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.

LifePointe Alliance Church

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

Scripture – Genesis 49:1-15 NIV

Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

“Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.

“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it.

“Simeon and Levi are brothers— their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.

“Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk.

“Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon. “Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down among the sheep pens. When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor.

Bob’s thoughts:

We were warmly greeted, engaged in conversation, and encouraged to get a great cup of coffee, something I next to never say drinking decaf.

The sun was too bright to open the curtain obscuring the stained-glass cross, but just knowing it was there was enough today.

I saw no directional signage when searching for a restroom, making it somewhat more challenging.

There was an altar call for prayer early in the service. I noted a woman who, when she came in, I sensed she needed prayer. After she went forward for prayer, I was convinced our prayers had been heard.

The pastor shared a “holy cow” moment: while at Chic-Fil-A on Valentine’s Day, the cow presented his son-in-law with an announcement that he will be a dad again.

The pastor’s passionate message was on Jacob’s blessing on his sons and presented the concept of positive and negative blessings. My wife’s job was recently outsourced and this negative has become a positive blessing. The message was delivered with enthusiasm and Scriptural references.

It is always a joy to worship and feel Christ’s presence not just in worship but in the church in general. I hope we do get to visit again soon.

Jan’s thoughts:

We arrived with enough time to look around and get some coffee. After finding seats in the hallway, we were welcomed by several folks who stopped to chat and introduce themselves. It was relaxed and welcoming.

Two projection screens service the large worship area and even from where we sat in the back, they were easily readable.

Worship began with contemporary songs, some of which were unfamiliar to me but were all well presented. The volume was perfect.

The pastor has been preaching through Genesis, and today he began with chapter 49 where Jacob blesses his sons.

He began by telling a heartwarming story about his father-in-law, who believed he was dying and called his family to his bedside on a particular day. They all came and took turns telling him how much he meant to them and how much they loved him. The pastor characterized it as a memorial service prior to the passing. It was a couple more weeks before the man actually passed, but the family has this special memory to hold on to. He explained this was similar to what was going on with Jacob and his sons, though in addition to bestowing blessings, Jacob also prophesied about each.

The oldest, Reuben, lost his birthright because he was not steadfast in his faith and because he slept with his step-mother. Simeon and Levi were judged due to their cruel anger and animal cruelty. Interestingly, much later, the tribe of Levi turned their anger instead toward Satan, so God redeemed their anger and made them the priestly tribe.

A side note about angry brothers: The disciples known as the Sons of Thunder, James and John, were known for their anger as well, but they were transformed by spending time with Christ. I view this as a clear indicator about how to deal with anger.

The pastor wound up the message talking about the tribe of Issachar, which Jacob stated was lazy. The pastor had strong words about laziness and about marijuana use, which has been shown to cause people to become withdrawn, lethargic, and apathetic. He prayed for the State of Pennsylvania, which is now considering legalizing marijuana.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray this congregation are good stewards and active in bringing other lost sheep into the fold. Amen.

Old Union Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Old Union Presbyterian Church, 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046, 724.538.8672, www.oldunionchurch.com, Rev. Dr. Peter de Vries, Pastor.

Scripture – NIV

Zechariah 2:10-13 –

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord.

“Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”

Malachi 4:1-6 –

“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty.

“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

Luke 3:1-18 –

“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.’ ”

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

Bob’s thoughts:

We showed up an hour early for the second time based on online information. Rather than wait an hour, we searched for a place to eat. We did eventually find the place we were looking for, but it caused us to be a few minutes late. Understandably there is no way to say if we would have been greeted.

I enjoyed the large wooden cross on the wall and an additional projection screen in the side annex where we sat. Signage was minimally-sized but adequate to locate the restrooms and sanctuary.

We were blessed to be here for a solo by a young woman and that the pastor got to sit with the congregation for a Sunday. I believe most pastors would welcome such a chance.

Thought the gentleman reading Scripture had an excellent recovery to a problem in the delivery.

We are called to complete repentance, not “I’ll try not to do this next time.” She quoted a statistic, that visitors decide to stay/return in less than one minute. Greet them that you don’t know, not just those you see every week.

We were once members of a small church that in one year took in 40 new members because someone spoke to them.

