CrossWay Community Church

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

 

Scripture – Galatians 2:11-16 (ESV)

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

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

 

Bob’s thoughts:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Jan’s thoughts:

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Our prayer for this church:

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

Valencia Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Valencia Presbyterian Church, 80 Sterrett Street, Valencia, PA 16059, 724.625.2002, www.valenciapresbyterian.com, Rev. James W. Kirk, Pastor.

Scripture – NRSV

Isaiah 9:2-7 –

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Matthew 1:18-25 –

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Bob’s thoughts:

Today we hoped to be led to a church that was celebrating Advent and it was a special treat to be here for the family candle lighting. It was done well, and I was grateful to be present.

The leader of the Moment for Ministry talked about addressing the physical and spiritual needs of those to whom they hope to minister, an important starting point.

The pastor brought up an often-overlooked piece of the Christmas story, the love of Joseph. What I liked: “If Joseph needed a savior, we do too.” And a favorite: “We are called to do more than we think we can do but not more than God can do.”

I enjoyed the harmony of the Praise Team, especially in the offertory Trust in You, as it was strong and powerful. A favorite line from that song: “When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through.”

Early in the service I was pleased to hear it identified as Christ’s church.

Jan’s thoughts:

We slipped into a back pew just as the service got underway so there was no opportunity to greet anyone prior to worship. The pew arrangement is unusual and we were on the far side but could still see some of the front.

I enjoyed the three ladies leading the Praise Team. Their voices blended and harmonized so well and their sound was distinctive.

The message was entitled Birth Love, referring to the love a parent experiences for their newborn. The pastor focused on Joseph and his love for Mary and Jesus, including a soliloquy and poem written from Joseph’s perspective. In one of them it was stated that Joseph was known to be a righteous, obedient man, and asked if Joseph needed a savior, don’t we also?

He pointed out that Joseph experienced God’s love even before Jesus’ birth and that God is with us, even today, from birth through death, and beyond. He loves us and He is trustworthy. Amen.

The beautiful offertory, Trust in You, was a new song to me, but one line struck me: “How could Heaven’s heart not break the day You came?”

This concept came to me when I dealt with our son’s death and realized that from my human perspective, I was sad to see my son leave his life here. But surely, even as we celebrate Christ’s entry into our world, God the Father must have mourned His leaving Heaven, especially knowing the horrific suffering He would experience. Wouldn’t God the Father have experienced the birth of our Savior as something of a death? That was when I began to take comfort knowing that my son suffers nothing now and into eternity, and I praise and thank Christ for His willingness to suffer to make salvation possible.

We were greeted and kindly invited to stay after worship for a luncheon, but were unable due to a prior commitment.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray You will continue to guide and bless this congregation as they strive to minister in Your name. Amen.

Valencia United Methodist Church

Today we worshiped at Valencia United Methodist Church, 66 Almira Street, Valencia, PA 16059, 724.625.2330, www.valenciaumc.org, Pastor Robert Martin.

Scripture – Jeremiah 17:5-10, 14-18 NIV

This is what the LORD says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. They keep saying to me, “Where is the word of the LORD? Let it now be fulfilled!”

I have not run away from being your shepherd; you know I have not desired the day of despair. What passes my lips is open before you. Do not be a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of disaster. Let my persecutors be put to shame, but keep me from shame; let them be terrified, but keep me from terror. Bring on them the day of disaster; destroy them with double destruction.

Bob’s thoughts:

After a late night with family, we were looking for a later service time and God led us here. Outside there is a new building we thought was for worship, but we were told it will be a fellowship area.

We were welcomed by a number of people including a woman who thanked me for my service.

I appreciated the wood paneled arched ceiling and the wooden cross in this small church sanctuary. I noticed no signage but easily found the restroom downstairs.

The message, “God’s Blessings,” talked about our required simple obedience and our reluctance to wait for God.

When we moved to our current home, directed by God, I kept enlarging my main garden until it was something over 100’ x 200’. I grew a lot of produce that I could give away and a little that we used ourselves. I was so sure this was what God was calling me to do, but I was killing myself trying to keep up. When I finally realized this was my idea of what God wanted me to be doing, I gave it up and peace washed over me. There was no doubt that I was finally obeying. I’m not sure what all He has for me next, but I’m ready.

