walked this earth You did not consider Heavenly equality, though that was Yours to choose, but took the role of servant, and in humility and obedience allowed the rough nails of our sin to be hammered into Your flesh for the sake of salvation. Forgive those things we have done which have caused You sadness, and those things we should have done that would have brought You joy. Lord. Grant us simplicity of faith and a generosity of service that gives without counting the cost. Bring us back to that place where our journey began, when we said we would follow the way.  You first trod. Lead us to the Cross and meet us there.


OFFERTORY PRAYER:


Dear Lord, whose promise is rock solid; we offer our lives and these signs of our daily living, not simply that bread might fill empty stomachs, but that, through the working of Your Holy Spirit, empty lives may be filled, friendless lonely lives find meaningful relationships and depressed lives given hope. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen


_____________________________________________________________________________________




ONE PERSON'S GETHSEMANE By Nancy Campbell


We have entered the Lenten season both as a believing community and as followers of Christ. The Lent we observe is Christ centered and is a time of deepening our faith in Him. Lent is a time to listen to the voice of the conscience and to the whispering of the Spirit in the depth of our heart. Lent is a time to be oriented to God.


A Canadian, from Ontario, Catherine Fournier, is an author of short Christian stories. The following is one of her Lent and Easter series, called "I Will If I Have To, But Please Don't Ask Me." 



It was a very ordinary early spring morning. The sun was shining, ice was beginning to melt off the roof, birds were beginning to sing again, but I was not having a good. For one thing, my son, Robert, was in the living room watching “Return of the Jedi” for 57th time. I thought I'd scream.              .


I'd been in my office all searching for a manuscript. The only copy of a story now lost. I worried away the night about it and went through my morning routine with more than half my mind on the chaos of paper in the office. At 11:30, I finally admitted defeat and climbed into the shower. The phone rang. I thought about screaming.


It was my husband, Peter. His calling in the middle of the day had become unusual. His recent promotion to a managerial position and 2 business trips in the last month had swallowed up his free time, and much of our weekends, too. I missed the moment to moment contact that is so important between spouses, but we had carefully considered this promotion and were confident that the workload would reduce to manageable proportions within a year. Peter felt guilty enough being away from his family so much, I thought I shouldn't increase his guilt by saying that I found it difficult without him. I let him take care of himself and his workload, while I ran the house and took care of the family.


So, even though I was dripping wet with shampoo running down my face, I was glad he called. The background noises are unusual; I thought in the instant before he spoke, is he calling from a meeting I don't know about? HI, Cat, he said. Do you know where I am? His voice was curiously flat and hurt. Should I know where he is? I wondered. Was I supposed to meet him? No, you sound like you're in a lobby somewhere, what's up? I asked.


I'm at the hospital, he said, voice still flat and expressionless; they think I've had a heart attack.


A great ringing silence suddenly descended over some vital portion of my brain. The sun is shining, water is running down my back, Han Solo is yelling at Chewbacca, and my husband has jus told me the he may be near death. Don't sound upset; I think, he needs me not to be upset. Where are you? I asked, in the same seriously flat unemotional tone he used.


The Queensway Carleton. Look, I have to go now, he answered, with a slight quaver. The phone rattled, I heard the rustle of clothing, then a nurse's voice; Are you finished now, Mr Fournier? Can I help you back? And the phone line cut off. Now I am frightened.


My husband,  no, my life, my world, who has always been so strong, capable and dependable, is suddenly so sick, he needs a nurse's help to get up from a chair. Be calm, cope, be calm, cope. No, I can't, I need help.

Who can I turn to?


I called a friend and shook and cried. She said she would drive out to Arnprior, and drive me to the hospital. I called another friend, shook and cried again. She offered to take the kids for as long as necessary. I called the school, managed not to cry, arranged for the kids to go to my friend’s home from home. Have I thought 
of everything? .. 


No. I called my minister, shook and cried, blurted out what I was trying not to think, He can't die! He can't leave me now. I asked for prayers, and asked that the word be spread for prayers. What next?


