Ellport Community Church

Today we worshiped at Ellport Community Church, 1141 Church Street, Ellwood City, PA 16117, 724.944.7130, lead by Tom and Barb Milnes.

 

Scripture – 2 Peter 1:1-13 NLT –

This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ.

I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live.

 

Bob’s thoughts:

I had saved some items to donate to the Yellow Ribbon Girls who have been sending care packages to our troops for a long time. I read where they are hoping to turn this ministry over to some young blood. This church has a box to accept these donations, so it was a win for them and us.

We were warmly welcomed and a number of women introduced themselves. After climbing the stairs to the sanctuary, I didn’t have enough left in me to stand and sing. Even with the lights out up front I couldn’t read the words to sing anyhow. I’m not sure if anybody besides the praise team was singing.

They could use some signage downstairs for visitors.

There was a great pattern on the curtains where the sun shown through.

We were blessed to have a moment to lay hands on the pastor to pray for Christ’s healing.

 

Jan’s thoughts:

This church has a drop box for the Yellow Ribbon Girls, who collect supplies to send to troops who are deployed, so today we opted to drop off some things and worship here.

The area is beautifully rural, so we enjoyed a lovely drive.

We encountered friendly greetings at every turn, including some who stopped by our pew to introduce themselves.

The music was beautiful and the back wall behind the platform was simple and stunning. It’s amazing what can be done with some twinkle lights.

The pastor asked those present who had served in the military to raise their hands to be recognized and everyone present was invited to receive an American flag as a gift following worship.

The message was untitled as far as I could tell, but I found it encouraging. It was a reminder that each believer is given a measure of faith and we all suffer setbacks. The pastor had broken his shoulder not long ago and his arm was in a sling, so his very presence was a visual reminder that things can happen to anyone at any time.

However, he urged everyone not to quit and instead use the struggles in life to hold on tighter to God’s promises.

He said when we ask God for something, He answers in one of four ways. I was intrigued, as I’ve only ever heard about three: yes, no, and wait. The pastor added one more though: none of your business. I was surprised at first, but after thinking about it, it made perfect sense. Some things happen to us for which we can find no reason, and we may never know the reason, but those are the times it’s God’s business, not ours.

Further reminders included that we can trust Him to do justice and trust Him in our ‘whys’. Accept and lean on God’s mercy. Avoid rewinding a situation in your mind over and over and just forgive and let it go. Then you are free.

I admit I’m still working on this, but I’m not giving up. I’m grateful God led us here today…I needed these reminders.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Heavenly Father, we pray You continue to bless Your church and Pastor Tom. Help them to grow in You. Amen.

LifePointe Alliance Church

Today we worshiped at LifePointe Alliance Church, 997 PA Route 228, Mars, PA 16046, 724.776.9400, www.lifepointealliance.org, Rev. Joseph Toomey, Lead Pastor.

 

Scripture – Ephesians 1:3-13 NIV –

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

 

Bob’s thoughts:

It has been a little more than three years since we last worshiped here so everything was new to me.

We found handicapped parking in front of the doors that everyone seemed to be using and located the restrooms without directional signage. The sanctuary was a little more difficult: there was a large sign with an arrow pointing up stairs which were out of the question for me. But there was an elevator which brought us to a familiar social area and there was someone to direct us to the sanctuary. Signage is helpful for visitors.

Once we were seated for worship, there was a lot of noise from the social area and I couldn’t hear the speakers till the doors finally closed.

The screens were visible even while seated, a big plus. I’m still getting used to not standing.

For the first time in a few years, the songs were familiar. It has been a long time since I could add my terrible voice to worship and it felt good.

Someone from the congregation delivered a message on names for God/Christ. There was a lot of Scripture quoted.

I was glad to hear the church still supports a lot of mission, to which we are happy to donate.

Some people said hello or waved/nodded.

 

Jan’s thoughts:

The grounds and facilities here are well cared for and beautifully decorated. I especially liked the metal butterflies adorning the garden near the entrance.

We got a cup of coffee and found seats in the back, expecting loud music. However we were pleasantly surprised with moderate volume and lovely harmonies on songs we knew and enjoyed singing.

Before the service started, several men made announcements that were addressed to those present and pointedly included those watching online.

The pastor was away so a gentleman preached who I believe was a member and a businessman. He spoke of some of the “I AM” verses and listed many Names of God. He pointed out that God chose His children before the beginning of time, and He adopted and accepted them. I loved the statement, “God signed the adoption papers with the blood of Jesus Christ.”

 

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we lift this church to You and pray their hearts are open to Your word as it is preached. We ask that You continue to bless and encourage the pastor as well as their numerous mission efforts. Amen.

