Bob’s thoughts:
I recently came to the realization that something common to internally-focused churches is that there is seldom any signage. Today this observation was confirmed by a Deacon who complained that their former pastor of 12 years encouraged them to do outreach and they resisted. There seemed to be no sadness that a pastor with this much time invested in this church was gone.
This church possesses a very interesting exposed wood beam ceiling and a large cross on the rear wall of the Chancel. There seemed to be a problem with the microphone volume or placement: a strong solo was mostly lost in the piano and spoken parts from the lectern were in and out.
The sermon was presented by Jason Smith of Young Life, an organization founded in Ambridge to bring teens to Christ. His message was based on Luke’s account of a paraplegic being lowered down through the roof to Jesus, and the question of where do you draw the line? How far will you go for Christ? I thought this was a great question to be raised in this church. Why do we as followers of Christ seem to have such a problem when His power is discussed? We are free to call upon this power, but our faith is so dismal that we don’t.
I hope the interim coming is a strong leader who can awaken this church to Christ’s call for them.
I was disappointed that there was no mention of Memorial Day. Perhaps they are more internal than I thought.
Jan’s thoughts:
Very pretty church with a large parking lot across a small street. The facility is well cared for except for a noticeable lack of signage. The Sanctuary ceiling is intricate and impressive. The bulletin is user-friendly and informative.
The people were friendly both before and during worship. One Deacon took the time to talk with us, but after asking us a couple of questions proceeded to tell us details that, I thought, would have been better left unsaid.
It was nice to see a board with pictures and information honoring service people, but even on Memorial Day Sunday nothing was mentioned of the holiday.
Ohio Church has recently begun an interim period, and their new Interim Pastor, Rev. Eric Powell, is scheduled to begin his ministry here July 1.
The message was given by Jason Smith, and much of it revolved around his work with Young Life. The Scripture was Luke 5:17-26, the story of the paralyzed man whose friends lowered him through the ceiling so he could see Jesus. Jason tied it in with a young man, Shane, whom the congregation knew and for whom they had prayed following an accident that left him with severe burns over much of his body. Shane was a new Christian who, following much healing, went to Young Life camp with his friends. However his inability to walk (much less run) with his friends interfered with the joy of this experience, so his friends took turns carrying Shane on their backs as they ran. Obviously an easy leap to the story in the Scripture.
Neither set of friends “drew lines” in their willingness to help the paralytic or Shane experience life, and Jesus doesn’t draw lines either. He simply asks for our child-like faith.
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