Mission and evangelism overlap, but one thing that works is to tell your story, one on one.

Jan’s thoughts:

We arrived during the announcements and quickly found seats in the back of the crowded sanctuary.

At first I was perplexed, as worship leadership seemed to be provided by different people from among the congregation and the choir. After the service we learned that, in commemoration of the pastor’s 25^th anniversary at this church, the session had given him the opportunity to simply worship while they led the service. In the course of the conversation, he expressed his deep appreciation for this wonderful gift.

The sermon, Making Your Choice, was presented by a choir member. She asked, “What if John the Baptist (or Abram, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jonah, or Paul) had chosen not to do what God asked of them?” She quoted statistics indicating that just over 41% of the world’s population had not heard the Gospel in spite of Jesus’ Great Commission, and outlined five ways individual members could support missions:

1 – Pray, by far the most vital and most appreciated form of support.

2 – Connect, and make it personal.

3 – Welcome visitors. She offered the most recent statistic, that visitors to a church decide within the first 30 seconds whether or not they will return.

4 – Mobilize, and get others interested.

5 – Go. It’s not necessary to go to another country; you can almost certainly find people right down the street who don’t know Christ.

She closed with the reminder that we make a choice with every person we meet.

Several people welcomed us after the service and we were invited to attend the luncheon for the pastor.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray Your church will share their story and spread the Good News. Amen.

Mars United Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Mars United Presbyterian Church, 232 Crowe Avenue, PO Box 805, Mars, PA 16046, 724.625.1365, www.mars-up.org, Rev. James Steiner, Interim Pastor.

Scripture – Job 13:1-12 NIV

“My eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it. What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God. You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you! If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom. Hear now my argument; listen to the pleas of my lips. Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him? Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God? Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal? He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality. Would not his splendor terrify you? Would not the dread of him fall on you? Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

Bob’s thoughts:

After some confusion over a church start time not being updated on a website, we ended up with time to kill and found a good breakfast place with delicious coffee and a church nearby where we could worship.

This small church is older but has a modern feel to it. There are dual projection screens and a third for the side-facing choir. The choir sounded pleasant but the print on the screens was small and so poorly contrasted as to be mostly unreadable. The congregation is older and I’m sure would benefit from more readable monitors.

I might have to pick up the book from the children’s message for our grandchildren. The message went well and was a good segue to today’s message: How NOT to Console a Friend, a favorite subject of mine. The valuable advice: show up, shut up, and keep up.

My favorite memory is visiting a widow from our church. I never spoke a word; I got her water, tissue, held her hand, steadied her walk, I listened only. She commented later that what I said meant the most to her in her sorrow. Be there. Place a reminder on your calendar to send a note on the anniversary of the loss. Don’t hesitate to bring up the loss, even if the bereaved doesn’t want to talk then about the person, they will still appreciate knowing you remember.

Let them talk! My therapy when our son was killed was to talk about our loss and his life and witness. Jesus Christ got us through the tough times but talking about him let us recover some sense of reality. It is a new normal and it takes time to get there.

A few people said hello and a woman spoke to us after the service, sharing their hopes of rebuilding as a church during this interim period. We did see some younger folks in worship, which is a good start. I don’t know if they have done a church assessment yet but hope they are praying to discern what God wants next for His church.

Jan’s thoughts:

After an unpredictable morning and redirection, we arrived just before the 11 a.m. service.

A few people welcomed us in the short time before the service began, and others greeted us during and after worship.

It has been 9½ years since our last visit to this church and we found it interesting that we recalled only one physical element of the facility: the doors separating the sanctuary from the fellowship area.

The sanctuary is traditional and the atmosphere formal…this felt like the church in which I grew up. It has been some time since we followed along with a bulletin and an order of worship.

The 11-member choir wore identical robes and a group photo was displayed on the monitors during the anthem.

The church welcomed Rev. Liddy Barlow as the guest preacher. Rev. Barlow has served as Executive Minister of Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania since April 2014.

The message was entitled “How NOT to Console a Friend” and was based on both Job and her personal experience with loss. I appreciated her positive perspective on what one can do to comfort a friend in grief:

1 – Show up. In other words, be there, connect, and offer to perform specific tasks or functions as opposed to saying “Let me know if I can do anything.”

