Antioch Baptist Church

Today we worshiped at Antioch Baptist Church, 332 Elizabeth Street, Sewickley, PA 15143, 412.741.7688, www.antiochfwbaptistsewickley.org, Rev. Travis Coon, Pastor.

Scripture – KVJ

John 3:16 –

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Bob’s thoughts:

The severe cold that was going around last week caught up to us and we just couldn’t see interrupting a service with coughing and sharing a cold with a church.

We couldn’t get in the first two doors we tried and saw no outdoor signage as to what entrance would be unlocked.

I assume there were restrooms downstairs but saw no signage to indicate that.

We just got to church as the service was starting so we couldn’t gauge the greeting but from what we experienced later, I think we would have been welcomed.

Adding a hernia to battle wounds was forcing me to sit more than normal and when a member noticed my struggles, he was quick to assure me it was fine to sit.

There was a cross on the projection screen and the Communion table, so I had my focal point. At times the print on the screen was small with little contrast making some of it hard to read.

I enjoyed seeing some smiles from the choir, especially the woman who soloed on He Is Able, which I thought was a cool segue to Here I Am, Lord.

I was glad to hear the importance of the tithe to this congregation and pray the church also tithes. God will bless a tithing individual, family, or church.

I could not believe what the keyboardist got out of his instrument, I think more than it’s capable of, and he had a great voice also.

I enjoyed the two young ladies giving their history moment.

Jan’s thoughts:

By the time we found a parking place and an unlocked door, the service was barely underway so we were asked to wait in the back until the Scripture reading was completed then were able to find seats.

The music was led by an enthusiastic and talented keyboardist. The choir sat among the congregation except when they donned robes and sang marvelously together up front.

Two young women outlined the extraordinary lives and careers of Mary Winston Jackson and Rosetta Miller-Perry.

Everyone went to the center aisle and held hands during a congregational prayer and the closing prayer, which brought everyone together literally and figuratively.

The message focused on the depth and breadth of God’s love, that Jesus’ love is not based on circumstances and is unconditional. The pastor advised us to love unconditionally because tomorrow is not promised. Love is for giving – and forgiving.

Following worship, a number of people took the time to introduce themselves and welcome us.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray You will bless Your church. Let them be a powerful beacon where You have planted them. Amen.

Sewickley Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Sewickley Presbyterian Church, 414 Grant Street, Sewickley, PA 15143, 412.741.4550, www.sewickleypresby.org, Rev. Kevin J. Long, Senior Pastor.

Scripture – Genesis 29:15-30 NASB

Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?" Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. And Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face. Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me." So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.

Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her." Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast. Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her. Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?" But Laban said, "It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years." Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.

Bob’s thoughts:

We were looking for a church where we could be sure the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation would be celebrated, and our welcome included bagpipes and plaid kilts.

The moment for stewardship was interesting: a young man talked of the church’s investment in him as a boy and his need to continue to return that investment to the youth of the church. We are easily caught up in stewardship of our dollars and forget the importance of investing our time.

The message was based on Genesis and Jacob’s plan to secure Rachel as his wife. Even Laban’s deceit could not derail God’s plan. The story from Jacob’s receiving his father’s blessing, or maybe back to his birth, offers a myriad of possibilities, from the interwoven deceits to Jacob’s marriage to Rachel, God was in control. I believe God puts a plan in motion but watches to see how we do on our own. When I reflect on the people used in Christ’s earthly lineage, He may just be able to use us broken sinners.

Maybe as we learn to love the Leah in ourselves we can love the Leah in others, and come to accept that Christ can love the Leah in us too.

I could write a lot more about this sermon but this was what God put on my heart. Sometimes He gets old people like me to think about the deeper message.

I also enjoyed the Associate Pastor, Sarah. She was as easy to hear and understand as the lead pastor, though we were sitting closer to the front, a rarity especially in a Presbyterian church. She spoke well and I appreciated her eloquent prayer.

Another joy was the music, especially Siyahamba, and the horn was a special addition. As always, I loved watching the children.

This was a blessed worship service; thank You Jesus for allowing us Rachels and Leahs to come before You.

Jan’s thoughts:

We wanted to attend a Presbyterian church for this special Reformation Sunday and this felt like the right one. We weren’t sure exactly what to expect, but we knew it would not be ignored.