The pastor commented about going to Walmart, avoiding parishioners and not preaching there, but I respectfully disagree. That has been one of my most fertile mission fields. I love praying for people in Walmart or Giant Eagle parking lots, and cashiers and customer service employees seem to really appreciate prayer.

I was sorry I didn’t realize the organist would come back to finish her offertory medley with the Marine’s Hymn, I would have stood at attention.

There were a few children who were entertaining, always a joy for me, as well as a small dog that joined us for worship.

Jan’s thoughts:

This is a traditional church with a long-time-family atmosphere: the pastor is beginning his 11^th year with this congregation and there were several multi-generational families, including the family sitting in front of us.

We were warmly welcomed by numerous people from the time we walked in and engaged in a touching conversation with a woman who was married to a Vietnam veteran during his deployment.

The message was called “God’s Blessings.” The pastor relayed the story of Naaman from 2 Kings 5. He held that when things do not work out in our lives, sometimes it’s because we moved ahead in our own plans without waiting to hear from God. We can be disconnected from Him because of a lack of relationship.

The pastor urged the congregation to pay attention to their relationship with God above everyone and everything else. He stated that the best blessings are found in simple obedience, and trust is born from relationship.

I was pleased to be able to participate in the Sacrament of Communion.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray Your church hears Your direction for them and they experience the blessings of obedience to You. Amen.

CrossWay Church

Today we worshiped at CrossWay Church, 109 Davis Road, Valencia, PA 16059, 724.898.4600, www.crosswaychurch.org, Chris Gibbs, Lead Pastor.

Scripture – ESV

1 Chronicles 16:34-36 –

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Say also:

"Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!"

Then all the people said, "Amen!" and praised the Lord.

2 Corinthians 6:16-18 –

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."

Philippians 4:7-8 –

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Bob’s thoughts:

On a redirect, we got to hear God’s message this morning. We most likely would have been late to the service we were headed to but pulled in here with enough time to look for the restrooms which we had walked right past on our way in.

We were greeted by the pastor outside and others, including the pastor’s wife, when we came in the door.

There is a larger wooden cross toward the left and another above the chancel that gave the impression of being a cross-shaped window.

A large projection screen is centered high above the stage with two smaller screens mounted on either side, providing good visibility. I was all but brought to my knees by a loud screech during the early praise songs. There were a lot of odd vocals that made it hard to hear the words. The hymn at the end of the service was clear and powerful and I could hear the harmony of the praise team.

The sermon was “Amen – Rediscovering the Presence of God.” The message developed well with suitable Scriptural references and beneficial guidance for us all.

We frequently come to prayer as a last resort, but not so much so if we are already on speaking terms with God. If we regularly converse with God and an urgent need arises, we are already in comfortable communication with the Lord.

A powerful thought was offered that when you say “amen” you are offering yourself up as a sacrifice, and then the further question, what is God calling me to “amen” to?

I was privileged to watch great family dynamics as nearby a big brother didn’t want to seem too chummy with cute little sister. I got to watch the pastor climb over seats to pray with parishioners. There was a young man who spoke near the end of the service with a passionate message, who could be heard easily over the instruments, an unusual blessing, with a good message.

We enjoyed talking with the pastor after the service and I was impressed that his recollection of our previous visits was better than mine.

Jan’s thoughts:

This church was not even on our radar today. We were headed somewhere else and realized we would be late, and when we saw this church on the hill and noticed the timing was perfect, and just that quickly our plans were changed. It’s funny how God works sometimes.

The pastor was outdoors greeting people and he welcomed us warmly before we even entered the building where, once inside, we were handed bulletins. I should have remembered the restrooms were immediately inside the doors, but we had to ask about them because we had seen no signs…though I’m not exactly sure of the best way to tell people they’ve just walked past the rooms they’re looking for.

The ladies room is charmingly decorated, and though greetings are not usually extended there, today they were and they were gracious. Others smiled their welcome.

The message, “Say Amen – Rediscovering the Presence of God,” was the first in a series and he made some points worth remembering.