2 – Shut up…and listen. I have found this hard to remember sometimes.

3 – Keep up. Just as there is no timeline for grief, there should be no expiration date on showing care and concern for a friend who is experiencing a hard season of life.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray You will unite Your church in one accord to follow Your direction. May we all know the joy of serving You. Amen.

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church

Today we worshiped at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 420 Beaver Street, PO Box 411, Mars, PA 16046, 724.625.1830, www.stjohnchurchmars.org, Rev. Robert Zimmerman, Pastor.

Scripture – NKJV

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 –

‘For thus says the Lord GOD: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord GOD. “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”

‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD to them: “Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them— My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.

Ephesians 1:15-23 –

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Matthew 25:31-46 –

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Bob’s thoughts:

We got to the church just as the music was starting, so I don’t know if we would have been greeted.

I was pleased to see a wooden cross that, from where we sat, looked like it was suspended, and a large round stained glass window depicting Christ with outstretched arms. I was also glad to see Pastor Susie again, and what a treat to hear the organist/pianist sing…there was a special tone to her worship.

The sermon was on God’s judgment and supported by Scripture from Christ to His disciples in Matthew 25:31-46. Many believe in error that their salvation is in jeopardy due to a lack of works. I think the real error is that we judge ourselves as being somehow good enough.

Again it was a joy to hear the sweet voice of praise in the offertory anthem.

Following worship, we were glad to have a few minutes with Pastor Susie and to pray with her.

Jan’s thoughts:

In seeking an early worship opportunity, we opted for the 8:00 service. We arrived with barely enough time to find a seat but were surprised as we entered the sanctuary and recognized the pastor. We met Pastor Susie five weeks ago, and she was filling in today. It was a joy to see her again!

The atmosphere in this large sanctuary was traditional, with a great deal of wood and intricate stained glass.

Sometimes Lutheran liturgy can be confusing for those who don’t follow it regularly, so I was grateful everything was printed in the order of worship except for the hymns.

We were welcomed during the greeting time as well as after worship.

There were a couple of solos performed by the keyboardist, who had an exceptional voice.

I was pleased to be able to partake of Communion, which was administered with a spoken reminder that this was Christ’s Body given for me.

The untitled sermon for this Christ the King Sunday focused on Christ’s promised return as the Judge of the world and a reminder to be kind to others because that is how Jesus treated us.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray Your children are always willing to feed, clothe, and care for You, however You appear. Amen.

Woodland Valley Church

Today we worshiped at Woodland Valley Church, 225 Crowe Avenue, PO Box 815, Mars, PA 16046, 724.625.4500, www.woodlandvalley.org, Pastor Norb Levesque.

Scripture – KJV

Ephesians 5:20 –

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 –

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

Philippians 4:19 –

My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Romans 12:15 –

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Bob’s thoughts:

We had planned to visit here last week, but when Jan was ill we put it off. It was nice to know where we would be worshiping today. It has been a few years since we were here; I remembered the parking lot and entry and not much else.

I did see some signage and was able to find my way and I was happy to see the cross on the stage.

The worship area was set up with tables and chairs to facilitate a pot luck meal after the service. I thought it was odd that half of the congregation would have their backs to the stage and screens before I remembered there would have been a screen for the praise team on the back wall.

The praise team sounded pleasant together and it was enjoyable to hear songs I was familiar with.

I was welcomed and introduced to other members nearby.

The sermon title for me could have been “What Possesses Me?” For a long time my god was my tools and equipment, until God adjusted my perspective. I thought the message developed easily for the congregation with plenty of Scripture references. I noticed a lot of note-taking. Though the theme was give thanks for all that God has given you at all times, it was interesting to include give thanks for what He has not given you, especially what we deserve.

A quote I liked: “If there is anything you want, let me know and I will come and show you how to get along without it.” Another thought I liked was that we should give thanks for what God has given others.

I have been working on getting rid of things I no longer use, and each item that leaves, there is a great peace that comes to me. Recently as I was walking to the garage, I felt God guiding me to get rid of a lot more than I planned, and with obedience, that great peace washed over me anew.