We unexpectedly entered at the rear of the sanctuary which provided an up-close view of the incredibly intricate stained-glass windows. We found seats right away, so did not get to wander around the building at all.

Several people stopped to introduce themselves, and in a church with three services, that is impressive.

I’ve always loved bagpipes, so I was thrilled they were part of this worship celebration. Musical accompaniment included a saxophone, an acoustic guitar, and six vocalists. The organ and the bagpipe sounded superb together.

A member presented Sixty Seconds for Stewardship, and I expected a talk about monetary giving, this being the season. Instead he spoke of the promises made by this congregation at his baptism, that the members promised to teach him about God, and how they had done just that. They invested their time and energy in him, helping him learn that he was loved by God, and teaching him about faith in Christ. He assured them their investment in him was paying dividends as he was teaching the current communicant class, of which his daughter is a member. His talk was both enthusiastic and emotional, and this visitor appreciated his reminder.

The sermon was entitled “Family Matters: Sister Wives” and was based on the story of sisters Leah and Rachel, both of whom were married to Jacob. But the message went deeper, touching on how in every marriage, “we marry the person we love and are joined by an unwanted stranger…there is a beloved Rachel and a surprising Leah in every person, and there is no Rachel without Leah.” Only when we discover the love of Christ can we accept others as they are and see their beauty.

One fascinating point was that the term for Leah’s eyes could have been translated either “weak” or “lovely,” and the Leah in each of us can be viewed either way as well. He said everyone has both a Rachel and a Leah inside us, Jesus died for both, and His love redeemed both. He pointed out that Leah, though she was not loved well by Jacob, gave birth to six of Jacob’s sons…half of the 12 Tribes of Israel, including Judah, placing her in the lineage of Christ.

This message contained deep truth, and I’m so glad I was here today to hear it.

The recitation of the Apostles’ Creed was not in the order of worship, but it felt wonderfully appropriate.

We appreciated the pastor’s time in conversation.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we are grateful to visit You in Your church and pray You continue to bless and grow this growth in You. Amen.

Christ Church at Grove Farm

Today we worshiped at Christ Church at Grove Farm, 249 Duff Road, Sewickley, PA 15143, 412.741.4900, www.ccgf.org, Rev. Dr. Jared Ott, Rector/Senior Pastor.

Scripture –

1 Corinthians 12:12-20 –

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

Ephesians 4:3-6 –

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 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.

Hebrews 12:1-2 –

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Matthew 25:14-30 –

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “ 

‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

1 Peter 4:10 –

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

Bob’s thoughts:

What a joy to come to worship and see a large wooden cross suspended over the platform.

We were welcomed by the greeters at the door and again when I went out for my earplugs although it seemed like I only needed them for the first song. I appreciated that the music didn’t drown out the prayer and prayers for the storm victims and military.

The church has good signage, making it easy to find my way.

I felt the church missed a great opportunity: with the carpets removed they should have given the children large quantities of sidewalk chalk and see what God would lead them to.

I enjoyed the story of a youth group whose members were given a penny and instructed to bring back what they could trade it for. I can only wonder what mine would have brought back.

A great thought: the church is a living organism. He talked about the Scripture and if we were just a body part, and I thought if we were all just a big ear, we still wouldn’t hear the Word.

Much of the message was about how we can serve God’s Church. I have filled many roles over the years and one of my favorites was helping babies become comfortable going to the nursery during church. Some were happy the first day whereas others took weeks. Once they were part of the nursery, I wasn’t needed any more, but it was a rewarding little ministry.

I learned today that a friend volunteered at this church as a greeter. He knows that members are always happy to be greeted; the real value is in greeting those you don’t know.

Early in my walk with Christ, I became a greeter. I always had trouble remembering names, but I carried a small notebook and would mark down things I learned about our visitors so even when I couldn’t remember their name, I could comment on something I had a note about. If you ask about their parents who were married in the church 50 years ago, there is no doubt in their minds that you remember them well. Our small church had 40 people join the year I did that. They commented that no one spoke to them at the other churches they visited.

Don’t waste the gifts God gave you…there is a place where your talents are needed.

I appreciated the harmony of the praise team and enjoyed the female solo.

A highlight was watching a toddler dancing in his mom’s arms and then hug her neck.

We appreciated the chance to speak with two of the pastors.

