First Baptist Church of New Castle

Today we worshiped at First Baptist Church of New Castle, 984 W. Maitland Lane, New Castle, PA 16105, 724.658.2507, www.fbcnc.org, Mike Willmer, Lead Pastor.

 

Scripture – Matthew 28:16-20 NIV

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

Bob’s thoughts:

It took most of an hour to find the church we set out to visit and after discovering a conflicting name and GPS directions, we arrived at a church that was closed. Later we found it wasn’t the one we were looking for, or at least it wasn’t any more. Sometimes trusting church websites and GPS can make for interesting road trips.

During our search, we had passed this church and noticed cars in the parking lot. The service was outside with seating or in your car drive-in style; since we didn’t bring chairs, we opted to sit in the car. As it was, I got to talk to a delightful woman in the next car who answered my questions about the church, not the least of which was the name of the church to put on our check.

The church service was broadcast on FM, but we found we could hear well without it.

The outreach pastor gave the announcements, including an OK to use the restrooms in the main building and asked everyone to wear masks if we did.

I found some ushers in the parking lot where I could get bulletins and directions where to put our tithe.

The outreach pastor explained that they were completing their involvement in the Philippines and turning that mission over to City Church. Their new evangelical effort will be in Scotland; from what I have read a country where faith has all but disappeared.

The message today was from Matthew, Christ telling the disciples and others to go and make disciples of all mankind. You may not be called to a developing country to witness, but could be a nearby town, your street, the person sitting next to you in church. Evangelism is simply telling your story. Pray about it of course, but no need to rehearse a dialog beforehand. Tell your story…God will fill in the blanks.

I noticed the people trying to hold on to their Bibles and notebooks in the wind, but they were still focused on the message.

I was glad to be able to spend a few minutes with the pastor after the service.

My wife recently replaced her car and we are not as familiar with the range of this one. We ran out of gas somewhere on the turnpike, but with prayer we drove on to Cranberry to fill the tank with more than it’s supposed to hold. God has done things like this too many times for me to be surprised, just grateful.

 

Jan’s thoughts:

God still is in the business of redirecting us. Today we headed north for a church for which we later learned we had an incorrect address. However, we’d noticed this church in our driving around, and the timing was perfect, so we stayed.

This was our first parking lot worship service where we stayed in our car and tuned the radio to listen and it worked just fine. Many people sat in chairs closer to the front platform. The sound was excellent and the weather perfect.

Bob enjoyed a conversation with the woman in the car next to us who was there with her granddaughter, and a young man who was also visiting spoke with us briefly after the service.

Announcements included changes in plans for outreach, and one focuses on 20 Schemes, a Gospel church planting initiative taking place in Scotland where only 2.5% of the population is Christian. It’s an interesting project, and you can learn more by going to 20schemes.com.

Today’s message completed a 60-week series on the Book of Matthew and included the Great Commission. The pastor pointed out that this passage emphasizes three “all’s”: Jesus said ALL authority was given to Him, the apostles (and we) were commanded to go to ALL nations, and that He would be with us ALWAYS in going, baptizing, and teaching.

He addressed a current practice by many churches: events-based evangelism. This is where a church sponsors an event, invites the community, and provides an opportunity to talk about Jesus. He stated this method is not sinful, just misguided, because it lets the members “off the hook” and puts the pressure on the “professionals” to do all the talking. It counts on people coming to the church when Jesus’ command was to go to the people.

Baptizing and teaching are vital parts of the equation and to be included as well. He urged everyone to make disciples, do the necessary follow-up to help new disciples grow in their faith, and remember that Jesus promised to be with His people ALWAYS, even when we’re afraid we are.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we thank You for being faithful even when we are not. We pray strength for Your church that they may eagerly go forth in the promise of Your Presence. Amen.

Park United Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Park United Presbyterian Church, 109 West Grandview Avenue, Zelienople, PA 16063, 724.452.9570, www.parkup.org, Rev. Jon Nelson, Pastor.

 

Scripture – Luke 15:11-32 NIV

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

“ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

 

Bob’s thoughts:

We arrived close to start time, but even if we had been, early the current restrictions don’t allow much for socializing. We were greeted by the ushers, a woman in the pew behind us, and another woman and a gentleman after worship.

The church will be going back to two services in separate spaces to allow for cleaning and preparation.

I don’t know when we last visited here, but we were looking forward to hearing the new minister.

I’m sure the service was available online, but it was a first for me that the children’s message was delivered and posted online before the worship service. The pastor sang and played guitar for a song from their message, a parody of Puff, the Magic Dragon.