It was a personal joy to watch a man signing to his wife during the service. It brought back such pleasant memories of one of our daughters signing in church. When our daughter signed the Lord’s Prayer, I had to step out to compose myself, it was so powerful.

We were glad to speak to the pastor and others after the service and to meet some of the pastor’s family.

Jan’s thoughts:

We visited this church only once before, about four years ago.

The first thing I noticed this time was the abundance of youth, especially middle school and high school ages. And they were involved handing out bulletins, singing in the praise team, and I’m sure various other ways. It’s sad to note this sort of involvement as out of the ordinary.

The building had been a school before, and the worship area had been a gymnasium. However I was unprepared for the way it was set up: three long rows of tables with chairs on either side. It made great sense, though, when we learned everyone would celebrate a congregational Thanksgiving meal immediately following worship. And it made for an intriguing set up for the service.

A number of folks greeted us, introducing themselves and taking the time for conversation. We were invited a handful of times to stay for the brunch, but we were forced to decline as we had other plans.

Given the acoustics, I wondered if the music would be unbearably loud, but the volume was perfect and the voices harmonious. One tidbit I thought was interesting was one of the songs had a phrase that was repeated, and the first time that phrase was sung the words were displayed in black, and in the repeat, they were in purple. An interesting touch, I thought.

The message, The Key to a Thankful Heart, spoke clearly about contentment, which he defined as “an inner sufficiency that keeps us at peace in spite of outward circumstances.” He said contentment does not come from our spouse, our possessions, our job, or anything else we have or don’t have…it comes from God alone.

He urged us to:

1 – count our blessings and be thankful for what God has given us;

2 – recognize there is a difference between needs and wants and be thankful for what God has NOT given us;

3 – be thankful for what God has given others, and stop trying to keep up with the Joneses.

He said the most important key to happiness is not, “What do I possess?” The key question is, “What possesses me?” An excellent question to ask ourselves, especially at this time of the year.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray Your church here will praise You in all things, for what You bless them with and what You withhold. Amen.

Mars Alliance Church

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

Scripture – Matthew 7:7-23 NIV

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

Bob’s thoughts:

Although we arrived just as the service was starting, we were greeted during the welcome time and I got to greet a Marine who serves as an associate pastor…that always makes me feel welcome.

I meant to get a closer look at the screens but the support system made them look like they belonged there, and the placement was excellent. I could only find small crosses like the ceiling fixtures but there is a striking stained glass cross window at the rear of the chancel behind some drapes. I thought it would be great to uncover it for parts of the service. A scenic vista was projected lightly on the side walls during the message.

We “gray hairs” seemed to outnumber the youth…a bit unusual for contemporary worship. The lead singer was hard to understand when she spoke, I don’t know if the problem was fixed later or it was just that the words were on the screen.

A courageous witness came from a young woman we assumed to be a member till we spoke with her later. She had suffered with sexual identity issues till surrendering her problem to Christ. What He did is not a surprise but the strength He gave to her to relate her story was overwhelming / impressive / inspiring. I understand she suffered rejection and abuse from those who should have been supportive.

I heard Christ speaking through the message to come to the Lord with asking, seeking, and knocking. We are all guilty in our walk. I find I am always reluctant when it involves me. To come to Christ asking for healing for others is natural every day, but I seem to need to be hit upside the head with a few bricks before I ask for myself, even with a history of not being forsaken in those prayers.

The pastor did an excellent job of making the Scriptures relevant to the congregation, and used modern imagery to help explain the analogy of the HOV lane for the narrow way. I thought he could have included that you can’t get in on your own…you need someone with you – Jesus Christ.

Jan’s thoughts:

It has been 3 years and a new pastor since we last visited this church. The modern, sprawling facility is clean and well kept with pleasing aesthetics. Since we arrived about 5 minutes late to this contemporary service, we missed some of the music.

I was pleased to witness the commissioning of a group of young people for a mission trip to Charleston, South Carolina. The leader who spoke stated they are trusting God for their safety and the good He will bring from their efforts.

The praise band lead singer had a strong, lovely voice and I enjoyed hearing her lead her original composition.