Still dazed and numb, my mind moved so slowly. Moving automatically, I packed the children's pyjamas and clothes, dressed Robert, dressed myself. One thing at a time. I got into the car to drop Robert and Bags of clothes at my friend's house. I drove for a long time before my brain caught up with my body. Only then, did I think of praying myself. I began, automatically, Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy will be done…


Thy will be done, Lord? Even this? My life is in Your hands, Lord, and so is Peter's. I know that. No buts. I can't beg you to spare his life. If You want him now, I can't argue. Can you really ask me to live the rest of my life without Peter? Do You really think I can? I don't. God, I will if I have to, but please don't ask me to. Is this how Christ felt?


There are moments in everyone's life remembered forever with great clarity. I remember grasping the concept of reading, I remember the moment I knew I loved Peter, I remember the first step of my conversion when I recognized my own sinfulness, and I remember my 'Gethsemane Moment.' It seemed to be endless. In a sense, it is.


I was terrible afraid, afraid for myself, afraid for the children (I wouldn't raise them very well on my own), afraid Peter would die before I could get to him, that we wouldn't have a chance to say Goodbye, see you later. I wasn't afraid for Peter, there was nothing to be afraid of for him.
I was in incredible pain, the indescribable pain of heartbreak and loss. I could hardly breathe. This man had been part of my life since I was 15 years old, my friend, my mentor, my helpmate, my love. How could I go on with my heart and my right arm missing? I also felt ashamed. I have been so busy with the house, with the children, with feeling lonely and sorry for myself, that I hadn't seen anything wrong with Pater. How could I love him and not see this coming? How could I have neglected him and taken him for granted so? I just always thought he'd be there. Had Peter gotten sick because I had relied on him past his endurance? Had I made Peter the centre of my life instead of God? What a terrible burden to lay on him. Was this why God was taking him from me?


Yet, I was calm, calm that whatever happened was meant to happen, that whatever happened all I had to do was the next thing. Even if the next thing is .... ? In the years since my conversion to Christianity, God has taught me over and over again that my life is not in my control. Car accidents, children's illnesses, financial chaos, family problems, each time I have only found peacefulness when I handed over portions of my life into God's Hands. You want the kids? Well, they are Your children after all. OK God, I place my children in Your hands. You can see the whole picture, Lord, I can't. I'll trust that our money will turn out all right. But I always, even when I didn't realize that I was doing so, kept part of myself back. Out of fear, I guess, at what might happen if I let God make the decisions. Who knew what He might ask me to accept? This, for one thing.


I learned that day that control of your life is an illusion. What I thought of as control was a white knuckled grip on something too large for me to grasp. Only God's hands are strong enough to steer a safe course. Nothing and no one could always be there except God. Nothing and no one could take care of me and love me forever except God. Only at that moment, when I recognized the illusion of control I had been maintaining, the assumptions I had been making, could I finally and truly place all of my life, all of myself, all my hopes, prayers, plans, everything into God's hands, trusting His guidance and grace.


Before this Gethsemane moment, this moment of:
I will, Lord, if you ask it of me. But if you can, please don't ask me.


Yes, before the Gethsemane moment, trust of God seemed a perilous and risky thing. But at that moment of choice and surrender and since, I have found that trust III God and all He promises is the only certain thing in an uncertain life. I'm sure that everyone has such moments in their life. Maybe there are many moments in every life, or maybe every moment is the moment. It does seem to me though, that facing a moment of clear and unavoidable choice is inevitable. Life is so full of choices, mishap, adventure, love, or intellect will eventually lead us to the only real choice, to accept or reject the reality of God's Will in our life.


As you may have guessed, Peter didn't die. He hadn't had a heart attack after all. It was stress and overwork that caused the similar symptoms. It took nearly a year for his full recovery, a year of adjustment for both of us. We both needed to learn to admit that we couldn't do it all, to give up to the illusion of control and give our lives over to God. And to rely on each other-the spouse and the helpmate God had given us.



