Our Savior's Lutheran Church

Yesterday we worshiped at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 2147 Ridge Road Ext., Ambridge, PA 15003, 724.266.1169, www.christoursaviors.org, Rev. Jill E. McGregor, Pastor.


Scripture – ESV

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 –

Does not wisdom call?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

"To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.

"The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,

the first of his acts of old.

Ages ago I was set up,

at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

When there were no depths I was brought forth,

when there were no springs abounding with water.

Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,

before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.

When he established the heavens, I was there;

when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit,

so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

then I was beside him, like a master workman,

and I was daily his delight,

rejoicing before him always,

rejoicing in his inhabited world

and delighting in the children of man.

Psalm 8 –

O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes,

to still the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under his feet,

all sheep and oxen,

and also the beasts of the field,

the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,

whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Romans 5:1-5 –

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

John 16:12-15 –

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”


Bob’s thoughts:

It has been some time since we last worshiped here and it took a while to realize what was different: there were some children in worship. It seemed so much more alive with them there…I felt Christ was welcoming them to come to Him. I often feel Christ’s Presence in worship but don’t always know why; today the children with their smiles breathed life into the congregation.

A question was raised in the children’s message: can you get oranges from an apple tree? It brought back pleasant memories from my childhood.

There were two dump sites near where I grew up. One was used mostly by a hinge company, and we would dig through the sawdust piles to find brass hinges to take to the scrap yard. On the side of the dump was a large yellow delicious apple tree that was easy to climb from which we brought tons of apples home to Mom. But back to today’s message. There was a tree that someone had grafted others into, so we picked pears, apples, and plums from the same tree.

On the opposite dump there was a gnarled old peach tree that always reminded me of the fig tree that Christ cursed. It produced large, juicy fruit. When our son was killed it was like my memory banks were erased, so I am thankful for this inadvertent jog to a pleasant memory.

There was a contemporary song I didn’t remember ever hearing that I enjoyed, “Come, Join the Dance of Trinity.” The well-developed message on the Trinity was explained and supported biblically.

I sense exciting things coming for this church and pastor and I look forward with hope and optimism.


Jan’s thoughts:

It’s been way too long since we last worshiped at this church…8½ years to be exact. The pastor is a friend and greeted us warmly, as did many others. The pastor serves this church and another Lutheran congregation nearby so I was glad we’d arrived early and had time to catch up before worship.

I was also glad for the open windows and fans and that the humidity was reasonable.

I appreciated the order of worship printed in the bulletin as it provided all the liturgy in an easy-to-follow format.

Most churchgoers are familiar with the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed; today we read the Athanasian Creed. If you would like to learn about how God can use one person, I’d suggest reading up on the work of Athanasius and his defense of the divinity of Jesus Christ and later of the Holy Spirit. I sure learned a lot.

The pastor lamented the current shortage of pastors and then thanked all the fathers and father figures present with the reminder that we can’t have enough good men in the lives of children. Amen to that.

As it was Trinity Sunday, the untitled sermon focused on the Holy Spirit, hence the reading of the Athanasian Creed. She stated that humans in general find it difficult to explain the Trinity due to limitations of our language, but the concept is Scriptural and worth consideration. Martin Luther preached about the Trinity more than any other reformer.

The pastor characterized the Trinity: The Father is the Speaker, the Son is the Word, and the Holy Spirit is the Hearer, and stated that the Trinity is indeed a mystery, but one we can trust.

I was grateful to participate in Holy Communion.


Our prayer for this church:
Lord, we pray Your continued blessing on Your church and that their hearts are always open to Your leading. Amen.

Allison Park Church

Yesterday we worshiped at Allison Park Church, Ohio River Campus, 239 Merchant Street, Ambridge, PA 15003, www.allisonparkchurch.com, Thomas Manning, Campus Pastor.


Scripture – Romans 1:13-16 NIV

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.


Bob’s thoughts:

I had hoped we could return to welcome this church into their new home. The changes and improvements are fantastic. I met a number of people, some thanked me for my service, and I also met two other Marines.

The sanctuary now has a great wooden cross and new lighting. Most amazing to me is they secured an okay to park in the lot next door, an area that was taboo to other entities that had used this space.