Prior to introducing a speaker, the pastor asked that all children under the age of 10 step outside in the hallway with the pastor’s wife to play a few games for 10 minutes. The visiting speaker, Amy, proceeded to give her brave personal testimony that centered on her struggle with same-sex attraction. This message was exceedingly well presented with no hint of excuses or self-pity, just her personal story of her efforts to “work harder” to remove this from her mind and life. Her story concluded with her ultimate success which came only as a result of finally surrendering to Jesus Christ. Her concluding reminders were that “strongholds grow in the dark” and we each need to know who we are and who God made us to be.

Amy’s testimony was followed by a call for those desiring prayer.

The message was untitled as far as I could tell, but covered a lot of ground with some great points and terrific graphics that were on point.

For the familiar ask, seek, knock passage, he said the first step was to just ask; the second step is to seek, which is asking + action; and the third step is to knock, which is asking + action + attitude.

I appreciated this encouraging message and the passion with which it was delivered.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray that those who needed to hear the witness take it to heart and that we all strive for the straight and narrow way. Amen.

Mars Alliance Church

Today we worshiped at Mars Alliance Church, 997 Route 228, Mars, PA 16046, 724.776.9400, www.marsalliance.org, Rev. Stan Sanger, Interim Senior Pastor.

Scripture – Luke 24:36-49:

“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?

Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’”

Matthew 5:9:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

John 14:27:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Bob’s thoughts:

We have driven past this church often, and I had a few questions should we ever be led to visit…questions I remembered right up till our visit today.

We parked in a visitor spot right in front of a door marked ‘entrance,’ but had the early service not been singing the closing hymn, I’m not sure we would have found the Sanctuary.

There seems to be a lot of signage but what I found had more to do with internal programs. We did find restrooms near the Sanctuary. The men’s room was clean, bright, and uncluttered, with a pleasant color scheme.

The Sanctuary is open with a high wood beam domed ceiling. The rear is open to the hallways but only a few times did voices carry in. The central stained glass panel is a cross, in addition to the one on the Communion table as well as on the light fixtures, so I was happy.

We were welcomed by two pastors, and even though I expect not to be recognized as a visitor at a church with multiple services, it was surprising that both pastors introduced themselves. It almost seemed to me that the members were okay with that and didn’t feel the need to say hello.

I was pleased to see a billboard recognizing church members in military service, and an usher realized I was former military and thanked me for my service.

We arrived a little early and I got to listen in on some of the praise team rehearsal. Three females sang together with great harmony; during the service the balance seemed off a bit and I lost one voice, but I would bet it was more my ears and sitting in the last pew. The praise team showed passion that I didn’t sense with the congregation. Perhaps it was that we “gray hairs” were the majority at this contemporary service and we sometimes like to listen and enjoy more than we like to sing.

Like any other first-time visitors, we never know of the other aspects of the worship service, only what we experience that day.

The sermon on peace included a reference I loved: when we are doing our ‘peace talks’ – how we share Christ’s peace with others.

My favorite part is the time I get to pray for the churches we visit.

Jan’s thoughts:

The facility is modern and spacious, with good signage. The Worship Center is open, high ceilinged and good acoustics (in my opinion).

Many people greeted us with a smile while the couple in the pew in front of us introduced themselves. Two pastors recognized us as visitors and stopped for conversation.

The worship leadership consisted of three women with powerful voices and perfect harmony. They were a joy to hear. I knew many of the words to these contemporary songs, but a couple of the songs were new to me and I found myself wishing the words were easier to see from the back of the Worship Center.

The sermon began with a video of what appeared to be long-term mission work in Sarajevo. Due to the years of violence and upheaval there, the people live in a constant state of fear. The few who know Jesus are the only ones who have any peace, so the hope is to use a community center setting to allow the peace of Christ that lives in the hearts of some to influence the hearts of those who do not know Christ.

The pastor’s message, “Peace Be With You,” spoke to the need for personal, interpersonal, and international peace. He pointed out that Jesus wants to reveal Himself and His peace to us and through us.

Everyone I know battles the demon of fear at some point in their life. I know I have, and sometimes I still do. I am so grateful that when I find myself unable to sleep at night because of fearful thoughts running amok in my head, God’s Spirit will remind me of His sovereignty and His great love. I do not believe there is another road to victory in this battle.

