Grace Church of Harmony

Today we worshiped at Grace Church of Harmony, 538 Main Street, Harmony, PA 16037, 724.452.7270, www.gcoh.org, Peter Everett, Senior Pastor.

Scripture – NIV

Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus also told them other parables. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

“So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.

“The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Romans 11:25-32

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all."

Bob’s thoughts:

We were turned around in our efforts to get to where we thought God was directing us to worship, and when we gave in to God’s leading we ended up at Grace.

An usher asked if we were there for a family’s child dedication and we responded that we were just visiting; our only other conversation was with a woman who introduced herself after the service although I couldn’t help but smile at the friendly gestures from some babies I interacted with. My memory from our last visit was of a much friendlier, albeit early, service.

The youth pastor gave the announcements and asked visitors to fill in the pew card so they could pray for them during the week.

The music today was great, especially the violin.

The sermon started with a story of missionary efforts being redirected by God, which made me think of how many times – like today – when we have been redirected. We need to follow GPS: God’s Promises in Scripture.

Jan’s thoughts:

We visited the early service at this church just over a year ago and today we participated in the later service. Apparently today we were far from the only visitors due to a child dedication during the service. Once inside we were looking around and one gentleman paused on his way through the lobby area to offer directions to the facilities.

As we found seats I wondered how long it had been since I sat in a regular pew. Somehow it felt right to be in such traditional surroundings on this First Sunday of Advent.

The uplifting music was superb, helped along by the violin, two guitars, and another instrument just out of my line of sight. The special music for the offering was one that was new to me called “How Many Kings,” a moving song that I highly recommend.

I appreciated the sermon outline provided in the Order of Worship since this message, “Future Restoration,” was part of a series based on the deeply theological book of Romans. The future restoration referred to is of Israel, as he reminded that “God has everything in human history and in your life planned out to the last detail,” that “His promise to Abraham is irrevocable…when God says He will do something, it will happen for certain.” Final points included the strong reminder that “No unbeliever is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.”

At times we wonder what is taking God so long, what is the purpose behind the “delay” in whatever it is we anticipate, be it the resolution of some issue in our life or the return of Jesus Christ. If we keep in mind that, as the pastor pointed out, our salvation is by God’s mercy alone, perhaps we can learn to wait patiently in faith and gratitude, knowing that He is allowing what is best for us as well as for the rest of the world. Although we do not understand it, happily, this is easy for the God Who created the universe. “You will never regret living like you believed God.”

Our prayer for this church:

Father, we pray Your church recognizes Your redirection and that they continue to follow You. Amen.

Grace Church of Harmony

Today we worshiped at Grace Church of Harmony, 538 Main Street, Harmony, PA 16037, 724.452.7270, www.gcoh.org, Peter Everett, Senior Pastor.

Scripture

Philippians 2:12-18 –

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Luke 12:22-34

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:

We were early and the only person we saw upstairs said good morning in passing. When we were downstairs another woman said a cheery hello and, noticing my interest in the kitchen, stepped out to ask if we were visitors. She was quick to apologize for not having a greeter in the narthex and quite surprised when I said I might do the job. She made me feel like family.

We joined about 70-80 people for an 8 a.m. service. The sanctuary is pleasant, and while reading the announcements on the screen I wondered if the screen might be hiding a cross. When the service began I was pleased to see displayed on the screen a photo of the cross and the organ pipes it obscured.

The signage I saw was small and simple but effective.

Many songs were accompanied by a French horn, which was a real asset. The male soloist who played guitar during the offering sounded professional. I believe there were also two men playing guitars and two men and a woman singing vocals. I wish we could have heard the woman’s voice. The songs were good and sung with passion usually reserved for “Here I Am, Lord.”

The Youth Pastor read some of the Scripture and I liked the inflection in his voice.

It sounded like an instrument amplifier was left on during the message, which could detract. But I realized that the sermon seemed long to me because he was preaching to the choir: it was a message I completely agree with. I don’t remember to whom the line was credited, but it reminded me of relatives and friends I have known: “I have had a lot of trouble, most of which never happens.”

The pastor acknowledged he was preaching to himself, and me likewise. We know it to be true and can extoll it to others, but we fail miserably at living it. We are blessed that our Lord understands and forgives us.

Sometimes there is a word or two that really speaks to me and today it was “our stuff owns us.” Guilty and determined to do something about it. I will trust my personal security to GPS: God Personified in the Son.

Jan’s thoughts:

We arrived with plenty of time to look around this well laid out and cared for facility. As we toured we encountered several people who greeted us warmly. This is another church that, even with two services, recognized visitors.

From all indications, the signage is a work in progress, but there was enough to point us in the right direction.

Mission seems to be very high on the list for this church. Bulletin boards and other displays indicate support for numerous missionaries who looked to be international but I could find no indication of what location they were serving.

Ministry to the youth is another area of importance, proven by the presence of a friendly and well-spoken Youth Pastor.

The sanctuary is lovely, with white and off-white walls accentuated with varying shades of purple which brought out the colors of the stained glass and allowed the bit of bright red in the windows to really stand out.

The music was led by a director with a strong voice and provided by several talented people who, if they are not professional certainly could have been. Their sound was unique, and with a keyboard and two guitars, I think the unique sound I was hearing was the French horn, which added a lot. I appreciated the special music during the offering also…the soloist accompanied himself on the guitar and sounded a lot like a country singer whose name escapes me.

The message, “Fear Not, the Kingdom Is Yours,” was presented by Associate Pastor Eric Rodes and centered on the uselessness and, indeed, sinfulness of worry. He pointed out that worry drains our ability to get something done and it is Satan’s lie that it gets us somewhere.

He declared that what worry does do is cast doubt on God’s care; the world says you are poor if you lack certain things, but it is the one who has a lot and wants more who is poor, while the one who is content with less is rich. “Having” is not the problem; the issue is how you view what you have. The biblical perspective means you (1) hold it loosely, (2) use it for the Kingdom, and (3) be prepared to let go of it if/when God asks you to. Otherwise it owns us and prevents us from ministering freely to others because we see them as enemies.

God has recently been guiding me into considering the negative effects of worry and today’s message has given me further food for thought. It is so easy to buy into the world’s messages, but God’s messages are countercultural. The world says I should be thinner, richer, have a bigger house, a more expensive vehicle, take luxurious vacations; God reminds me He has already blessed me beyond anything I could have imagined and if I will simply be the person He made me to be and do what He placed me here to do, I will be happy because I am fulfilling His plan for me.

The idea of choosing to be happy with what God has provided is, I think, what Paul meant in Philippians 3:7 when he wrote, “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” To choose not to worry about what we feel we’ve lost in this life and instead decide to be happy with what God has given us if for no other reason than because it comes from the hand of Christ, trusting His love and provision. I think I have come to believe that is the key to happiness and contentment.

Our prayer for this church:
Lord, help us all to rid our lives of the things that separate us from You. We pray for the grace to trust and obey. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.