I remember my first visit to this space. We were new to the area and had heard about a place called The Ladle, but the only directions I had was Ambridge. Exploring the general area, I stopped to help someone carry something from their car and thought to ask for directions. I got a strange look and he pointed to a church across the street. Since I was on a roll, I asked where Center for Hope was, and he told me, “Where the milk plant used to be.” I found someone who could tell me where that was and got to tour the school and church building.

The pastor talked about changing the world one life at a time, just like making disciples one at a time. He told of what a zealot he was for Christ and had to offer an apology for badgering people. When Christ claimed me, it was overwhelming, and I witnessed powerfully until my wife told me I could not bring people to Christ by force (it did work sometimes). A lot of what got me through the loss of our son was telling people, sometimes maybe forcibly, about him and how his life mattered.

The campus pastor talked about he and his wife being together for about 14 years before they experienced a meltdown. God got through to them that He was what was missing in their lives, and their journey began. Christ waited till I was 50 and then turned my life upside right.

The lead pastor posed three thoughts:

1 – What am I sharing?

2 – Who am I sharing with?

3 – How do I start sharing?

I think we find those we love are the hardest to share the good news with. The best advice was to start by listening. The easiest opening I’ve found is, “Can I pray for you?” I look for the people who seem miserable and my offer of prayer has never been turned down. The best any of us can do is tell our story.

We were given a ticket for a free item from the barbeque truck or the cookie truck parked in front of the church. We opted for the “Humble Cookie Stand” because Jan had just met the owner. They gave out warm, fresh, delicious chocolate chip cookies.


Jan’s thoughts:

I heard from a friend that this church would launch their new location yesterday, so we decided to take them up on an earlier invitation and join the festivities.

Bob was familiar with the building in previous years. The large parking lot accommodated the many attendees as the sanctuary was nearly full. Signage and other finishing touches are obviously in the works, and even now it has a comfortable feel. Coffee/tea/hot chocolate were offered on one side of the lobby area and the Welcome Center is on the other side.

We were met with many warm greetings and there was a great sense of celebration. The members were genuinely overjoyed to be there. After several conversations, we found seats in the back with our coffee.

The praise music was full of enthusiasm with volume that was, thankfully, not overwhelming.

The pastor told part of the inspiring story of the building and God’s purpose and plan for its use by the church. A local economic development consulting firm, Paramount Co-Op, was instrumental in assisting the church and executives from this organization were present to help celebrate.

As the campus pastor launched into the message entitled Best News Ever, he gave some personal history about how he and his wife came to Allison Park Church. Through the magic of technology, APC’s Senior Pastor Jeff Leake picked up the message from his church location. He began with a story about a dessert he enjoyed, lollipop brownies, at a restaurant, likening his desire to share this with his wife to our wish to share the Good News. Pastor Jeff shared what he considered to be the most important questions when it comes to sharing the Gospel:

1 – What am I sharing?

2 – Who am I sharing it with?

3 – How will I start to share it?

In speaking to the second question, he mentioned the difference between sharing in random moments and in regular relationships. He recounted how leadership guru John Maxwell, who began his career as an ordained pastor, has been known to present to his corporate clients on “The Five Secrets to Success.” When he starts, he explains to his audience there are indeed five points, but he is only permitted to share four. However, he will stay afterward and speak about the fifth to anyone who wants to listen and most stay. What he then explains is the fifth and most vital secret to success is faith in God, closing with an opportunity for anyone who wishes to give their lives to Christ.

Pastor Jeff’s main point was that speaking about your love for Jesus and how He has changed your life makes it much easier to have a Gospel conversation with others. No serious, heavy-handedness is necessary, just plain, genuine joy.


Our prayer for this church:
Thank You, Lord, for moving Your church to this new space. We pray for Your special guidance on their efforts to be an even brighter beacon for the neighborhood. Amen.

Allison Park Church

Today we worshiped at Allison Park Church, 424 Duss Avenue, Ambridge, PA 15003, 412.487.7220, www.allisonparkchurch.com, Thomas Manning, Campus Pastor.


Scripture – NIV

Luke 12:13-34 –

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”


Bob’s thoughts:

I was lamenting the lack of a cross but then I found it off to the side, a black cross against a black wall in the dim lights. Somehow it was special that it didn’t jump out at me.

I liked the harmony of the worship leaders, but one voice had almost too much power for the small venue. I hope to hear them after they move to their new building.