Our prayer for this church:

Father, we pray that this congregation will hear Christ speaking to them as they search for the pastor that You have already selected to lead them. We pray that they will hold each other together, that they would have a happy witness of loving You and loving others. That witness isn’t spoken, but is heard loudly by You and those that they encounter. We pray they will accept the interim pastor’s guidance and do their “peace talks,” and that You will be glorified. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Woodland Valley Church

Today we worshiped at Woodland Valley Church, 225 Crowe Avenue, PO Box 815, Mars, PA 16046, 724.625.4500, www.woodlandvalley.org, Pastor Norb Levesque.

Bob’s thoughts:

This was a very welcoming church, from the man we met in the parking lot who directed us to the entrance, to most of those we encountered inside. We were given a welcome pack of information and led downstairs to a coffee and doughnut area.

A few people noticed that I was military and thanked me for my service, something that to this day still surprises me. The bulletin included an abbreviated order of worship, which I appreciated. There was also a sheet to keep notes on the sermon. I enjoyed the offertory music very much.

I noticed a number of people using sign language, particularly a young man facing the congregation who paused while the recipient made notes from the screen.

The sermon, on a Thanksgiving attitude of gratitude, had an opening point of how we don’t notice our blessings till we lose them. Sorry to admit I have been guilty of this. The points of the message were well developed with Scriptural backing for each highlight.

I appreciated the anecdote of an immigrant assessing his profit and loss statement. He came with not much more than his pants, so he figured everything he now possessed – less the pants – was his profit. Are we honest enough to admit that God supplied the pants too, and that everything we have is from God?

The pastor closed with a life/death personal story from his early childhood that resulted in a genuine appreciation of the blessing that Christ has poured out.

There was a good time allotted to prayer and some significant mission involvement. My only disappointment was finding some decorated trees but no cross anywhere.

Jan’s thoughts:

As we exited the truck and looked around for a door to the building, I saw one open toward the right so we headed toward it. Just then a gentleman called to us from the left side of the parking lot that the entrance was over that way, so we followed him inside.

Once indoors the excellent signage allowed us to locate the restrooms without even having to ask. Nearly everyone we saw greeted us, and someone escorted us downstairs to the coffee and donuts in a nice little café.

Back upstairs, we had already been identified as visitors and were given a great “welcome” packet full of information about the church. The worship folder is a tri-fold sheet, well laid-out with plenty of current information and even space on the front for a lovely color graphic. Inserts consisted of a sign-up sheet to purchase cookie trays and a sermon outline/note page.

We found seats in the gym-type worship area and caught the end of the praise team’s rehearsal. I noticed on the screen a timer counting down to start time, which seemed to be an effective way to handle that issue as conversation quieted at the appropriate time.

Had we sat in another section we would have missed the several people who were interpreting the songs (and the sermon) in sign language. It brought back warm memories of when our daughter did this.

The praise band consisted of an acoustic guitar, a trumpet, three vocalists who also used noisemakers (forgive me…I don’t know what they’re called!), a drummer, a bass guitar, and two keyboards. They sounded excellent, and they weren’t too loud (which I hardly ever say because an ear condition tends to increase the volume in my head).

For the offertory they performed an inspiring song called “The Stand” (which I had not heard before but have purchased on iTunes today).

The message, “Attitude of Gratitude,” began with an amusing video revolving around Thanksgiving and then the reading of the 1623 proclamation of thanksgiving. He continued by detailing three attitudes that steal our gratitude including a conceited attitude (1 Corinthians 4:7), a critical attitude (Philippians 2:14), and a careless attitude (Psalm 84:11). He then moved on to speak of three areas to be thankful for: the blessings of life (Ephesians 1:3), the burdens of life (Philippians 1:21), and the benefits of life (Psalm 118:24).

He also included three viewpoints held by the Apostle Paul that enabled him to endure the burdens he did: Paul had an eternal perspective (Romans 8:18), a practical perspective (2 Corinthians 12:10), and a sacrificial perspective (Philippians 1:12).

The message was Scripture-based and very well-constructed, then topped off with the pastor’s personal story about when he was about two years old having gotten his young hands on a bottle of prescription medication and taking them all. He was in a coma for a time and was given a 1-in-500-million chance of surviving, which he obviously did, giving him quite a powerful story to tell.