BENEDICTION:
Lord, help us to keep our feet moving, our hands outstretched, and our hearts open to You. As we journey towards the Cross this Lenten season, keep us from temptation and help us to do Your Word in our world.



0 Comments

"The Truth"  With Kevin Harvey

2/17/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
John 14:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. ...Declared Jesus.



Today's message is on " Truth"
  1. Truth claims
  2. True God
  3. Scripture

  • Can we know the Truth?
  • For, against?
  • What difference does it make?  
  • Does it matter?
  • Can truth be twisted? 
  • How must Truth be conveyed? Mercy Lord rightly deviding.
  • Can we love the Truth?
  • Conversley can we despize the Truth?
  • What is the purpose of Truth?
  • Finally What is Truth? i.e. Who? Only found in the Devine

John 18:37-38 New King James Version (NKJV)

37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.



According to this passage, Jesus answers Who, What He is. Why he was borm.

Now you and I all have to decide what to do with Jesus claims.

But first, let us examine the scriptural definition of "Truth".

And lets contrast it with Today's Post modern View of "Truth"



  1. Truth Claims
Scriptural View 

God


1 God : Personel, 
He reveals himself
He is loving, Just, Righteous
Modern View

God


Many Gods
No God
Can't know Him
He's not involved

He's Creator
Purpose to his creations
One True God
Evolution, Chance
No purpose, 
Survival of the Fittest.


Jesus
Son of God, Devine, 
Sinless, Virgin Born
Miracles, Redeemer
Saviour
Rose from the dead
Coming again
Jesus
Man Only, Just a Good man
No miracles
Maybe Lord Kids,  got married


Man
Created in God's image
Fallen creature in need of a saviour
Basically sinfull.

Man
Evolved from the primortal ooza
Master of his Fate
Basically good.
What is the Truth?


Pilate asked a very important question in John 18:37-38(see above)


Here Christ reveals 3 things concerning himself and the Truth 
  1. Kingship
  2. Testify



Pilate ? What is Truth?
First let us examine some of the truth out there.


Lets look at what the scriptures have said about the Truth
also Science and Reasonning and Philosophy
  • Truth is a concept
  • Empirical Truth vs Theorical assumption
  • Evidences that support a given Theory , for , against.


Biblical Claims

One true God.



Jeremiah 10:10-11 New King James Version (NKJV)

10 But the Lord is the true God;
He is the living God and the everlasting King.
At His wrath the earth will tremble,
And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.

11 Thus you shall say to them: “The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.”



John 17:3 New King James Version (NKJV)

3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent



I realize this is not a Popular Statement. 
It is exclusive, its not excepting of other "Truth Claims"


I will attemp to argue for and against...


Problems:  
  • If God is the one True God" then logically all others are false
  • Not all paths lead to Heaven
  • It requires a response from us
  • Submit to it or reject it



Truth can be twisted


2 Timothy 2:15 New King James Version (NKJV)

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.



God loves you so much, it does not  matter how you live *or* God is a vengefull God, so better not be bad. *or worse* Cult scenario


Trust must be tempered with Mercy i.e. Love


Psalm 85:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

10 Lovingkindness and [a]truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.


Proverbs 3:3  New American Standard Bible (NASB)


3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.



Speak Truth in Love 

Ephesians 4:14-16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)


14 [a]As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness [b]in deceitful scheming; 



15 but [c]speaking the truth in love, [d]we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 


16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together [e]by what every joint supplies, according to the[f]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.


Truth is found in God's Word.


Psalm 119:160New American Standard Bible (NASB)

160 The sum of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.



Psalm 119:142 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.



Truth sanctifies us 


John 17:13-21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Disciples in the World13 But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them [a]from [b]the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctifiedin truth.

20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us,so that the world may [c]believe that You sent Me.



Truth sets us free 


John 8:31-32 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Truth Will Make You Free

31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”


Worship in Spirit and Truth


John 4:23-24 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

23 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 God is [a]spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”



Finally Truth is a person


John 14:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.