1 – Don’t let your fall erase your future. There are many ways to fall: we can fall from grace, we can fall from faith, we can have a falling out with people, but God was the same good God before a fall as He is after.

2 – Always see God as your deliverance. Seek God’s Presence, not his product, and thankfulness is the key to changing our attitude. When we’re upset because we think God has not answered a prayer as we wished, we need to look more closely and be thankful for what God has given. God is good when things are good and when they’re not, and no one wants to come to your pity party. We are inadequate to get ourselves out of a situation, we must depend on God; we can do the right thing, but without His Presence, we’re lost.

3 – Let your praise be defined by Who, not what. In other words, praise God for Who He is not what He gives. Pursue the Presence of God; we can do the right thing, but without His Presence, we’re lost. If complacency has set in, ask God to help; He’s in the resurrection business.

I missed how he got to this, but he said amen means “I offer myself up as a sacrifice” which in this context I took to mean obedience to God’s direction. He said we need to come to God in humility, offer our “amen” and then be ready to live out that amen.

The final question was, what is God calling (me) to say amen about? And a good question it is…I will need to consider that.

Worshipers were invited forward for prayer during the final song, and I noticed small groups praying all around as the music continued. It may not be for everyone, but I thought it was pretty terrific.

Our prayer for this church:

Lord, we pray this congregation offers a resounding “amen” to whatever it is You are calling them to. Amen!

Valencia Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Valencia Presbyterian Church, 80 Sterrett Street, Valencia, PA 16059, 724.625.2002, www.valenciapresbyterian.com, Rev. James W. Kirk, Pastor.

Scripture

Genesis 3:1-19

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I told you not to eat from?”

The man said, “The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

1 Peter 2:9-12

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Kings 12:1-19

Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to there to make him king. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” So the people went away.

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.

They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”

But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!”

So the Israelites went home. But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.

King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

Bob’s thoughts:

We were early for church and looked for a way in that wouldn’t disrupt a Sunday School class. We entered through what turned out to be a fellowship hall and found our way to the sanctuary with some difficulty. There is some great signage in some areas but one dark stairwell was a question. Once we got to the sanctuary we were welcomed by a number of people, and had a nice conversation with a woman in the pew.

The sanctuary is pleasant with a large cross and comfortable pews.

The sermon, “Choices,” was delivered by the Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Gary Weston, with the strong point being that we choose our choices but not the consequences.

Jan’s thoughts:

We last visited here in March of 2010, and since that time this congregation has experienced a turnover of pastoral leadership. The ironic thing is that the now-installed pastor was away this week on Study Leave, so the previous pastor, who is now Honorably Retired, filled the pulpit.

We arrived with time to look around, but there were Sunday School classes and other things going on everywhere so we didn’t get to see a lot of the building. There was some directional signage.

We were greeted and welcomed often, and some kindly took time for conversation and to invite us to stay for the luncheon following worship.

The bulletin is well done and user-friendly and contained a greeting from the pastor introducing the Pastor Emeritus, who was preaching today. Nice touch.

The message was entitled “Choices” and in it he focused on some poor choices made by Bible characters and real people. The gist is that one bad choice can change the course of our future and even of history. There are always consequences to our choices, but he declared that his choice for Jesus has made all the difference in his life. He closed by urging anyone who had not accepted Christ as their Savior to do so today.

Our prayer for this church:
Father, we pray You will lead this church to good choices that are in accordance with Your will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

CrossWay Church

Today we worshiped at CrossWay Church, 109 Davis Road, Valencia, PA 16059, 724.898.4600, www.crosswaychurch.org, Chris Gibbs, Lead Pastor.

Scripture

Genesis 12:1-9

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.

Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.

Genesis 11:30

Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive.

Genesis 21:1-5

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.

Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Genesis 22:1-3

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

“Here I am,” he replied.

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

Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.

Genesis 22:6-8

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

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

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

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

Genesis 22:11-14

But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

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

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

Genesis 22:15-18

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

Bob’s thoughts:

We were greeted and welcomed by a number of people and as we looked at the mission display table someone stepped up to explain the material. There was a special focus on mission and foreign flags were paraded in by people in native dress, with the national ensign carried by a man in military fatigues.