Discovery Christian Church

This past Sunday we worshiped at Discovery Christian Church, 170 Scharberry Lane, Mars, PA 16046, www.discoverypgh.com, Matt Mehaffey, Lead Pastor.

 

Scripture – NIV

Psalms 110:1-7 –

The LORD says to my lord:

“Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.

The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

The lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high.

Genesis 14:17-20 –

After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Matthew 22:41-46 –

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

“The son of David,” they replied.

He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, “ ‘The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’

If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Romans 8:18 –

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Luke 12:8 –

“I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.

 

Bob’s thoughts:

On many drives through this area we had noticed a mysterious-looking building and were tempted to check it out. Today we were surprised to learn it was the new home of Discovery Church. Seems to be perfect in many ways for their use; I believe in divine guidance. From our visit today it is a “new” church in a blessed home.

We sat in our usual location in the back, and the first song was a drum solo to me (I should have muted my hearing aids). After the one song the pastor, Matt, made some announcements then segued into the message and we settled into the comfortable seats. One of the missions they are involved in, “6K Run for Water”, sounded so much like the situation in Malawi, we were happy to support their efforts.

The message started with Psalm 110:1, which I would guess most Christians understand, but maybe not as many by verse 4. I thought this was the most understandable preaching of these verses that I have ever heard; maybe God was pointedly putting this on my heart. The recognition by the congregation was apparent.

If our faith is secure in Christ, we cannot continue to sweat the small stuff. Many are on paths of self-destruction, but we must keep in mind that Christ is still in charge. Our fears fade when we pull back and see the big picture.

We were grateful for our time with the pastor and welcome group after the service.

 

Jan’s thoughts:

February 2016 was the last time we visited this church. Since then they have moved and have a new pastor, so it was a new church to us.

The building is spacious with areas designated for all kinds of events and uses. There is an indoor playground, a mini golf course, and the pastor mentioned during the service that when they bought this building it included a commercial kitchen. Arrangements can be made to rent the facilities through the church website.

The announcements included the World Vision Global 6K for Water. This event will take place Saturday, May 21, 2022, and will help provide clean water to children in communities worldwide.

The church is using the book Core 52 by Mark E. Moore to increase understanding of the Bible. This is something many churches might consider. They graciously gifted us each with a copy of the book.

The pastor’s message was based on chapter 12 of this book and focused on The Messiah, the meaning of the word and the concept as anointed one, chosen one, savior.

He gave a clear explanation of the reference to the Order of Melchizedek, which was something I’ve never been quite clear about. In the course of this he also made it clear that we do not ‘give’ God 10% of our income; we return it to Him, since all we have belongs to God.

He pointed out that it is usually the smaller questions that consume our thoughts but we need to remember that the big picture is taken care of so we shouldn’t sweat the small stuff. We need to give context to our struggles and remember that God sees it all and will deal justly with the world.

He urged us to also keep in mind that Jesus Christ is both King (Ruler) and Priest (intermediary, go-between with God the Father), and we need Jesus in both of those roles.

This church celebrates Communion weekly, and I was very pleased to partake as it has been some time.

We appreciated the time given by the pastor and the ladies at the welcome desk for conversation following worship.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we lift this church to You and pray their hearts are open to Your word as it is preached. We ask that You continue to bless and encourage the pastors, staff, and congregation in their mission efforts. Amen.

True North Church

Yesterday we worshiped at True North Church, 206 Siebert Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, 412.256.8059, www.truenorthpgh.org, Justin Dosch, Lead Pastor.

 

Scripture – NIV

Matthew 12:34-36 –

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

Proverbs 18:21 –

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Ephesians 4:29 –

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

James 1:19 –

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

 

Bob’s thoughts:

Sometimes we know where we would like to worship, but my favorite day is when we leave it up to God where we end up. Then, like today, we get to try to figure out why we end up where we do. I think we were to lay hands and pray for the pastor, but the thought didn’t come till after we left. We will, of course, pray for the pastor and that someone from the congregation will pray over the pastor. Sometimes God sends us back.

The only negative about the current location is there is no simple way to be handicapped accessible. The handrails worked for me, but I wish I had an answer for the issue.

I loved seeing the crosses behind the platform. Too many churches seem to be afraid of offending someone with a cross. We enjoyed a cup of coffee, even my decaf. I liked that there was a countdown clock till the service started, like the old drive-ins.

The pastor took time to explain the giving plan for the church. I would like to hear more of the mission plan.

I don’t have an answer for the projection screens. We were all the way back and doubt that we could see even if we could have stood as the low headroom doesn’t allow much. Maybe turning worship 90 degrees and use a wider seat set-up? Even when everyone was seated, I couldn’t read the Scriptures.