Pastor Jeff’s video message was a look at You In Five Years. It made me think of a column titled New Year Challenge by Harlon Cohen from Chicago. Instead of figuring out your resolutions, pretend it is January 2020 and write as if you have lived 2019 already…goals, fears, milestones? “Pick a date beyond the fear and look back with a sense of calm.” What do you want to accomplish this year? What can you do for Christ? I have had times where I wasn’t sure what God wanted me to do, but when I started, He moved me to what He wanted for me. Reflect on how can I make my life worth something for Christ, and start doing it.


Jan’s thoughts:

We arrived with only a little time to spare. Several people welcomed us, and we found seats quickly.

The worship space is black and the wall behind the platform boasts an attention-grabbing pattern of circles with lights that change colors to coordinate with the colors on the screen.

Music was led by a vocalist, a keyboardist, and a guitarist, whose voices blended and supported each other beautifully.

The opening Scripture was Isaiah 43:18-19 and was followed with a reminder that God is doing a new thing. Just the encouragement my heart needed today.

A number of events are planned here, including the Pasta Invitational (great name!), Vision Sunday, and next month they are moving to a newer, updated facility very nearby. An eventful time for this church!

Through the wonders of technology, the message was given by Jeff Leake, Allison Park Church’s Lead Pastor, from the Hampton location. (This multi-campus church’s sixth location will open in March.)

The current series is called You In Five Years and is an effort to encourage people to view their lives from a long-term perspective as well as from the perspective of eternity. The three issues:

1 – Are you saved?

2 – Are you purposely storing up treasure in heaven by investing in the lives of others?

3 – What will matter most in eternity are the souls we work to bring with us.

He took this opportunity to introduce/remind his listeners of local and international outreach and teaching efforts, including offering the Alpha course. After watching a video from the series, I’m sure those who participate will be enthusiastic.

We appreciated the time given by the pastor for conversation following worship.


Our prayer for this church:
Lord, we pray Your continued blessings on Your church. Please guide them as they move to their new building and bring many not-yet-believers to their door to learn about Jesus. Amen.

Allison Park Church

Today we worshiped at Allison Park Church, 424 Duss Avenue, Ambridge, PA 15003, 412.487.722, www.allisonparkchurch.com, Campus Pastor John Holt.

Scripture – NLT

Luke 5:1-11 –

“One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 –

The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.

Bob’s thoughts:

It has been a while since we last visited but I don’t remember needing earplugs then or if there was a cross. I do think I would have remembered if there was music louder than the prayers. I noticed some members writing during the message…I hope they were taking notes.

I missed some of the early greeting, but people were friendly.

Some points from the message: “We see problems, Christ sees possibilities.” A good question for the congregation: “Who needs the Good News in your sphere of influence?” Another I liked: “Obedience is a turning point.”

The pastor told a story of a parishioner who stopped to invite a couple to church; after many invitations, they came, and soon family came with them.

There was a woman who came to worship at my first long-term church. Every Sunday I tried to engage her in conversation and got nowhere…I had all but given up. One Sunday the pastor asked me if I had said hello and when I relayed her lack of past response, he urged me again. This time I was met with a joyous greeting. The pastor hadn’t mentioned that she had accepted Christ that Saturday in his office and he knew how frustrated I was from trying over the months to engage her in conversation.

Of late God has given me a joyous ministry of prayer with salespeople: I’ve gotten to seek those who seem less than cheerful. I would like to say it brings joy to their face, but more often it is tears. A simple touch or prayer is overwhelming to them, and me too. When you minister to someone, it is never only one way.

Jan’s thoughts:

Two new pastors have come on staff here since our last visit just over two years ago. It’s encouraging to see the excitement and energy here.

We arrived a couple of minutes into the service, so it was already dark. We were greeted at the door and welcomed with handshakes and hugs. We found our seats in the far back and were invited to help ourselves to coffee.

The music was well done, led by a drummer and two women vocalists, one of whom also played the keyboard. Once we were in the room, the volume was good.

I loved the wall decorations behind the platform: I only got to see them from a distance but they looked like metal tubs on the wall and each tub was lined with lights that changed color to coordinate with the background color on the screens. It sounds plain, but they were striking!

Allison Park Church and its satellites (including this one) are arranging to collect donations to help victims of Hurricane Harvey, of course. We were also treated to a preview of Senior Pastor Jeff Leake’s upcoming sermon series which will be tied in to their Life Group meetings as well.