The great wooden cross I noticed at our last visit was still there and we were given a pocket cross in the narthex.

There is a healthy age mix to the enthusiastic congregation, and a passionate pastor. One of the opening songs was “Awesome God,” a favorite I hadn’t heard in some time. I particularly liked the horn that seemed to echo the words.

During the announcements the pastor mentioned “See You at the Pole,” where school youth meet and pray for the country’s leaders. They were offering a get-together at the church where people could gather and pray for the teachers. I thought it a great plan, and it brought bittersweet memories.

My late son’s junior year we had a call from the principal: “Your son is standing out at the flagpole by himself and we don’t know why.” Senior year, different school, same phone call. Our son was never ashamed of Jesus Christ, and we were always proud of him for his conviction.

The sermon was part of a series, “Let the Ruins Come to Life,” and dealt with Abraham living his faith.

I thought the message was developed well, guiding us to know God’s leading and trust His timing, even when we have unfulfilled dreams. The trials He leads us through strengthen our faith.

Jan’s thoughts:

We worshiped here a year ago Father’s Day, but Bob was busy with little ones who were with us, so we returned so he could hear the pastor preach.

This well kept facility sits on top of a hill, providing a beautiful view in almost any direction.

We were warmly greeted and treated with hospitality from the time we stepped inside.

Our attention was immediately caught by the missions display which boasted tons of information about all the missionaries this church supports.

The building is well cared for, and although there is some directional signage, it became evident as we looked around that visitors could benefit from additional indicators.

Announcements were made before beginning worship, including that this Wednesday is “See You at the Pole” Day. This day is a special reminder to us of our late son because it was on that day when he was a junior in high school that he was the only one who went to pray at the flagpole at his school. Somehow the administrators missed hearing about this event, so they called me at home to ask why our son was sitting alone outside at the flagpole, refusing to come inside. This church is holding their own event concurrently called “See You at the Altar” where members join in the sanctuary for prayer at the same time students are praying at the flagpole of their school. What an inspired plan!

The music was exceptional: the voices sounded incredible together as they led the fervent singing.

The message was part of a series, “Let the Ruins Come to Life” and was called “Restoring Broken Dreams.” I was glad this pastor was as good a preacher as I remembered.

He used the story of Abraham and Sarah and God’s gift of Isaac to speak to the topic of broken dreams, the scars that result when they are cut from our lives, and how God can and does heal the brokenness, pain, loss, and lack of trust that result from these struggles. He outlined five Scripture-based steps:

1 – Know God’s Destiny. If your dream is not bigger than you, it’s not God’s destiny for you; God-given dreams are for God’s glory.

2 – Trust God’s Process. It can hurt us, challenge us, and expose us, but He uses it to prepare us for what He has purposed for our lives; when God speaks, trust Him. Know that the Enemy knows, too, and that God leads us through the desert times.

3 – Follow God’s Design. When you follow God’s design and things start looking up, keep looking up; even when it seems like God is taking away all He has given, don’t let emotions lead; trust Him.

4 – Believe God Provides. Trust Him through the waiting period; our dreams rest in our surrender to God, and obedience unlocks God’s provision.

5 – See God Restore Dreams. At this point a couple from the congregation, along with their 5-week-old daughter, joined the pastor and gave their testimony about their path to becoming parents of this baby. Their witness to God’s perfect timing and His faithfulness in the midst of the difficult path they walked left few dry eyes.

I will keep my notes from this message as reminders of exactly those points. I am so grateful to have heard this message today.

Our prayer for this church:
Father, we pray that You open the hearts of this congregation to the dreams You have for them, that they will trust and obey, stepping out in faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

CrossWay Church

Today we worshiped at CrossWay Church, 109 Davis Road, Valencia, PA 16059, 724.898.4600, www.crosswaychurch.org, Chris Gibbs, Lead Pastor.

Scripture – Joshua 24:14-15

“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone.

But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

Bob’s thoughts:

We have passed this church a number of times and have looked forward to worshiping here. It is a great setting on top of a hill, a beacon to the community.