I loved the duet from two women of the church; their voices blended perfectly.

I think this is the first time I’ve heard a pastor correctly refer to Christ’s parable as the Two Lost Sons. Another thought-provoking concept was how this would be received by different cultures, and maybe a step more, how it is received now. The sons’ actions, the father’s response, and maybe complicate it just a little more by our judgmental attitudes. This is how we come to Christ, deserving nothing, yet we are welcomed with open arms.

It gave me pause to think about growing up with three brothers, and then our five children, I wonder how much any of us ever understood about each other.

A reference from the message that appealed to me was a book: What Do They Hear? Bridging the Gap Between Pulpit and Pew.

We appreciate the time the pastor spent with us after the service.

 

 Jan’s thoughts:

Since it was on the cool side this morning, we located a church with an indoor service. Even with parishioners sitting at least 6 feet apart, masks were required throughout the service. Like most others, this church has an online viewing option and sermons are posted on the website. 

A few people welcomed us from a distance and there was no handshaking.

The pastor announced that on October 4 they will return to two services, albeit in separate portions of the building. It has not been decided when Sunday School will resume.

The pastor presented the children’s sermon in which he played guitar and sang an imaginative parody called Muff, the Tragic Wagon.

I enjoyed the voices of the two women who sang the anthem.

The current sermon series focuses on Jesus’ parables, and today’s was about the Prodigal Son. The pastor acknowledged this parable actually told of two prodigal sons, as both sons were lost and in need of forgiveness.

He spoke of an interesting book, What Do They Hear? Bridging the Gap Between Pulpit and Pew by Mark Allan Powell. It examines the cultural filters through which people understand Scripture. When Americans were asked the meaning of this parable, they said it was a story about right versus wrong. Because of their familiarity with famines, Russians pointed to that aspect of the story. Africans viewed it through the lens of community and social obligation. I find it fascinating that there are so many potential interpretations of this parable.

The pastor stated that, within families, some kids need more attention, care, and direction than others, but God loves us all, not just the prodigal. God’s love can seem unfair, but it can transform us when we understand.

He closed by asking where we might be lost within our lives and faith and admonished people not to stay outside and miss the party.

We appreciated the time the pastor took for (masked) conversation following the service.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, may the brotherhood and sisterhood of Your church uphold and lift each other up to You. Amen.

Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church, 100 W. Main Street, (mailing address: PO Box 466), Saxonburg, PA 16056, 724.352.2888, www.saxonburg.org, Rev. Douglas M. Dorsey, Senior Pastor.

 

Scripture – Acts 2:1-13 NIV

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

 

Bob’s thoughts:

I was looking forward to seeing the pastor but with all the restrictions on churches, I wasn’t sure what to expect otherwise. You would think by now I would be better at recognizing God’s leading; He doesn’t drag me to church, just gently nudges.

The sanctuary has a giant cross over a round window with flowers and butterflies at the base, making a perfect focal point.

We got to greet the pastor before the service. They did have three services but are down to one service with about 50 worshipers.

The small praise band sounded terrific leading the congregation; I think maybe the masks muffled the church’s singing.

The children stayed in their seats for their message, which was well done. She asked in the course of her message what synonym would reflect for your thought of being redeemed by Christ. My strong sense was rescued from my life of sin. The message about Fanny Crosby, who had written some 9,000 poems/hymns, a line from her song: “I sing because I cannot be silent.” With all her accomplishments while being blind, what mattered to her was that when she got to heaven, Christ’s face would be the first one she saw.

The message was divinely directed for the pastor, for the church, and for us. The first Pentecost was the giving of the Spirit dwelling in us. With all that has changed in the church, this is the very message we all need right now. Invite the Holy Spirit in and you won’t recognize this church; this is the perfect time for the fire to return. Surviving is not enough – God is calling you now!

 

Jan’s thoughts:

We searched for a church with an indoor, in-person service and landed at Saxonburg.

In the 10 years since our last visit, they have secured a new pastor whom we knew previously, so we were especially glad to be visiting here.

The building is lovely, tastefully decorated, and with plenty of space. Social distancing was observed, which unfortunately made it difficult to talk with people.

The music was led by a praise team that sounded wonderful together. And I appreciated the timing of the words projected on the screens: there was no lag that left me wondering what came next.

The children’s message was marvelous: Molly spoke about Fanny Crosby, how she wrote 9,000 hymns and eventually used a pen name so people would not think she wrote the entire hymnal. Remarkably, she was blind from the age of 6 weeks and accomplished a great deal in her life in addition to writing hymns. She also gave several synonyms for the word “redeemed” and asked everyone to silently identify the one that spoke to them. Mine was “rescued” because that’s what He did for me.