John 3:16-21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the [b]only begotten Son of God. 19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”



...........................................................
C.S. Lewis in his book  "Mere Christianity"  concerning Christ Truth Claims , concluded : he is either speaking  Truth, or He is a liar or deranged lunatic. He cannot be both. We either Worship him or Reject him.
He cannot be a "Good man" only.


So my question is this.


What have you done with Jesus and His Claims?


God is a Personel God in His Son. And we must all come to terms with Him personnally.


May God Bless you, May God Keep you and May God make his Face Shine upon you.

 

0 Comments

LENT I/Valentine’s

2/17/2013

0 Comments

 
PROCESSIONAL     The Rockburn Caroler’s  -  “Amazing Grace”




CALL & RESPONSE:  First Sunday in Lent – The Journey Begins




OPENING HYMN:    # 291   “Those Whose Almighty Word”


THE ROCKBURN CAROLER’S -                   (Mary’s Songbook)

                                                                # 17    “I’ll Fly Away”

                                                 # 7    “He’s Got the Whole World”

                                                   # 20      “Morning Has Broken”





INVOCATION & the LORD”S PRAYER:  


OPENING PRAYER

With all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we praise you, Lord. But this is only possible through your presence in us, by your grace. Otherwise, we are easily distracted, diverted away from where you wish us to be, distanced from your calling, lost in our current situations. Forgive us our lack of attention to your Word, our failure to seek and find what we need from the source of all our joy. Help us to repent, to turn in the right direction this very moment, that we may fulfill your commandment to love our neighbours as ourselves. May we indeed worship you today with all our heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen   Let us now join together in unison in saying the prayer you taught us to pray……OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN……

OFFERTORY PRAYER

God of deliverance, you led your chosen people long ago out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land. Your people rejoiced and worshipped you with the first fruits of their labours. Their contributions were a symbol of devotion to your mighty presence in their lives and in the lives of following generations. Guide our gifts so that they may be multiplied to help those still languishing in the wilderness of uncertainty. Help our giving to inspire others as they journey toward the promise of Eternal Life. Through, your holy son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen



PASTORAL PRAYER

DEAR LORD: Open our eyes to the wonders around us in the created world and in the human community. Enable us to see your artistry in the curved stem of the tender sprout, in the red patch on the blackbird’s wing, and in the dance of light on the surface of the stream. Help us see your spirit at work where people have learned to love in spite of the obstacles of race, class, age and culture; where kindness is done in secret and without the expectation of reward; and where people who have the power to exact revenge choose instead to offer forgiveness and pursue reconciliation. As we remember so many of the ways in which we are blessed, we also are aware of the ways in which we and others still suffer. The world is a broken place, polluted, filled with violence and injustice, fear and famine, sorrow and sickness. We pray for those who live where hatred is flourishing, fueled by political and religious differences. We pray for those whose lives have been devastated by disasters, whose patience is wearing thin as they wait for relief. We pray for those called to leadership and those who bear the responsibility to see that those in need are helped. We pray for those who work in dangerous and unpleasant places to bring aid to others who have nowhere else to go. Now, Lord, guide us into to the rich storehouse of your Word and help us find there the wisdom
we need to live faithfully and the courage we need to follow you wherever you lead us. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.





 HYMN:       # 28      “I saw the Light”      (Mary’s Songbook)






SERMON:                “What is Truth?”    

The sermon will be added  soon.....please come back again!





THE ROCKBURN CAROLER’S             “Kum Bah Yah”

                                                               “Daisy, Daisy”

                                                   “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”

BENEDICTION & sung “AMEN”



0 Comments

February 10th, 2013

2/10/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
MYSTIC ENCOUNTERS by Nelson Weippert

                   MARK  9: 2-9                       



Mark 9:2-9New International Version (NIV)


The Transfiguration2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white,whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.





                                                                                               

THE SNAKE LINE:             I wonder how many of you have heard of the SNAKE LINE.

           

 Naturalists tell of an invisible line—real. Definite and fixed at a given altitude above sea level—known as the  “snake line.”  