The pastor told his story of when the devil got his goat, reminding how easily we lose our temper. I suspect that was probably the main reason God had us here, something we both needed reminding of.

We were also reminded of God taking extreme ownership of our sins, and how we need to own up to our sins.

I had a few words with two women coming in on the stairs and a couple of young moms after the service.

I pray that God leads us back. I think there is tremendous potential here and I would love to see how God grows His church.

 

Jan’s thoughts:

I guess God is still in the business of placing us where we need to be on any given Sunday.

This church is quite young, having been founded in February 2019, and they meet on the second floor of a business off McKnight Road. We appreciated the friendly hospitality as well as the coffee in the back of the worship area.

The pastor offered announcements and spoke about the church’s philosophy of giving. He assured that this church is focused on Jesus Christ and His Word. He said giving should be proportionate, sacrificial, and voluntary, and he wishes to “build it into the church’s DNA.”

The music was contemporary and well done, but the songs were unfamiliar to me.

The message, Why We Need to Shut Our Yapper! was part of the series called Aftertaste. The pastor opened with a vulnerable story about his mishandling of an encounter with a goat which perfectly displayed the truth of his statement that our mouths get us into more trouble than anything else.

He taught that Jesus-followers are called to look, act, and speak differently, and since we humans are incapable of taming our tongues without help, we absolutely must ask the Holy Spirit to help us. Since the words that escape our mouths originate in our heart, we must recognize the bitterness, ingratitude, and pride that lives there and ask God to help us not to share it.

We must also recognize that our words have power, for good or for ill. Our words can build up or they can tear down, and we choose the fruit in the choice of our words.

This message hit me between the eyes, as I had been waiting to speak with someone I love and to whom I owed an apology for speaking without thinking or asking for God’s help to speak the truth in love. I’m so grateful God led us here today to hear this message, to reorient my heart, and to be reminded there is grace for even me.

We were grateful for the conversation with the pastor and with his brother, a Marine, following the service.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Father, as this congregation works to discern and obey Your lead, we pray You continue to provide spiritual and numerical growth. We ask that You open their eyes to missional needs You wish them to embrace and that You continue to bless this pastor as he leads Your flock. Amen.

Grace Community Church

Yesterday we worshiped at Grace Community Church, 9160 Marshall Road, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066, 724.779.7997, www.mygcc.org, Matt Kaltenberger, Lead Pastor.

 

Scripture – NIV

1 Peter 4:10 –

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Romans 15:7 –

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

 James 2:13 –

…because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 –

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Galatians 6:3 –

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

 

Bob’s thoughts:

We were blessed to worship at Grace, our first trip back since their recent remodel. I was amazed at how open and inviting the area is now.

It is always a special joy to talk to Pastor Bob. He told us how the remodel of the sanctuary allowed for 400 more seats, giving them room for 1,200 in worship. We discussed how a church can stay warm and focused on the individual with that many in worship and I reflected on this during the service. Something as simple as the lights being left on took care of the isolation of worshiping in the dark not knowing who is nearby. Sometimes a glance or nod to another worshiper conveys volumes. We were in the top tier and could witness a lot of interaction. I found particular joy watching a woman minister to her young child…we would do well to emulate with our neighbors.

The pastor’s message on interacting with coworkers was of pointed interest for me. Long retired, I don’t have those coworkers to relate to, but God blesses me every day with merchants, medical professionals, and others to witness to and to pray for and with. It has been a joyous ministry.

My best example of the personal ministry of the church was a conversation with the man who ushered us to our seats. I commented that the last time we visited Grace was in the midst of construction and how impressed we were with the results. He commented about where we usually sat when we visited. Want to be a caring church?

 

Jan’s thoughts:

This church seems to have completed a huge expansion project, which involved adding 400 seats to the existing 800, a new children’s area, and an amazing coffee/fellowship space. What remains the same is the warmth and genuine hospitality we have consistently encountered here.

With Bob’s issues with walking and my newly-replaced knee, we truly appreciated the elevator to the second floor and friendly escort to convenient seating right inside the door.

This message was part 2 of the series God At Work and one of his points was to pray for a coworker with whom you experience conflict. God answers our prayers, often in unexpected ways, and in asking God to bless the person, we are at the very least being obedient to God’s direction and at most we are helping bring about change in them, in ourselves, and in the situation.

Although I have been retired for a few years, this advice brought back a memory of a time when I experienced conflict with a coworker. I would have preferred avoidance but it was not an option, and since I had no other ideas to resolve the situation, obedience to God’s guidance (i.e., prayer for this person) seemed the best path. In God’s good time, He healed all parties involved and the conflict simply dissolved.