Old Union Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Old Union Presbyterian Church, 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046, 724.538.8672, www.OldUnionChurch.com, Rev. Dr. Peter deVries, Pastor.


Bob’s thoughts:

Expecting a more sedate country church, I was pleasantly surprised with a modern, vibrant worship center. We arrived right before the service was to start. One woman did come over to welcome us.

Although I noticed no signage, we did locate a social area and restrooms, which I must add were clean, bright, and well laid-out.

There is a large wooden cross on the rear wall of the Chancel, some attractive banners, and one excellent painting I noticed. The congregation stood as the Communion elements were carried in by the serving Elders. We sat in an offset from the main Sanctuary so I was unable to see the whole choir, but the face of worship was evident on one woman as she sang.

The sermon title of “By Hook or by Crook” got the attention of this old Marine who sometimes needed to acquire weapons that were not in our budget by any means possible.

The sermon caused me to reflect: it is amazing how easy it is to disagree or be offended when someone’s theology or style of worship is different than ours. I find myself in this very position. I have been uncomfortable in the large, loud churches and I guess I have been quick to judge them as leading people astray from God’s Word. That if they offer “feel good” worship it cannot be honoring Christ. But if Christ is preached and it is done with loud cymbals, Christ is still preached. We need to know in our heart that whatever the worship style in the other church, it is still worship of Jesus. I may never be comfortable in a mega-church, but I cannot judge the sincerity of their worship. These are people for whom Christ died also.

Communion was introduced using Paul’s words “I received from the Lord what I now share with you.” I was disappointed that the elements were shared silently.

We were greeted by only a few people but the student pastor remembered us from a visit to another church a year ago.

The church seems to have an active mission involvement and I was please to see Northside Common Ministries as one they support as it is still close to my heart.

I really appreciated their ministry to the military. There is a world deployment map on the rear wall with some biographical information. During prayer time the list of service people they hold in prayer was read aloud by the congregation and I was told how some have a member praying just for them.

Jan’s thoughts:

This is a clean, well-kept facility, nicely decorated with some unique touches such as some distinctive stained glass created by a member of the church and a large quilted wall hanging that was a gift from American Indians visited by members on a mission trip.

I thought the parking lot was a bit confusing. Also I was surprised that there was so little signage: the only signs I saw anywhere were on the front of the restrooms. The ladies room was quite spacious, lacking only a place to hang or lay my wrap while I used the facilities. It looked almost barren, and the entry space to the rest room could use some decoration also.

A few people only nodded hello and said nothing, but a few went out of their way to introduce themselves and welcome us. Shortly after we took our seats in the Sanctuary a woman came over and introduced herself and told us how glad she was we were there, all the while rubbing my shoulder, which I thought was rather sweet.

I was perplexed during the Lighting of the Candles when everyone sang some music but we were left scratching our heads because the music was not listed or identified in the Order of Worship.

The organ was well done during most of the service, but during the Prayers of the People it was playing very quietly but almost all I could hear was a deep bass reverberation that left me dizzy due to my ear condition. A nice touch during the Prayers was the reciting aloud of the names of the 26 members of this church who are actively serving in the military, along with a bulletin board indicating their locations on a map and including photos and notes, all clear indications that this church has not forgotten those who fight for freedom.

The offering was taken “African-style” which made me smile after an enjoyable dinner with two Malawian friends the evening before! The congregation was invited to come forward and place their offering in a basket toward the front of the Sanctuary while some lively music was played. It was different from most Presbyterian churches – in the United States, anyway!

The Sermon was entitled, “By Hook or by Crook” and was based on Isaiah 45:1-8 and Philippians 1:12-18a. It had to do with perspective – when Paul was in prison he was not sitting around complaining, feeling sorry for himself. Instead he saw it as an opportunity to espouse the Good News to a (literally) captive audience. Paul acted as a “force multiplier” – the important thing is that Christ is preached.

I also appreciated the point made by the pastor that God can and does use whom He wishes to use, regardless of whether that person acknowledges God or is the least bit inclined to work for God’s purposes. I’m so grateful for this, as it means that even when I make a mistake, He can still bring good from the situation. Remembering that is always so encouraging, and believing it makes it even more so!