Jan’s thoughts:

It has only been just over a year since our last visit here, but we felt led, so we went.

There is some major remodeling going on in the reception area and it looked bare, including concrete floors, so we’ll have to visit again to see it finished.

We were welcomed by a few people, but at a church this size with three services per week, I don’t know how they could possibly keep track of visitors.

The music was excellent; it started out loud but did become softer. The excellent voices blended well. I appreciated the solo during the offering: a female vocalist accompanied only by a piano, and it was exceptional.

The message was part four of a five-part series called “Are You Connected?” Entitled “Connected in the Core,” it emphasized God’s call to use our individual gifts and talents for the good of others and of Christ’s Church. He reminded the congregation that God knew what He was doing when He created each person with a different set of talents, and that each person’s call is as individual as they are.

He told a personal story from when he first began in ministry and his journey of discernment to find his own preaching style. I have listened to sermons by Rev. Ott, but this was the first time I’ve heard him preach during worship, and I would say his style is relaxed, genuine, and knowledgeable.

He ended the message with a touching poem called “Searching For a Vessel”, which I will reprint since the author is unknown.

The Master was searching for a vessel to use;
On the shelf there were many—which one would He choose?
Take me, cried the gold one, I’m shiny and bright,
I’m of great value and I do things just right.
My beauty and luster will outshine the rest
And for someone like You, Master, gold would be the best!

Unheeding, the Master passed on to the brass,
It was wide mouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.
Here! Here! cried the vessel, I know I will do,
Place me on Your table for all men to view.

Look at me, called the goblet of crystal so clear,

My transparency shows my contents so dear,
Though fragile am I, I will serve You with pride,
And I’m sure I’ll be happy Your house to abide.

The Master came next to a vessel of wood,

Polished and carved, it solidly stood.
You may use me, dear Master, the wooden bowl said,
But I’d rather You used me for fruit, not for bread!

Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay.

Empty and broken it helplessly lay.
No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.

Ah! This is the vessel I’ve been hoping to find,

I will mend and use it and make it all Mine.

I need not the vessel with pride of itself;

Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf;
Nor the one who is big-mouthed and shallow and loud;
Nor one who displays his contents so proud;
Not the one who thinks he can do all things just right;
But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might.

Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay.

Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.
Spoke to it kindly. “There’s work you must do,
Just pour out to others as I pour into you.”—Author Unknown

Our prayer for this church:
Lord, we pray You will open the eyes of Your Church to the opportunities to serve and glorify You. Amen.

St. Brendan's Episcopal Church

Today we worshiped at St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church, 2365 McAleer Road, Sewickley, PA 15143, 412.364.5974, www.stbrendans.org, Fr. Ted Babcock, Interim Rector.

Scripture – ESV

Ezekiel 37:1-14 –

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord God, you know." Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord."

So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live." So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord."

Psalm 130 –

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Romans 8:6-11 –

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

John 11:1-45 –

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him." The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him…

Bob’s thoughts:

This was an 8 a.m. service held in the chapel, and I can say we were warmly greeted by everyone in the church this morning.

I was admiring the sanctuary before the service: a most pleasing color scheme, and a wooden cross framed in the large porthole window. I was delighted to find a smaller version in the chapel.

A woman nearby helped us find our place during the service in the Book of Common Prayer and I noticed others were quick to offer water and cough drops when one of the women who was reading developed a cough. I was also impressed when one of the pastors was reading from John 11 about Lazarus’ death and resurrection and offered that it was a longer Scripture passage and if anyone needed to sit, they should go ahead and do so. A healthy care and concern for a church.

I wasn’t aware that the same word used for Christ’s Resurrection was also used to describe the raising of Lazarus. Another meaningful point was that Christ’s tears at His friend’s death were also for the sins of the world.

An interesting upcoming event is “Calling All Talkers.” It is a program for ESL learners to hone their skills in conversational English in a relaxed, friendly setting. I was reminded of when God moved us to the South Hills of Pittsburgh and I met a woman from our former church in a Giant Eagle there. She introduced me to her companion, a woman who had recently come from the Ukraine, and explained how she was helping this woman learn English. I offered her the use of my family’s Ukraine/English dictionary and she declined, then I heard her throughout the store worthlessly talking slower and progressively louder with instruction. I felt badly that I could not remember enough from my childhood to help ease the pain.