Through His Holy Spirit and prayer, God can work on our hearts even when we seem to have little sway over the direction they wish to take. God’s way was truly best for everyone.

We are grateful for our conversation with Pastor Bob Zonts following the service.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Heavenly Father, we pray You will continue to bless this church in every way. Give them people to disciple, teach, and to pray with and pray for. May they constantly surrender their will to You. Amen.

Keystone Church

Today we worshiped at Keystone Church, RLA Learning and Conference Center, 850 Cranberry Woods Drive, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066, 724.201.1035, www.keystonechurchpa.com, Lorin Foster, Pastor.

 

Scripture – Genesis 22:1-14 NIV

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

 

Bob’s thoughts:

It was nice to see a few familiar faces from our last visit and meet a few new brothers and sisters in Christ.

We could have used a few more signs to help us old folks find the church.

If we’re arriving late I must remember to bring a flashlight so we can get settled in our seats in the dark. When someone came or went, it was a ray of sunshine, literally. I wouldn’t have known that my coffee cup had gotten tipped otherwise. We sat at the back and couldn’t see the low screen and couldn’t stand.

A point from the message that I never considered was that Abraham had to not only bring the wood for the sacrifice but also bring the fire for a couple days’ travel. I’m sure with the pressure of believing he would be using his child for the sacrifice it would be hard to think of bringing along fire.

From sermon points: help me obey, surrender my will, and God will always provide.

With my hand cramping, I was happy to come away with these notes.

 

Jan’s thoughts:

We arrived a little late due to some confusion on my part navigating the maze in this area. We quickly got coffee and found seats in the back after exchanging greetings with a few people.

I was surprised at how much louder the music was than last time, but we did stay put.

The pastor announced that the offerings for this week and next week would be donated in their entirety to support three different areas of mission this church supports financially.

The current message series is about the names of God, and today’s title was Hope Has a Name. The name he focused on today was Jehovah Jirah which means The Lord Will Provide.

He pointed out that our part requires faith-filled obedience before provision is made. We can forfeit God’s provision if we give up, decide not to believe God, or accept a counterfeit, and that partial obedience is total disobedience. Faith surrenders to God expecting His provision, and when we surrender, God will make a way. God ALWAYS provides for His children.

He suggested we each do a year-end review and ask God in what area we are forgetting that He is our provider.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Father, we pray Your continued blessings as Your church surrenders their will to You. Amen.

The Berean Bible Chapel

Yesterday we worshiped at The Berean Bible Chapel, 177 North Road, Butler, PA 16001, 724.332.9255, www.bereanofbutler.com, Andrew Pepe, Pastor.

 

Scripture – NIV

John 15:13 –

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Mark 10:45 –

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

Bob’s thoughts:

We were warmly welcomed when we walked in and assured we were okay being a few minutes after start time.

We met the pastor at one of our many trips to the Butler VA and had been looking forward to visiting his church.

The service was oriented around a salute to veterans. Vets from each branch were asked to stand and be honored as their song was played.

We stayed for a church luncheon after the service and were blessed to share a table with the pastor and his wife and their granddaughter. They shared some of their plans for the church going forward.

As much as I enjoyed the service, I admit there was a part of me that wanted to sit on the floor with the little ones in the back.

 

Jan’s thoughts:

It’s a joy to return to in-person worship.

We met Pastor Andy at the Butler VA one day several months ago, and in the course of our conversation he kindly invited us to visit the church he pastors.

The location was rural, the atmosphere casual, and the people were warm and welcoming.

We arrived with just enough time to use the restrooms and find a seat, and the pastor’s wife caught us on our way into the sanctuary and invited us to stay for the luncheon following worship.

Worship began with some songs and a few words from the pastor who admonished people to listen and act when we sense the Holy Spirit urging us to help someone.

A number of children came forward to hear the story of Daniel and the lions’ den during the children’s message.

In recognition of Veteran’s Day several days ago, a medley was played comprised of each service’s song: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Anyone present who had served in that branch stood to be recognized during their song. Clearly this pastor’s heart is with veterans, as he is a vet himself in addition to working at the VA.

In the message, the pastor pointed out the similarity between Christ’s willingness to give His life for others and the willingness of those in service to our country to do the same thing.

We stayed for some lunch following the service and greatly appreciated the conversation with the pastor and his wife.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Heavenly Father, we pray You bless Your church with continued growth as You guide them to do Your will. Amen.