In the sermon, “The Holy Spirit-Here-Now”, the pastor focused on the first Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection and how the giving of the Holy Spirit both proved God’s power and fulfilled His promises. God sent the Holy Spirit to give His people His power and strength and so we would never be left without His presence. As believers, He is with us in every single battle we face, and His strength is at our disposal. The question was: what could God accomplish through us if we took God at His word, asked for help from the Holy Spirit, and stepped out in faith, willing to be stretched and live boldly.

I was grateful God led us here…I needed an uplifting, encouraging, challenging word today.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Gracious God, we pray the Spirit’s fire comes upon Your Church now. Awaken us all to more than we ever thought we could be and remind us what it means to be Your Church. Amen.

East Taylorsville Baptist Church

Sunday we worshiped at East Taylorsville Baptist Church, 644 1^st Avenue Drive SE, Taylorsville, NC 28681, 828.632.2564, www.easttaylorsville.com, Jamie Steele, Senior Pastor.

 

Scripture – Psalm 142 NASB

I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD;

I make supplication with my voice to the LORD.

I pour out my complaint before Him;

I declare my trouble before Him.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,

You knew my path.

In the way where I walk

They have hidden a trap for me.

Look to the right and see;

For there is no one who regards me;

There is no escape for me;

No one cares for my soul.

I cried out to You, O LORD;

I said, “You are my refuge,

My portion in the land of the living.

Give heed to my cry,

For I am brought very low;

Deliver me from my persecutors,

For they are too strong for me.

Bring my soul out of prison,

So that I may give thanks to Your name;

The righteous will surround me,

For You will deal bountifully with me.”

 

Bob’s thoughts:

While visiting in Taylorsville, NC, we were able to worship at a local Baptist church. We were able to worship without masks but came to realize with all the restrictions (to keep us safe?) it is difficult to get a sense of the church’s friendliness. I had smiles from a few children which meant a lot and spoke with two people.

I did have an encouraging talk with a member who let me know the church does not allow open carry. He was helpful and kind.

I found an obscure cross in the wall above the platform. Was looking at something else or probably would have missed it. I learned later my impression was accurate, this wasn’t the normal worship space.

The Covid restrictions made it difficult to get a feel for the service also: how the congregation reacts to the message or praise songs. I was pleased to see the words on the screen during a solo, and it was one of the few times that I could understand the words perfectly without it.

In the course of the sermon the pastor mentioned the “immediate prayer” … most who served in combat know this prayer well. One that comes to mind from time at home: I was on the ramp to a busy road looking in vain for a break in traffic, and in my mirror a car was speeding towards me with no way to get out of his way. I believe my prayer was more of a goodbye. In a microsecond the car veered right, and the guard rail took off most of the side of the car which never slowed and continued onto the highway. I don’t know about my life in review, but the last few seconds were clear. He has saved me too many times to ever doubt Him now.

I hope if we get to visit again, we will hear the senior pastor and I would like to see more of the church grounds. I saw a budget note with impressive mission numbers, dear to my heart.

I am thankful for the time the pastors gave us after the service.

 

Jan’s thoughts:

As we were in the area to visit family, it was a special joy to worship with them as well. They have only attended this church for several weeks, so we all learned about it together.

This church opened up for indoor worship again on Father’s Day but are still streaming online for anyone who is uncomfortable with in-person worship for any reason. I noted some masks and in-person worshipers were asked to observe social distance protocols. I was comfortable, and grateful for the opportunity to worship with others.

The building is spacious and charmingly decorated. Worship was held in the auditorium to allow more space for separate seating. Several folks recognized us as visitors and greeted us as warmly as possible.

The pastor who led the time of corporate prayer began with an acknowledgement that we can’t believe everything we hear. He stated that John Piper has said, “You cannot know what prayer is for until you know that life is war. To pray is to fight in that war.” He then led a prayer for discernment and wisdom for all believers everywhere.

The message was presented by the Evangelism/Outreach Pastor. It was called “David’s Cave Experience” and outlined that event based on Psalm 142:

1 – David’s desperation,

2 – David’s discouragement,

3 – David’s depression, and

4 – David’s deliverance and praise

David’s writing was a roadmap for anyone experiencing those emotions and a reminder they can be overcome with God’s help.

We appreciated the time the pastor took for conversation with us following worship.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Father, we pray You will bless Your church in every way as they hopefully will be back to normal worship soon. In the meantime, may we all praise and glorify You. Amen.