I was grateful we could partake of Communion after a time of confession and that the servers were served.

I appreciated the pastor’s time after the service.

Jan’s thoughts:

We arrived early and immediately upon entering the church received a warm welcome from the Interim and Associate Rectors. Together they escorted us through the sanctuary, where the traditional service is held at 10, to the chapel for this earlier service. The chapel was cozy and each of the members there greeted us. By the time the service was over and we left, I believe we had met everyone there.

This being the contemporary service, it was somewhat more casual. There was lots of reading but no singing. No doubt this would be an issue for some people, but I did not mind since I cannot sing without discomfort.

I sat next to a kindly woman who is a regular visitor from South Africa, and she thoughtfully helped by pointing out the right spot whenever I got lost.

This church is considering a new ministry opportunity to help adults learning English to build confidence in their conversational skills. Members have been invited to simply sit, sip coffee or tea, and chat, in the process helping the learner nuance better, use words more appropriately, and practice confusing pronunciations. I think this sounds like a marvelous ministry!

I was pleased we were present for Communion; this is the fourth consecutive week we have participated in the sacrament.

The untitled sermon was based on the raising of Lazarus from the dead. He stressed the importance of forgiveness and “the power of faith to overcome the realities of the world.”

We appreciated the time for conversation given by the Interim Rector following the service.

Our prayer for this church:
Father, we pray for Your continued blessings on Your Church. May they ever feel Your Presence. Amen.

St. Stephen's Church

Today we worshiped at St. Stephen’s Church, 405 Frederick Avenue, Sewickley, PA 15143, 412.741.1790, www.ststephenschurch.net, Geoff Chapman, Senior Pastor.

Scripture – ESV

Numbers 21:4-9 –

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food." Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live." So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

John 2:23-3:15 –

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

John 19:38-40 –

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.

Bob’s thoughts:

This church includes several buildings, so we were pleased to have chosen the door to the narthex. We were early and there appeared to be a class going on, so we walked around a bit aided by mostly good signage. We learned shortly before time for the service we came to attend that it was held in a different area. Our thanks to the man who walked us there.

The sanctuary featured high wooden arches and intricate wood carvings, whereas our service today was contemporary in a modern space with a larger wooden cross and well-designed acoustic treatment. In the hallway outside was a bulkhead delightfully adorned with crosses provided by the members.

We were greeted by almost everyone we passed, including the assistant pastor who took time to talk to us. On my enquiry as to whether wine was used for Communion, he explained their belief that the benefits of the elements were equally in both and I was able to receive the bread and a blessing at the station of the wine. I was able to participate in Communion and my 25 years without alcohol is intact.

We enjoyed our coffee and the worship team’s music, particularly at the offering.

There was a healthy age mix with a lot of delightful children. I am always amazed how the worship area fills after the service starts in contemporary worship.

The sermon was inspired of Christ and used, I thought, an unusual combination of Scripture: Moses making a bronze snake so those who were bit by the serpents could look upon it and be healed and the New Testament story of Nicodemus coming to understand and believe in Christ on the Cross.

An interesting quote from a recent survey that 70% of respondents would not want to live next to “born-again Christians.” The pastor talked of his coming to Christ while in seminary over a five-year period.

I thought back to when God claimed me. I believed I was a Christian for the first 50 years, but then I was saved. Like Nicodemus, I came to know my Lord.

Jan’s thoughts:

It has been almost four years since we worshiped at this church, long enough that I did not recall the facility being so maze-like, so I appreciated some kind people who directed us. One of those kind folks was an Assistant Pastor who took time to talk with us, and another gentleman who walked us to the worship area as we figured out we had been waiting near the main sanctuary, admiring the woodwork, but worship would be elsewhere in the building.

After we found the coffee, we found seats. The stage area was attractively decorated and the talented musicians were a joy, with voices blending perfectly.

We loved watching the many little ones who seemed to enjoy themselves.

The sermon was entitled The New Birth, a subject that has fascinated humans since those words fell from Jesus’ lips. The pastor spoke of what it means to be born again then answered his own question “Who Needs the New Birth?” (answer: everyone).

A portion I found especially fascinating was when he asked “How Does the New Birth Happen?” To this he responded that it was much like the physical birth in that we are born by the work of another, without our consent, focusing on what God does.