The message was presented by Campus Pastor John Holt and was called “Let’s Go Fishing!” As he outlined the Scripture detailing Jesus’ encounter with Peter and the other fishermen, he emphasized Jesus’ ability to see the possibilities instead of their failure and His encouragement of His soon-to-be followers.

My two favorite parts: the statement that obedience is a turning point in our life story and obeying brings blessing, and that catching fish, you make them die…catching people, you make them live.

At this point, they outlined some of their innovative plans for community outreach over the next month or two, reminding the worshipers that Jesus knows where the fish are.

We appreciated the time both pastors took following worship for conversation.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray this, Your church, will be empty, that they be the church out in the neighborhood winning souls for You. Amen.

First Baptist Church of Ambridge

Today we worshiped at First Baptist Church of Ambridge, 1112 Maplewood, Ambridge, PA 15003, 724.683.1998, Rev. Matthew R. Klenk, Pastor.

Scripture – NASB

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 –

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

2 Corinthians 7:8-9 –

For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it- for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while- I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.

Isaiah 41:1-10 –

"Coastlands, listen to Me in silence, And let the peoples gain new strength; Let them come forward, then let them speak; Let us come together for judgment. "Who has aroused one from the east Whom He calls in righteousness to His feet? He delivers up nations before him And subdues kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, As the wind-driven chaff with his bow.

"He pursues them, passing on in safety, By a way he had not been traversing with his feet.

"Who has performed and accomplished it, Calling forth the generations from the beginning? 'I, the LORD, am the first, and with the last. I am He.'"

The coastlands have seen and are afraid; The ends of the earth tremble; They have drawn near and have come. Each one helps his neighbor And says to his brother, "Be strong!" So the craftsman encourages the smelter, And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, Saying of the soldering, "It is good"; And he fastens it with nails, So that it will not totter.

"But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend, You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Proverbs 3:5-6 –

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

1 John 4:17-19 –

By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us.

1 Peter 5:1-11 –

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 6:25-34 –

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Bob’s thoughts:

From a chance meeting with the pastor at a local Walmart to our visit today to the church he pastors.

There were many crosses, as the pastor stated he holds them in the same importance as I do.

A dropped ceiling isolates the balcony, which is not currently used and which helps keep their utility bills low.

I appreciated the pastor in the early prayer referring to the church as God’s church.

The organ player plays every Sunday from the hymnal by ear and another member, who is blind, plays the accordion. Another member is a State Police officer who operates a safety program for children. Out of 30-some worshipers, an interesting involvement.

The pastor’s message was on overcoming your fears and anxiety and he quoted a lot of supportive Scripture.

When he quoted Matthew 6:27 where Jesus asked, “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” I couldn’t help but recall a message from one of my granddaughters that I would live to be 1,000 if I drank more water. I don’t know that I want to be around that long, but good advice nonetheless.

I liked a lot of what is going on at this little church and hope to talk to the pastor to refine a few things he said. It’s always interesting to see a growing church.

Jan’s thoughts:

This church has been on our list for a couple of months, ever since Bob encountered the pastor at WalMart and enjoyed an extended conversation.

The building is small with a nicely paved parking area adjacent. A planter beneath the marquee displayed some lovely flowers. We surely appreciated the air conditioning today.

We entered just as adult Sunday school was ending and took seats in the back. The pastor stopped to greet us and several other folks did the same. The pastor shared a little of the history of this church: it was started in the 1800s at another location, and the current building was built in 1916. With air conditioning, upgrades have obviously been made and right now, it’s just the right size for this congregation which is focusing on taking the Gospel to the community. Despite carrying the Baptist designation in their name, they are independent of any denominational affiliation.

The music was led by the excellent organist (who does not read music, we were told) and individuals at different points in the service, all of whom had fine voices.

The pastor confessed early on that he loved preaching, and he obviously felt appreciated by the congregation when he expressed his gratitude for a zucchini bread left for him as a gift. He also thanked the congregation for praying for him recently over a painful physical ailment which disappeared quickly.

In beginning the sermon, the pastor stated he wanted to address anxiety and fear. He reminded the congregation that anxiety comes from brokenness in the world and even when we do not feel God’s Presence, we can trust He is right beside us. Since most of what we worry about never happens, we should make it a practice to focus on the Kingdom of God and get past our fears by doing something good for others.