Keystone Church

This past Sunday, we worshiped at Keystone Church, RLA Learning and Conference Center, 850 Cranberry Woods Drive, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066, 724.201.1035, www.keystonechurchpa.com, Lorin Foster, Pastor.

 

Scripture – James 5:12-20 (NIV)

Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

 

Bob’s thoughts:

It has been a while since we have had such an uplifting worship experience. There was no question that God led us to worship here.

I was surprised how quickly He put down preconceived notions I wasn’t even aware of. I expected loud and somewhat rowdy music, I guess because that is what we experienced the last time we were at this venue. I was sure God was sending us here to pray over someone; I barely got to do so but instead we were lifted in prayer ourselves by church members.

We were thankful for a great cup of coffee before the service and to be greeted by a brother in Christ from Zambia. He shared knowledge of Malawi and it was wonderful to again hear some phrases in Chichewa. I was overjoyed to spend some time with this incredible missionary bringing Jesus Christ to Pennsylvania.

Sometimes I feel like I did great at prayer and at times more like “Father Jesus”, as mentioned by the pastor in the message. At times I was upset when the answer to prayer for healing didn’t go the way I thought it should, but I came to realize the outcome isn’t up to me and to keep praying. I have been party to some awesome healing prayers.

I have some bullet holes and scars and Agent Orange has eaten some parts, but I am alive and able and overwhelmingly blessed. When prayer doesn’t bring the result I hoped for, I leave it in God’s capable hands and keep praying.

We were pleased to have a few minutes to talk with the pastor after the service and pray over him.

 

Jan’s thoughts:

We saw signs for this church by the road in Cranberry Twp. and opted to worship here on Sunday. I didn’t realize God was orchestrating something special for us.

A gentleman saw us approaching the doors and pressed the switch to open them for us. As we entered, we noticed a large prayer circle, so we stepped aside and had some coffee and conversation with a member. We then found a couch to rest for a moment where two more members stopped to chat.

By then it seemed like time to find a seat for the service, and as we entered the worship area we were greeted by a gentleman at the door. The instant he spoke, I recognized his accent so I asked him where he was from and he responded that he was from Zambia. We proceeded to enjoy a heartfelt conversation about Africa in general and about Zambia and Malawi, and even exchanged a few words of Chichewa. Such a joy!

We sat in the back, expecting the music to be much louder than it was, which was fine. However we both stayed seated due to some discomfort, which meant we were unable to see the words on the screens.

The pastor announced that following the message there would be dedicated prayer time for members to pray with and for others if they wished.

The message was called “The Power of Prayer” and was part of a series on the book of James. The pastor was open about his personal challenges with prayer, which I found encouraging. I appreciated his statement that prayer “requires time and an unhurried soul”. I tend to pray more bullet prayers than perhaps I should, so I heard this as a reminder to be still sometimes when I pray.

The pastor said our prayers identify our dependence on God and we should also pray when we are happy. He said prayer activates our faith, which I took to mean it reminds us of who God is and that He is worthy of our trust. He also stated that confession of our sins is vital to our relationship with God and that unconfessed sin can take a physical toll on us. When we’re weak we must not let the Enemy convince us of anything contrary to what God has told us. We must hang on to our faith in God and wait to see His purpose unfold if and when He wishes to allow that.

When the dedicated prayer time began, we were prepared to sit quietly and pray without disturbing those around us, but when I felt a hand on my shoulder, those intentions fell by the wayside. A kind woman behind us asked, almost as if she knew the answer, if she could pray for us. She offered a beautiful prayer for Bob and me, after which our friend from Zambia joined us and prayed as well. As the prayer time ended we all praised God for each other and for this time.

I was so grateful for the time of prayer as well as conversation following worship with the pastor, his wife, and our new friends.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we are so pleased that Your church is a praying church. We pray Your Spirit will encourage them to hold tight to their faith in You. Amen.

CrossWay Community Church

Yesterday we worshiped at Crossway Community Church, 109 Davis Road, Valencia, PA 16059, 724.898.4600, www.crosswaycommunity.org, Mike Santistevan, Lead Pastor.

 

Scripture – Galatians 2:11-16 (ESV)

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

 

Bob’s thoughts:

We were welcomed by a member and engaged in conversation along with an update on the church. These are things we haven’t been able to enjoy for quite a while.

I appreciated the opening Scripture/prayer. I do wish the side screens were above the emergency lights. I was not able to stand and most times my vision was blocked from all three screens.

It was good to hear one praise song that I was familiar with from youth worship years ago, albeit modified, leaving off the powerful part “My God is an awesome God.”

Really enjoyed the prayer by the pastor; it was well done. The pastor showed a passion to preach. I liked the anecdote about the man going through the windshield in an accident. When I went through a windshield, I only got a headache; there were no seat belts then. But I think God was getting my attention.