          Certain mountainous areas in New England one of the first questions of a perspective purchaser of the farm is likely to be: is this farm above the snake line? 

 

 Below that line an unsuspected child or an unwary adult they fall victim to one of these deadly reptiles: above the line, they may move about in untroubled security.

So it seems that security is purely a matter of altitude: pitch camp below the snake line and invite possible disaster; pitched camp above the snake line and be safe!

What struck me about this scripture lesson is that everyone wants to stay above the SNAKE LINE. You’ll get my drift as we more along in the story.

THE TRANSFIGURATION: It has been eight days since Jesus announced that he must suffer and die --totally confusing and unsettling reality for the disciples.

   

 So Jesus invites three of his disciples to go with him to the mountaintop-- up away from the daily distractions--up a way to the mountaintop-- always a place in the history of human yearning where God can be found…………….I place far above the Snake Line.

On the mountaintop Jesus prays, but the disciples , as usual  begin to fall asleep.   Then, something happens:

Jesus begins to glow –an intense light bathes his body-- his face – and his clothing.

And whose there with him Moses and Elijah,  two historical giants talking with Jesus affirming that Jesus is also God’s person.

Maybe they were talking about Jesus continuing and completing the tasks of the great prophet Elijah, and behind him, the greatest prophet of old, Moses himself.

                                     

 Maybe, it’s a good idea to take a few minutes to recall Moses’ and Elijah’s mountain top experiences, It gives more meaning to Mark’s drawing them into the “Transfiguration.” Story.

WE READ IN EXODUS, “Then Moses went up on the mountain and the cloud covered the mountain.   --Moses entered the cloud and stayed for 40 days 40 nights.

--The people got alarmed when Moses  stayed so long.

 --It seems that Moses enjoyed his communion with God  

-- finally we read, the Lord said to Moses “Go down at once to your people.”

--Moses brought the Ten Commandments down to the people.

 -- the skin on his face glowed because he had been speaking with God.

--All the Israelites saw his radiant face and were afraid to get close to him.  ---he placed a veil over his face. We discover that Moses didn`t want to go down to his people who had started worshipping a golden calf when he left them. He wanted to stay safe and secure above the Snake Line.

                                      *******

The Hebrew scriptures tell us:

Whose God could send fire –baal or God of Elijah.

--   Elijah’s God of Israel won.

--Now Elijah was fleeing for his life.

-- he climbs Mount Horeb, to meet with God.    

The Lord said to him,  “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” There Elijah witnessed a great wind-- an earthquake-- a great fire--but no words from the Lord. After  that  sheer SILENCE

-- out of  silence the voice of God said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

--Elijah not wanting to leave the mountain,

-- explained to God, that the Israelites had forsaken God’s covenant--thrown over your altars--killed your prophets and now they are going to kill me!

-- God said to Elijah, “Go, return to the wilderness of Damascus and be with my people.”

Elijah just like Moses wanted to stay safe with God on the mountain—above the Snake Line.

All of this mysterious activity, Moses and Elijah talking and Jesus glowing, finally startled the disciples out of their sleep.

 *Indeed we must wonder if God didn't and doesn't do such spectacular things just to make us wake up. 

*And what did the disciples do?  What do we do when something mysterious happens ? We immediately try to make sense of the experience-- to categorize it-- to nail that down-- to make it fit--to make it permanent.

Witnessing this Mystic Encounter, Peter suggests that they built three houses to captured the moment. ………..            But God will have none of it!

God speaks, “ you blockheads you're missing the point”. 

I’ve let you see this spectacular display, to show that Jesus is my beloved son and you are to listen to him.

Is it just like us- to respond like Peter -- stay on the mountain -- we don't need to go down to that society bent on greed-- exploitation and deception. All we want is to stay above the “Snake Line”.