We left with the sense this is a close-knit church family that is doing all they can to bring the Light of Christ to their neighbors.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray Your continued blessings in growing Your church and ask that You open their eyes to Your purposes for them. Amen.

New Hope Community Church

Today we worshiped at New Hope Community Church, 592 Beaver Road, Ambridge, PA 15003, 724.266.0890, www.4newhope.org, Rick Thornhill, Lead Pastor.

Scripture – NKJV

Ephesians 6:14-20

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’ ”

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Bob’s thoughts:

We were warmly welcomed at the door, including a hug.

I was disappointed not to find a cross until we stood up to sing and found the cross off to one side. There is still a lot of work going on as they continue to make this their church home. This is a somewhat complicated facility but I didn’t notice any signage.

I was impressed by a family sitting near us when I saw them hold hands during the corporate prayer. I also loved watching a father hold his young son as they exchanged hugs and kisses.

The volume was a little high for me but I think it has more to do with the acoustics of the space. The message and prayers were hard for me to hear also, I’m guessing due to the echo effect.

With my hearing problems, I’m not sure how accurate my grasp of the message might be. Something that stuck however was that Christ and Christianity draws us out of our comfort zone. I recalled how many times I have voiced my discomfort about performing a particular ministry and I swear I can hear God chuckle when that is the very situation I’m confronted with next.

The pastor told of a woman presenting herself for prayer who, it became obvious, was demon possessed. How ill-equipped we are to believe it or react…how do we explain the evil? The Devil is real.

A concept I hadn’t thought of was the pastor’s description of Paul in prison, chained to a Roman guard dressed in his armor while Paul writes what we read in Ephesians about putting on the full armor of God. May we remember to use the same protection when we face spiritual warfare.

Jan’s thoughts:

With the first snow of the season still falling, we decided to stay close to home today.

The last time we visited this church, they were meeting in the downstairs fellowship area and on the verge of moving to the sanctuary of this former Catholic church.

The pastor mentioned that recently a veteran’s memorial was dedicated which included a wall with a memorial object for a number of veterans. I would have liked to look at the wall more closely, but I think I’ll save that for a warmer day. The larger stone was engraved with the symbol of the Fallen Soldier, and looked striking even from across the street.

A gentleman greeted us and held the door for us as we entered and we were warmly welcomed by a number of people. There were many children among this congregation as well.

We sat more than halfway back but the architecture is such that an echo is unavoidable. The leadership is implementing a great deal of rehabilitation so this will likely be addressed.

The greeting time was much longer than anticipated, which was a fine thing as it gave everyone plenty of time to greet friends and visitors.

The pastor has spent the last four months preaching through the book of Ephesians in a series entitled Onward Christian Soldiers and today’s entry, We Will Not Lose, was the final part.

He began by reviewing some of last week’s message, and the topic of this message was the reality, as taught in the Word of God, of the Devil and demons and the existence of evil. In this section of Scripture, Paul gives us the defensive weapons we need: the Full Armor of God. The Shield of Faith extinguishes the fiery darts of the Evil One; the Helmet protects the vulnerable battlefield of the mind no matter what lies Satan throws at us; and the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. He taught that it is only when we speak our testimony that the sword becomes the double-edged sword God intended it to be.

The joy of this congregation was contrasted by the serious tone of the message, but I truly appreciated being here to be reminded of God’s ultimate power and authority.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, it has been exciting to see how You have grown Your church. We pray Your continued blessings upon Your people here. Amen.

The Chapel on Merchant

Yesterday we worshiped at The Chapel on Merchant, 452 Merchant Street, Ambridge, PA 15003, 724.650.1885, Pastor Josh Fillip.

Scripture – Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Bob’s thoughts:

While waiting for repairs on my truck I got to walk through this neighborhood and thought I had discovered The Chapel myself. I didn’t see God’s orchestration till I learned we had a commitment on Sunday and this Saturday night service was where we needed to be.

We were welcomed to worship at this storefront ministry.

I enjoyed the female lead and others who played and sang.

The pastor’s style seems to fit his congregation and his message was well received. The sermon, “God is Greater,” was a simple message that we all need to hear every day. There is nothing you are experiencing that God isn’t greater than. The pastor said he prays during the week about what to preach on, and he obeyed well.