He relayed a personal story about becoming a New Creation and the spiritual healing he experienced upon his own New Birth.

I so appreciated his description of Nicodemus as he helped take Jesus’ body from the cross. He, a member of the Sanhedrin, became ritually unclean in the process because of the Blood, but experienced healing in surrendering to the Lordship of Christ.

I think that’s the way it is for true spiritual healing: in surrendering, we appear to lose everything, only to regain even more as we are healed by the sacrifice of Christ.

Our prayer for this church:
Lord, You have blessed Your Church greatly and we were blessed to meet You here in worship today. We ask for Your continued Presence and guidance for this congregation. Amen.

NorthWay Christian Community

Today we worshiped at NorthWay Christian Community, 1414 Beaver Street, Sewickley, PA 15143, 724.935.6800, www.northway.org, Scott McCabe, Campus Pastor.

Scripture –

James 1:5-8 ESV –

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Proverbs 16:18 ESV –

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Genesis 3:6 MSG –

When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.

John 15:1-11 ESV –

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Philippians 2:3-8 NIV –

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

1 Timothy 6:17-18 NIV –

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Bob’s thoughts:

We were greeted by a few people, including meeting two Marines near the door who didn’t know they were brothers beyond Christ.

Although they are not saddled with a church building, they meet in a school, so perhaps they are prohibited from displaying a cross.

It was easy to follow the music and message with the three large projection screens.

The sermon was the final message of a three-part series titled “What Was I Thinking?” with a focus on ‘pride or abide.’ Plenty of Scripture quotes and scholarly commentary supported the message and I liked the line: “Where Satan doesn’t go personally, he sends a critic.”

She talked about how vanity, deceit, and arrogance cause an alienation from God. My Marine pride was a stumbling block till I learned to submit that to Christ (Philippians 4:13).

The message included Scripture from John about the Vine and the branches. This reminded me of when we moved from a home where I had painted ivy on the wall and before we moved, felt directed to include the Scripture. I always hoped God found a way to use it.

It was great to see a healthy mix of ages at this service; lots of young people is indicative of a healthy church.

We enjoyed a pleasant conversation with some church leaders and the pastor after the service.

Jan’s thoughts:

We sensed God’s nudging us to visit NorthWay and opted to visit a campus we’ve not seen before.

This location meets at an elementary school, which means each week all the accoutrements are moved in and set up for worship and then moved back out afterward, obviously an incredible effort by an extremely dedicated team.

We arrived just as the service was starting and were greeted at the door by a gentleman who turned out to be a Marine who had been stationed in some of the same parts of Vietnam where Bob served. We committed to meeting after worship to discuss this connection further when two other Marines greeted Bob. I always enjoy witnessing these reunions of “brothers from different mothers.”

The music was robust so we found seats at the back, then watched with some surprise as our first Marine friend entered and sat with his wife immediately in front of us.

We learned during the announcements about some of the mission efforts of this church during October, one ambitious one aimed at making a difference in the Aliquippa area. Also today was Small Group Connect, where the various small groups were set up at tables and interested parties could talk to someone and/or sign up to join a specific small group.

The message was presented by a member of the staff, Shannon Libengood, who had spent a fair amount of time (8 years, I think she said) as a long-term overseas missionary. This week’s message was the final in a series entitled “What Was I Thinking?” The first week focused on doubts, the second on fear, and this week’s title was “The Culprit of Pride.”

I always know when the message was one I want to remember because I take lots of notes, and today I took more than that…so many that I don’t know where to begin. So I will blatantly copy the message notes so kindly provided as we entered worship because this says it all:

Pride defined:

“There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which everyone loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves… And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others… According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”

~C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Pride defined in our relationship…

…with God, is an excessive belief in one’s own abilities that interferes with our recognition of the grace of God.

...with others, is dangerously corrupt selfishness, the putting of one’s own desires, urges, wants, and whims before the welfare of people.

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

(Proverbs 16:18, ESV)

Pride expressed: Vanity, conceit, and arrogance

Fruit of pride: Conflict, gossip, and alienation from God

Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take

advice. (Proverbs 13:10, NIV)

Again, the above is directly from today’s message notes and not written by me.

She ended with a powerful statement: “A war is being fought over our souls daily.” Indeed. And we see the fruits of that battle every time we look at the suffering in our world. Or in our hearts.