The message included context which is frequently left out. We are distracted easily as believers and are led to believe the slight temptations won’t hurt. I thought the sermon’s action points were good ones, especially touch and support each other.

The only thing I would add would be to strive to find the opportunity to pray for others. No one has ever turned down my offer of prayer and it does wonders to strengthen my faith.

I remember visiting this church some years ago for a Father’s Day program. I ended up in the nursery with some of my grandchildren. A special moment for me was when the women wanted to see part of the program and stood at the window, trusting me with all the children. An honor and a joy.

We appreciated the time with the pastor after the service and the members outside.

 

Jan’s thoughts:

Our last visit here was in 2016, when the world was a different place. Life in general has changed dramatically but God is the same, and it was a blessing to worship in community.

I appreciated the signs of welcome such as the gentlemen waiting to open the doors when we arrived, people milling around talking in the foyer, coffee available, and members who stopped to introduce themselves and extend a warm welcome. That’s one of the things I’ve missed most about the last year and a half is general friendliness. There has been so much fear and distance. I hoped churches would be where some sense of normalcy might again be found, and so far, that’s been the case.

We were welcomed warmly, and several folks stopped to introduce themselves. These greetings and conversations felt like a treat, along with the delicious coffee.

We chose seats in the back, as usual, expecting the music to be on the loud side, but the lovely arrangements were soft and pleasant.

The sermon series was focused on Galatians and the sermon title was “Jesus + Nothing = Everything.” The pastor spoke of how we can be out of step with the truth of the gospel and what we believe and what we can do about it when we find ourselves in that situation. He pointed out that social pressure and fear of others’ reactions/responses can cause us, like the Apostle Peter, to forget what we believe and having someone who cares remind us of the truth can help us get our bearings again and remember who we are.

I know at times I have been the one who needed help regaining my bearings and other times I was the one who did (or should have) reminded someone else of what they believe. I was grateful for this reminder that the Good News is for unbelievers and Christians and that Christ’s blood covers my sins before I became a believer and the sin I committed today. This is true for every believer. Praise God.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Heavenly Father, we pray for Your continued blessings on this Your church and its leaders. Help them truly be a beacon on the hill. Amen.

Grace Community Church

Yesterday we worshiped at Grace Community Church, 9160 Marshall Road, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066, 724.779.7997, www.mygcc.org, Matt Kaltenberger, Lead Pastor.

 

Scripture – 1 Kings 18:17-39 NIV

When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”

“I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.

Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”

Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”

Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” So they took the bull given them and prepared it.

Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”

“Do it again,” he said, and they did it again. “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”

 

Bob’s thoughts:

It was special to be back in a corporate worship service today. So many things about church have changed, so many things are gone and won’t be back. But I believe God is using the changes to move us in a new direction.

Our focus had been more of our overall sense of a church; we tried to communicate what we as first-time visitors experienced. Now from the scare of Covid, the church, His Church, has changed and will never revert to what it was. It is time to cease lamenting what has been lost and rejoice in where Christ is leading His Church.

The message today was from a favorite Scripture, 1 Kings 18. After a prolonged severe drought, Elijah met with Ahab and called him to bring 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah to Mount Carmel. He let them choose an oxen to cut up to be sacrificed, placed on the wood they prepared, and call on their god to bring the fire. After a day of their pleading and Elijah’s taunting, Elijah called for water to soak the wood and the offering. Three times to completely soak the sacrifice.

When Elijah called up the Lord and the fire from God came down consuming wood, ox, the stones, and water, the people fell to their knees to worship God. Elijah was strong in his faith. It made me think of the Garth Brooks video, “Standing Outside the Fire”…time to be the fire for Christ.

When Christ called me to faith, it reminded me of my childhood. One of my jobs was to shovel coal into the coal bin. I was soon the same color as the coal I shoveled. When Christ claimed me, I became as white as fresh fallen snow, impossible for the filthy coal bin boy I was.

A fair amount of my time in Vietnam I was sweat covered, stinky, dirty, but then the monsoon rains came and I was washed clean beyond my control.

We need to regain the fire of a new Christian. People are quick to try to make us tone down, but we should be as quick to reignite the old flames in them. We cannot and must not hide our light under a basket.

Think of the step of faith to call three times to soak the sacrifice with water during a time of severe drought. We need that faith. Guilty as charged with being less than He wants me to be, but no longer!

I was delighted to spend a few minutes with one of the pastors after the service and rejoice that he is a new grandpa, a joyous title to achieve.