Some points: God will meet you where you are, and when sin is on the rise in your life, God’s power is still greater. We all need reminded that He is with us no matter what we are experiencing now. Even in situations beyond our imagination, God is still greater

My favorite line: “God is in the restoration business.” Christ redeemed me…proof He can save you.

There were good Scriptural references to support the message. The crosses I found were on banners on the walls.

I appreciated the opportunity to speak with the pastor after the service.

Jan’s thoughts:

This week, as we sought a Saturday evening service, Bob discovered this church while on walkabout. Half of the inside is a thrift shop while the other half is set up as a worship space with chairs, an overhead projector, banners, and pictures.

We arrived early and, not realizing the thrift shop area was not open for business, wandered around looking at things. When I asked about an item, I was instructed to include whatever I wanted to pay in the offering.

We sat near the back and a nearby table welcomed everyone with coffee and cookies. On one of his trips past us, the pastor offered us water, which I gratefully accepted.

Several folks greeted us before and after worship.

Music was well led by a unique duo comprised of a keyboardist and a vocalist with a ukulele as well as another gentleman who played an acoustic guitar. They led contemporary tunes and traditional hymns for this Reformation weekend worship.

The pastor’s message was entitled “God is Greater” and emphasized His sovereignty over every struggle, valley, sin, and addiction in our lives. The pastor reminded that God has all the answers we seek and He meets us where we are.

The pastor offered individual prayer to anyone who wished to come forward after the benediction.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray for Your blessing on this church and their ministry to the neighborhood as they work to help restore this area. Amen.

The United Presbyterian Church of Ambridge

Today we worshiped at The United Presbyterian Church of Ambridge, 823 Maplewood Avenue, Ambridge, PA 15003, 724.266.1900.

Scripture – Mark 12:41-44 NIV

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Bob’s thoughts:

This church had been on my list to visit since shortly after we moved to Economy. I was looking for the “Center for Hope” to see if I could donate produce and I stopped to ask a man cleaning his car. He gave me directions “to where the milk plant used to be,” which I had no clue about. I took advantage of his knowledge of local places and asked if he could tell me where The Ladle was. He had an odd look on his face when he told me to turn around, as it was behind me.

The Ladle has a weekly meal for those in need and I thought it might be an outlet for the produce I was growing.

The sanctuary features a large domed ceiling, rich stained glass, and a large cross mounted over the organ pipes.

We were greeted warmly by a number of people and engaged in conversation before and after the service. This seems to be a larger facility but didn’t see any signage.

The long-time minister had recently retired and the visiting minister was the Ministry Director for The Uncommon Grounds, a local mission. One of our daughters volunteered there some years ago and I still remember how good the coffee was.

The pastor mentioned one of his daughters had visited Zambia and it brought to mind Jan’s mission trips to Malawi and stories I had heard about eating the chicken served by the host family while hungry family members looked in the window.

Pittsburgh Presbytery developed a partnership with Malawi and participated in the reciprocal visits. As Americans we gave money freely from our abundance, but the partnership was unbalanced in that the Malawians gave what was most valuable, they shared Jesus Christ. Those who were some of the poorest people of Africa were the real missionaries in bringing Christ here.

The pastor developed the message well with good Scriptural references and it was a joy to talk with him and some of his family after the service.

Jan’s thoughts:

The Ladle is an area soup kitchen we have heard about for some time but all we really knew was that it was held at this church. We have learned it is actually a non-profit corporation that is a vital source of assistance for many in Ambridge. I hope you will click HERE to learn more about The Ladle and the valuable work they do.

Someone came out to greet us even though we arrived in the midst of adult Sunday School in the sanctuary, and we were warmly welcomed by many before and after worship.

The sanctuary architecture included a central dome surrounded by arches and pews arranged in a semi-circle.

The long-time pastor retired last month so the church is in the process of identifying an interim. One thing we have noticed about many churches in Beaver Butler Presbytery are the long pastorates, though I can’t say we have any theories about why that is the case.

The church welcomed Pastor Herb Bailey to the pulpit this morning. Pastor Bailey is the Ministry Director at the Uncommon Grounds Café in Aliquippa, a “café, venue, and ministry” that is well known and respected in this area. (Please click HERE to visit the Uncommon Grounds’ website and learn about their unique ministry.)