Satan is the enemy of our souls and he will stop at nothing in his attempt to snatch us away. Praise God that through His Son, once we are in His hand, He will never let us go (John 10:28).

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, it is encouraging to see the enthusiasm for mission through Your people at this church. We pray for Your continued guidance and encouragement upon them as they go. Amen.

Little Hill United Methodist Church

Today we worshiped at Little Hill United Methodist Church, 2350 Magee Road, Ext., Sewickley, PA 15143, Pastor Tom Fodor.

Scripture – NIV

Psalm 37:1-40 –

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.

The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.

The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

But the wicked will perish: Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.

Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish. The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.

The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death; but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

Hope in the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace. But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.

The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Colossians 1:1-14 –

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Bob’s thoughts:

I have felt led to revisit this church for a while, but we were headed elsewhere when a forgotten obligation delayed us so we opted to visit here.

We were early, the door was open, but we found no one in the sanctuary. The heat and humidity was somewhat oppressive and we decided to visit when it was cooler.

While driving aimlessly looking for a church, we came across what turned out to be a sister church and the pastor met us in the street. He explained this service was early but he was headed to Little Hill and we followed him back here.

We were greeted when we came in, there was a delightful breeze, the windows were open, and the ceiling fans running.

There is a large wooden cross on the wall; I didn’t notice any signage but everything else is downstairs or in the adjoining building.

The sermon, “A Life Well-Lived,” was supported by Scripture and I believe was God’s answer for me through the pastor who told of his aunt, at end of her life, saying “When I die, it will be like I never lived.”

The last of my mother’s sisters died last year, and I couldn’t remember a time when she seemed happy. She professed a faith in the Catholic Church, but none of us truly knows who believes in Christ.

I almost never smiled before Christ claimed me, though I don’t believe I realized it. During a particularly low point in my life, I was wearing a Christian shirt in public and a man chastised me, asking where was my smile to go with the shirt. I admit my reaction was not cordial, but the question later gave me pause to think, if we are only joyous when things are good, what kind of faith is that? Though it still takes a lot of effort, it is a necessary part of my message, part of a legacy of love.

The pastor quoted a comment on the valley of the shadow of death in Psalm 23, “You can’t have a shadow unless there is light.”

I enjoyed the pastor telling of being called to help someone with a flat tire late in the evening and how God used him in that situation. I always regret those times when I thought only of grumpy old me, then later realized I missed an opportunity for God to use me. It was all about and for God.

One man was so moved to meet a Marine that he had to have a hug, and others thanked me for my service. We also got to talk to a member who was facing rotator cuff surgery and, I hope, eased her fears somewhat.

Jan’s thoughts:

This morning we had a church in mind, and we arrived very early. We found no one in the sanctuary, but we noticed there was no air conditioning, all the windows were closed, and it was humid and stuffy which we both have trouble tolerating. So we decided to find another church.

As we left the parking lot, asking God to guide us to where He wanted us, we drove around some and found a little church we had not seen before. It looked like there were people inside, so we parked and as we approached we saw people leaving. So we got back into the truck and were prepared to continue our search when the pastor flagged us down. After identifying himself, he explained he was late getting to the other church he pastors, but that service would start soon and we were welcome to come there instead. Since he literally was just leaving, we followed him and his wife to their other church – the one we originally stopped at. By now the windows were open and there was a delightful breeze, and since this was apparently where God wanted us today, we stayed.

We were welcomed warmly, given directions to the restrooms, then quickly found seats as the service had just gotten underway.

The Joys and Concerns sounded very much like a family discussion of prayer needs, and I so appreciated singing one of my favorite old hymns, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” The words hit home for me every time.

The message, entitled “A Life Well-Lived,” began with a story about the pastor’s aunt who, as she waited to die, commented, “When I die, it’ll be like I never lived.” The deeply haunting nature of this comment weighed heavily on his heart and he pondered it greatly, deciding that it came down to faith: the body dies, but love continues.

He told about a call he received the night before for assistance. He and a young policeman ended up waiting together for AAA to arrive, and as they waited, they talked. It was a talk between a young man who did not know how his life would work out and a man who had been there and could offer words of encouragement and hope, assuring the young man that people would come into his life and help him when he needed it. I couldn’t help but think that clearly God had placed this pastor exactly where he was needed most.