There is a lot of construction going on and people are excited to worship in their new church. I pray they come refreshed and convicted in Christ’s fire, ready to do His will.

 

Jan’s thoughts:

So, it’s been almost a solid year since we’ve blogged. Although the break has been welcome, it’s been a bit of a struggle to get back into the groove.

This morning we decided to start back with Grace. It seems appropriate. Our world has changed so much in the last year and a half that grace is what we all need. I was grateful for the warm welcome when we entered the building.

This church is in the middle of a huge renovation/expansion project, so there were announcements about what to expect next Sunday and beyond. Everything was clean and signs provided clear directions, so it did not feel like an inconvenience to this visitor, at least.

The message was the first in a new series called “Forged In Fire” and focused on one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament: Elijah on Mount Carmel.

But first the pastor asked the question: “Why are we here?” and reminded us that church is not about checking off a box, but having a relationship with Jesus Christ. After establishing that he was talking to those present who had yet to commit to such a relationship, He spoke of the passion believers should have for their relationship with Christ and made four points about conviction and belief:

1 – conviction shapes our conduct;

2 – conviction ignites confrontation;

3 – conviction sparks a decision; and

4 – conviction fuels transformation.

He ended with the question similar to Elijah’s question to the people of Israel: “How long will you waver?”

It was a genuine treat to encounter a friend and have a chance to catch up some. What a blessing!

 

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, bless Your church. Open the ears of worshipers to Your message. Guide them to grow Your church. Help them to be the church wherever they are and come to You to be refilled and encouraged. Amen.

East Main Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at East Main Presbyterian Church, 120 East Main Street, Grove City, PA 16127, 724.458.8270, www.eastmainpc.org, Rev. Dr. Bill Hoffman, Senior Pastor.

 

Scripture – NIV

Luke 10:25-37 –

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Romans 3:20 –

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

1 John 4:19 –

We love because he first loved us.

 

Bob’s thoughts:

Today was cool but bright, so we opted for a church that was a little farther away. It was a pleasant drive and we arrived early enough to talk with a few people before the service started.

We had explained to one man how the death of our son led to visiting a different church each week and blogging about our visits. It was a good conversation and brought a question we seldom hear: “How do we as a church respond to a member’s catastrophic loss?” I don’t know if other churches come to the same question, but it was the first time it was presented to us. With the break forced by our state government of worship services, I was questioning if God was still using what we do to His purpose. For now at least, we are not off the hook yet.

We were warmly greeted, and I heard someone talking about Marines when we came in the door but couldn’t determine who it was and did not seem to be in regard to me.

A young woman did escort us to the sanctuary and pointed out the lift if I needed it. We were introduced along the way and I was thanked for my service, including by the pastor who has twin boys actively serving in the military.

The sanctuary has an impressive cross and every other row is designated by colored signs for late or early service. It seemed a most efficient means of separation.

The message was on Christ’s parable of the Good Samaritan stopping to render aid to the injured traveler. The pastor made it relevant to the situation now with the Covid scare.

I was thankful for those we were able to talk to and for our time with the pastor after the service.

Jan’s thoughts:

Although a bit chilly, it was still a beautiful day for a drive, so we headed north.

We last visited East Main in February 2015, long ago enough that I remembered nothing about it. As it was, we entered by the wrong door (the children’s area), but everyone was very kind about it. One of the pastors took the time to escort us to the sanctuary and answer our questions. A couple of the pastors took the time for conversation prior to worship as well, for which we extend our gratitude.

I was curious to see how this church handled all their precautions with two services, and I’ve not seen this system anywhere else. On the end of each row of pews were alternating green or yellow signs. The green rows were to be occupied for the 9:15 service and the yellow rows for the 10:45 service. By the time the service got underway, most rows assigned to that service were occupied, with some additional seating in the balcony. Some friends who usually attend here said they watched online. All in all, it seemed to work smoothly. A big plus, I felt, was that masks were not required once we took seats in the pew. I recognize that some people may not be comfortable with it, but for me, it made all the difference.

The contemporary music was led by a small group. Since we were at the very back in the opposite corner, I was unable to see them, but they sounded delightful.

One long-time member, prior to making announcements, spoke fondly of his time as part of this church. He stated that in the past people greeted each other with hugs or handshakes, but now they’ll use a fist bump “if they’re feeling rebellious.” I appreciated that small touch of humor.

The sermon, Engaging Our Local Community as Good Neighbors, was the last in the series Christians at Our Best. The pastor followed up on the idea of the Good Samaritan showing kindness to someone in need, pointing out that there is not a lot any of us can do about the stress of life currently, but we can be Good Samaritans. He noted that the pandemic has led to an epidemic of loneliness and mental health issues which opens the door for ambassadors of Christ to help intentionally in any number of ways.