Pastor Bailey’s message entitled “It’s the Little Things” spoke of giving our best, that we should give even when we don’t have it and avoid clinging to things with no lasting significance. He pointed out that we should also be sharing our testimony of what God has done in our lives, and reminded that we are all only stewards of what actually belongs to God.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we lift up this congregation to You as they do the work of finding the pastor you are calling for them. We pray for their time in prayer, that they will discover Your call for this church. Amen.

Allison Park Church

Today we worshiped at Allison Park Church, 424 Duss Avenue, Ambridge, PA 15003, 412.487.7220, www.allisonparkchurch.com, Eddie Galindo, Pastor.

Scripture – Ephesians 4:26-27

In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Bob’s thoughts:

After attempts to worship where we chose, God redirected us to where He would meet with us in worship.

I meant to ask what this building was; they have adapted well to church service. I like the large wooden cross off to the side in the shadows. At first I thought it might be better with a small spotlight but after some reflection I think it is just right as it is…a reminder that Christ is always there in the Spirit.

We were warmly welcomed and a number of folks remembered us from our previous visit last November.

We were honored to be able to include our prayers for a stroke victim from the church.

The sermon was about anger, how anger itself is not wrong but unresolved anger is the problem. A great line: “If you don’t let go of anger, it won’t let go of you.” The pastor detailed a plan for dealing with anger and offered an altar call at the end of the service, giving an opportunity for those who were struggling with releasing their anger to come forward for prayer.

I could not think of any unresolved anger in my life now. I had my share when I was younger, but somewhere along the way God convinced me to leave the retribution in His hands. It was hard to accept, but once I obeyed I was overwhelmed.

Jan’s thoughts:

Every time I think WE decide where we’ll attend church, I hear the sermon/message and leave knowing God meant for us to be there.

This church is one of the newer branches of Allison Park Church. About five people greeted us before we found seats, and several spoke with us before and after the service.

Music leadership consisted of the pastor’s wife on keyboard and singing lead, a second vocalist whose voice blended quite well, a guitar, and drums. The sound and the volume were excellent.

The message was presented on the very large screen by Pastor Jeff Leake from APC campus in Hampton. In part 4 of his series How to Survive in a Dysfunctional Family, the topic was overcoming anger.

He began with the observation that dysfunction within a family is normal, which I found comforting. The problem is when anger is unresolved, gains a foothold, and consumes a person. This is one of Satan’s tools: he will mess with our relational world until it feels like everything is messed up and nothing is right.

He pointed out that if you don’t let go of your anger, your anger won’t let go of you, then stated that anger results from a blocked goal…something we think we should have but do not…and listed five steps for resolving anger.

1 – Identify what it is you lack, why you don’t have it, and who is to blame, who it is you are angry with (James 4:1-2).

2 – Grieve it. Talk to God about it and make a willful choice to give Him the pain.

3 – Release it. Forgive the offender and let it go. “Pain is cholesterol to spiritual veins.”

4 – Process it. Talk to the offender using “I” statements. Not talking to them about it puts up an unspoken wall.

5 – Plan it. Plan for how to deal with the pain if/when the situation arises again. Engage the help of a coach if necessary, but fight the feeling of powerlessness because that is the origin of the pain.

I found this message incredibly helpful and I plan to use these strategies in some relationships where I have felt stymied. This gives me hope, and I’m so grateful.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray this church will remember to release their anger quickly and live in the light of Your grace. Amen.

Bridgeway Church / Allison Park Church

Today we worshiped at Bridgeway Church / Allison Park Church, 424 Duss Avenue, Ambridge, PA 15003.

Scripture – Acts 11:25-26

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Bob’s thoughts:

It was interesting to get back to Bridgeway/Allison Park Church; the affiliation is very recent.

Through most of the service I lamented the lack of a cross. After the service, as we talked with the pastor, he pointed out the large wooden cross that had been hidden from our view.

We were warmly greeted when we came in, and we found the welcome desk had ear plugs. I saw the lead singer put hers in and did likewise, but it turned out I didn’t need them.

I made several vain attempts to get a question in at the welcome desk.

I wish the video screens were higher since both were obscured for me by taller people.

A few women greeted us after the service and wished us well.

The sermon was projected from Allison Park Church and presented by Jeff Leake. I thought he delivered a passionate message that was well supported scripturally.

I felt blessed to be able to pray for this congregation as they go through this transition.

Jan’s thoughts:

We opted for a nearby church as we get back into visitation mode.

The people were just as friendly as the last visit, several greeting us almost right away when we entered.