He concluded with a reminder to seize the opportunities we are given and asked, “Are we listening?”

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray Your people in this church experience a life well lived and know joy in serving You. Amen.

Christ Church at Grove Farm

Today we worshiped at Christ Church at Grove Farm, 249 Duff Road, Sewickley, PA 15143, 412.741.4900, www.cgf.org, Rev. Dr. Jared Ott, Rector/Senior Pastor.

Scripture – Psalm 33:8-22 NIV

Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

Bob’s thoughts:

We usually feel that a holiday weekend provides an inaccurate picture of a church we have not been to before. The patriotic music from the traditional service caught my attention and might have negated that theory as it looked full of robust worshipers.

We were greeted at the door and during the formal greeting time but invisible the rest of the time, the downfall of multiple services. Someone did stop to shake my hand as he was entering the traditional service.

I enjoyed the large cross suspended above the stage and the stained glass window frame-type panels on the stage with different colors projected from behind. I also appreciated the presentation of a Johnny Cash song and the pastor’s patriotic stole.

There were some blue spotlights on the stage that kept hitting me in the eye when the parishioners that were blocking them moved….they made it hard to enjoy the familiar praise music. Maybe those “blockers” were also trying to shield themselves from the light.

The pastor spoke of needing to purchase sunglasses when the ones he had were hiding elsewhere. After trying on a few for fit, he found a pair that allowed the high definition he was seeking and he was able to see the undistorted scenery “like God sees it.” I pray we all have more opportunities to sit back and enjoy what He has created “as He sees it.”

The message dealt with the facts of the birth of our country and the undeniable guidance of Christ on the Founding Fathers. We have had the propaganda pushed upon us that the desire was a separation of church and state but statements made by our founders prove, and I firmly believe, just the opposite was true. They knew a country without Christ would fail. God had blessed their efforts to acquire freedom and made it to become a great nation.

We have been so caught up with the devil’s guile we push toward our own demise. This country cannot be great again until we plead for God’s forgiveness and prayerfully invite Him back. I think we all need to pray for a high definition view of what is happening to America.

It was a joy to be served Communion verbally with a time of confession that allowed a true personal communion.

Jan’s thoughts:

Not a lot seems to have changed in the almost two years since our last visit. Being a holiday weekend, the café was closed to give those volunteers a holiday as well; however I was glad to see coffee and donuts available. After enjoying these, we found seats in the contemporary service.

As is often the case with a contemporary service, when the music began the room was sparsely occupied, and by the time the music ended it was nearly full. This never ceases to amaze me.

While the offering was being taken the praise team presented a Johnny Cash song called “God’s Gonna Cut You Down.” The words were a somber reassurance of the impossibility of escaping God’s judgment.

The Rev. Dr. John Guest, in his distinctive British accent, presented the message entitled “A God Blessed Nation.”

Before getting too far into the sermon, John stated that the Billy Graham Evangelical Association plans to hold an outdoor prayer meeting in Harrisburg on September 15, and this church hopes to send a number of people to participate.

John spoke of the “current climate around our country and the disturbing emptiness and despair resulting from removing God, His Ten Commandments, and prayer from our culture.” He pointed to the signers of the Declaration of Independence, “the extraordinary price they paid,” the historical fact of their strong Christian faith and utter reliance upon God as stated over and over in numerous and varied documents…a heritage many would deny with the cry of the myth of separation of church and state.

He stated “the answer to our problems, be they national, cultural, or even personal, will only be found in Jesus Christ” and referred to 1 Corinthians 1 in which we learn “God is committed to foiling plans that are not His.”

John seemed pleased to refer to himself as an ex-Englishman and to state his calling as that of a “missionary to the United States.” On that basis he said he prays intensely for the conversion of Barack Obama, for the upcoming election, and for a moral and spiritual awakening in this country. He urged those in attendance to “get on their knees and plead to God on behalf of our country.’

I appreciated being able to partake of Communion and found it meaningful to receive the elements with the verbal reminder that Christ’s gift was for me.

We appreciated the time one of the pastors took to speak with us and pray for us following the service.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, with a recent eye injury, I can readily appreciate “open our eyes that we may see.” Give us all the high definition look we are missing. “Come, Lord Jesus, come” be the center of our lives. Amen.