He made it clear that we can only accomplish anything good in the power of the Holy Spirit. On our own, we can do nothing, but with God’s power, we can accomplish all the good He has planned for us to carry out.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray Your church does go forward in Your name as the Good Samaritan, helping those in need. Amen.

Crossroads Church

Today we worshiped at Crossroads Church, 8533 Peters Road, Cranberry Township, PA 16066, 412.494.9999, xr.church, Mike Arnold, Campus Pastor.

 

Scripture – NIV

Jeremiah 29:11 –

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

2 Kings 7:4-9 –

If we say, ‘We’ll go into the city’—the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.”

At dusk they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans. When they reached the edge of the camp, no one was there, for the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!” So they got up and fled in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives.

The men who had leprosy reached the edge of the camp, entered one of the tents and ate and drank. Then they took silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them. They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also. Then they said to each other, “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.”

 

Bob’s thoughts:

I was entertained today by a young cutie and her brother; the smiles, chatter, and notes were a highlight, a reminder of how I got the nickname the Baby Whisperer at our last church. When I was allowed to comfort infants was when I felt closest to God…kind of a mini picture of how He comforts us. Today was a small reminder of a good time as we basked in the sun as we worshiped in the parking lot. It was hard not to feel close to God on such a beautiful fall day.

The message today dealt with a city under siege and the utter hopelessness as it dragged on. The lack of freedom down to the basic lack of food drove the despair with no hope in sight.

Laying siege to a city could last years, not just the few months that we have been denied our right of religious freedom.

There were lepers who were forced to live outside the city, and lacking the means to survive, decided to throw themselves on the mercy of the attacking army, thinking death could not be worse than their current plight.

But upon entering the camp they found their prayers had been answered: God had routed the attackers from the camp with such haste that the food and spoils of war were left, they were able to share God’s salvation of the city with their countrymen.

Might this time of isolation forced by our government be more of a blessing than a curse if we use this time as God would have us? Share your hope in Christ with those who are lost. Share your hope with those you know and maybe more importantly, with those you don’t know yet. Don’t blame God for this time, but thank Him for the opportunity to witness in His name.

We were greeted by a number of people and I was thanked for my service. We also met a member of the Young Marines and his father.

Jan’s thoughts:

Today was a treat: an outdoor worship service and a double-birthday lunch with our family after church.

I’m still amazed at God’s providence: the parking area was paved November 1, 2019, long before anyone had a clue that it would be the only space available for worship this entire summer. Even the weather cooperated, causing only two cancellations. God’s blessings.

Some events are starting up again in small ways, such as a half-day women’s retreat, men’s get-togethers, and kids’ happenings.

This is the final installment of the current message series, A Hope and a Future. The pastor reminded several times that God always wants what is best for us.

The Israelites were in exile in Babylon when Jeremiah 29:11 was prophesied to them. They were in the midst of a hopeless situation.

The passage from 2 Kings tells the story of four lepers. Their condition was highly contagious, they were isolated, they’d lost everything, and were told it was all because God was angry with them. They were understandably hopeless. But when they stumbled into a wealth of food, supplies, and treasure, they chose to share instead of hoarding it.

He stressed that hope is designed to be shared with others, and it actually fades if we hoard it but it grows when shared.

In order to get past our personal frustration and share hope, the pastor referred to an initiative from their past called BLESS, an acronym for:

B = begin with prayer

L = listen

E = eat (or another shared experience)

S = serve

S = share your story

He then told a most extraordinary story which began with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor and theologian and anti-Nazi dissident who was martyred just before the end of World War II. Bonhoeffer had written a poem for his fiancée Maria called Next Year 1945. Unfortunately, Dietrich and Maria never married as he was hanged in the concentration camp.

Years later, author Joseph Bayly lost three of his sons to death and he fell into such despair he gave up writing. He was given Bonhoeffer’s poem, Next Year 1945, which reignited Bayly’s hope, and Bayly went on to write a book called Heaven.

Twelve years later, in a Massachusetts hospital, there was a woman dying of cancer. She had no family, and a chaplain gave her a copy of Joseph Bayly’s book Heaven. She was enthralled and read the entire book overnight, and died the next day with hope. The woman was Bonhoeffer’s fiancée, Maria.

The pastor closed with the admonition that we never know what God will do with our words.

Indeed…we cannot begin to guess. This story gives me such a deep hope. God is able do so much more than we can begin to imagine with the little we are able to offer Him.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Father, we thank You for the opportunity to be drawn close to You today. May we serve You as directed. Amen.