One of the personable greeters turned out to be the pastor’s wife; she informed us that the church was transitioning to become a satellite of Allison Park Church. Indeed, the printed material we saw and received all indicated this to be the case, and the website is on its way to reflecting this reality.

Prior to the message we watched a video showing 5-10 second clips of missionaries around the world thanking APC for their generous support in places like Kenya, China, Nicaragua, India, Indonesia, Utah, Tanzania, Thailand, and Pittsburgh. This was well done and would be a terrific type of reminder in any church of the good accomplished by their mission support.

“Faith Promises” (aka financial pledges made based on faith in God’s ability to provide) were presented to the church today following a message from Pastor Jeff Leake from APC. The message taught that God blesses His children not just so they can life a better life but so they can bless others, bring Him glory, and so He can use them to bless His hurting, needy world.

I‘m afraid it is far too easy to forget sometimes that we are blessed to be a blessing. This Thursday, as we thank God for all the ways in which He has blessed us, hopefully we will remember to thank Him for all the ways He provides for us to bless others.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray for Your continued Presence with this congregation as they complete this transition. Encourage them and bind them together as they grow in Christ. Amen.

Real Life Christian Church

Today we worshiped at Real Life Christian Church, 233 Merchant Street, Ambridge, PA 15003, 724.252.6299, www.RealLife4You.com, Robert Hale, Pastor.

 

Scripture – I Corinthians 2:16
For,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

 

Bob’s thoughts:

The church was toasty warm on a cold day, and to make the welcome warmer, I was also greeted by a Marine. The only cross I found was projected on the screen before the service.

During the announcements they talked about a free dinner for their neighbors on the 22^nd. The food will be provided by Discovery Church in Cranberry and the only thing they would need is cookies. The plan is to pack some cookies in a bag with an invitation to attend worship here…a viable plan.

The pastor prayed insightfully for what he might say and for what the people might hear.

The sermon was part of a series on maybe lesser-thought-of “Gifts of Christ.” Past weeks were on direction and rest, today’s on perspective.

In 2 Kings 6:15-17, when the servant expressed his fear of the army surrounding them, Elisha asked God to open the servant’s eyes to God’s perspective of the legions of angels surrounding them. We need to also pray for God’s perspective on our lives.

We were once forced to move from a house that we had lived in for some time. I was convinced that God had a place for us already picked out and I was completely at ease with His plan. I wish I had done a better job of convincing my family, but God’s plan worked perfectly and the next move we made was a lot easier for everyone to trust God’s perspective on where we were to go.

[Note from Jan: During that time Bob lead by example, and he convinced me to adopt his perspective. The more I said “God has a place for us,” the more I was able to believe that, and I was ever grateful for his example to follow.]

A reminder was quoted that Jesus stated wherever your treasure is, there your heart is also. Pray to “Please let me see life from Your perspective.”

For a number of years I tended an ever-larger garden that rendered a lot of produce to donate to the local food bank. I had convinced myself that even though the endeavor was killing me, it was God’s calling. When I finally asked for God’s perspective, I got a much different plan…God’s not Bob’s.

 

Jan’s thoughts:

We are well familiar with the Center for Hope in Ambridge but did not realize the building they vacated is now occupied by this church. Since the group is small, today they met in an area reminiscent of a school but is easier to heat than a church on this cold day.

The congregation is small and extremely friendly; I believe every single other person present greeted us.

The bulletin looks festive and is extremely readable.

Much effort is going into a free spaghetti dinner for the community next Sunday, December 22. It will be held here in conjunction with Discovery Christian Church in Cranberry. (Call 724.252.6299 for further information and/or to support this very worthy endeavor!)

This message series is “Christmas Gifts!” and focuses on unusual gifts such as direction and rest, and now perspective.

The pastor affirmed that how we see something makes all the difference. He outlined three steps: ask for it (“and keep asking”), wait for it (“you learn to wait by waiting”), and go for it (“do what you can when you can, walking in faith”).

In the course of his message the pastor suggested that if we really want to know how God sees something, we should ask God to help us see life from His perspective. He warned that when this prayer is from the heart God will answer it, and when He does, our perspective will change drastically. It can also aid in unwrapping God’s gift of perspective and putting it to use.

 

Our prayer for this church:
Father, we pray for Your guidance as this church steps out in faith, going into the community seeking those who do not yet know they are seeking You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.