 Mark is telling us we must go down from the mountain to our homes and our communities, it`s in our daily lives where we will have Mystic encounters with God   

Listen to what Martin Luther King Jr. wrote of his mountaintop experience:

“I must confess that I have enjoyed being on this mountaintop and I am tempted to want to stay here and retreat to a more quiet and serene life.  But something within reminds me that the valley calls me in spite of all its agonies, dangers and frustrating moments I must return to the valley.``   

YOU MIGHT ASK HOW WILL YOU AND I RECOGNIZE A SPECIAL TRANSFORMING MOMENT? 

Will we see bright lights?  Will I hear a blast of trumpets?  Or will I feel peace and tranquility.  I sure many of you here this morning have experienced a “transforming moment.”

We can meet Jesus in a million different places and as a result be changed; because such encounters shaped and change us.     

When we see with eyes of faith, the ordinary can be the source of transforming experience. 

SUSAN ANDREWS Here is an example of what I mean.  Susan Andrews, a Presbyterian minister, writes of her summer of clinical pastoral education.

  

 *a surgical medical ward- not only mentally ill-- recovering from major surgery-- or life threatening illnesses.   

 *most of these patients were poor--black--and victims of addictive behavior and I found myself in a wilderness that terrified me.

*One day, there was a new patient-- a man in isolation-- all alone in a room, hanging between life and death-- both legs amputated-- but with gangrene still creeping through his body.   

* smell the stench of his decay even before you entered the room and he moaned and sweated in a miserable delirium-- nauseated by his disease   

*What could I a naïve, 25-year-old white woman -possibly do or say to ease this man's suffering?

*For that matter what could God do?  And where was God in the midst of all this misery?

* I walked into the room, took his hand and found myself repeating the words of the Lord's prayer.  And that's when it happened.

* That's when the holy he broke into the human

*--- when God took over and grace flowed through me- stop moaning-- his eyes stopped rolling--his body stopped shaking.

* He turned to look at me and then started repeating the words of the Lord's prayer with me.    time just stood still. 

*There was, in the room a peace that passes all understanding.

* A few minutes later, the man's suffering ended.  He died, finding his own peace at last

She continues I can't explain that moment to you anymore than I can explain the Transfiguration, any more than I can explain to you why Moses’ his face shone every time he talked to God. 

But it was for me and for that nameless, miserable man, A HOLY MOMENT --A TRANSFORMING MOMENT, and I have  rarely  doubted of the existence of God or the power of prayer since.

                                      ************

To be TRANSFORMED!  Isn’t that the goal of discipleship?

          -Isn’t it the vision toward which God is calling us, each of us:

                   you, me, and those in our community who we serve and minister?It is our hope that we will come to shine so brightly with the glory of God that we cannot disguise it or cover it or hide it?         AMEN

God, the light of your love is shining!  We thank you that in all our experiences of life, in the valleys of difficulties and despair, as well as mountaintop moments of joy and delight, you are with us. We thank you for the promise of Scripture, shown in the life of Christ, that we too, will be transformed as we grow into the likeness of Christ.  We claim the privilege that is ours to continue his ministry, powered by the Holy Spirit, called to make positive changes in the world around us.  May the light of Christ shine in us and through us, wherever we are and whatever we are doing. Amen

OFFERTORY PRAYER:

All come into mountaintop experience he proclaimed your glory in Jesus and because of that and now proclaim presence of Christ in the world.  With our words and actions, by our living and our giving, we want to share your love that transforms our own lives and the world around us.  Guide these gifts to be used to show your glory in ministries of caring and compassion. We ask this in Jesus name.  Amen  


Picture
Picture
0 Comments

A new command I give you with John Schulman

2/3/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Mr Schulman's sermon not available at this time
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments
    Please respect the work of all those who generously prepare texts and services for our Church.
    ​Do not copy without their authorization.
    Picture

    Previously:

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Welcome
    • A bit of history
  • What's up!
  • Praises and prayers...
    • Harley Bye
    • Nelson Weippert : celebration of his life
    • God's gifts
    • Slide show
    • Chenaniah, Rockburn Carolers
  • Youth
  • Services, recap and more...
  • Reach us!
  • Newsletters