We came in just as the service was starting, along with quite a few other folks. This seems to be common with contemporary worship services. Once we were inside I had no way of knowing that I had passed the restrooms as they were immediately inside the entrance. There was directional signage indicating other areas, but it took a while to locate the men’s room. I noticed that even though the restroom seemed modern, neither had changing tables.

My grandchildren were trying to be louder than the congregation so we went to the nursery. While I was disappointed that I couldn’t hear the sermon there, I did have a delightful visit with the staff and children. I look forward to listening to the sermon online and perhaps getting to learn the purpose of the exercise equipment on the chancel.

They had my kind of cross with large spikes that spoke volumes sitting silently there off to one side.

Jan’s thoughts:

This church sits on top of a hill reached via a winding driveway. I wished we’d had time to look around at the view because it’s probably stunning.

The service was just beginning when we arrived with our grandtwins and their parents. We sang the opening songs, but the kids became fussy so we took them to the nursery. The ladies there were very welcoming and showed no hesitation whatsoever at having two more one-year-olds join them. I returned to the Sanctuary, but the pull was too strong for Bob and he stayed with the little ones.

The Sanctuary is light and pleasant with comfortable chairs. This is the first time I’ve seen a projection screen mounted and framed, and I thought it looked marvelous. There was a beautiful, rough-hewn cross in front standing (at a guess) maybe 6 feet high.

The music was terrific: energetic and well done. It made me realize again how much music can contribute to a worship experience.

As soon as the opening songs ended, the service began with “Cinderella” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Each portion of the song was enacted by an appropriate-aged girl and a man portraying her father. At the very end an older couple danced a few steps together, representing the couple who married. It was very well done and quite touching, and I noticed that mine were not the only damp eyes.

Following this was a clip from the movie “Courageous.” If you have not seen this movie, it’s from the same people who did the movie “Fireproof,” but the major characters are police officers (except for the one man who is their friend). I recommend the movie highly – both my thumbs are way up for this one – and it’s perfect for Father’s Day as it’s a call to men to be the spiritual leaders of their households and to follow Biblical standards in their personal lives and in their influence of others. The pastor used clips from the movie throughout his message.

The message, entitled “A Stronger Man,” focused on encouraging the men in the congregation to 1 – accept personal responsibility, 2 – guard the value of relationships, and 3 – live out the Resolution (which was based on the Resolution in the movie “Courageous”).

The pastor was open about some of the struggles he faced being raised by a single mom. He declared the Enemy meant it for ill, but God meant it for good and thus God has brought much good from his battles. Hearing him preach with such passion, in my opinion, God continues to use him. He spoke of the men who are currently fathers “fathering a generation,” and “turning to God as the Father to the fatherless.”

He included the women in the congregation as well, reminding them that they are helpers to the men and giving the women the opportunity to stand up and be proud of the men. He closed by giving the men the chance to come forward and sign a copy of the Resolution, sealing the deal.

It was an emotional time, and something I have not had the privilege of witnessing in a church in a good while. It was vulnerable passion for a God-given role that can influence others for generations to come. As I sat there I knew that this is a church that understands brokenness, and I sensed the strength that comes as a result. I believe that is something only God can create – strength in the broken places.

Today’s worship was a blessing, and I thank God for leading us here today.

Our prayer for this church:

Father, we pray that You will indeed use this church on the hill as a beacon to the surrounding community. We believe You honor a church that teaches the values found in the movie “Courageous,” and we pray for the men of this church as they step up to the challenge to be the men and leaders You have called them to be. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Gospel Fellowship Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Gospel Fellowship Presbyterian Church, 161 McFann Road, Valencia, PA 16059, 724.898.3322, www.gospelfellowshippca.org, Rev. Dr. Nick Protos, Senior Pastor.

Bob’s thoughts:

I was wondering about the signage when I saw the directional arrow for the driveway…I think it is orange on green, but the contrast is so poor I had to look again to see which direction was indicated. When we parked in the upper lot, the Sanctuary entrance was well identified, and we found a restroom sign easily inside.

We were warmly welcomed from when we stepped in the door and the usher shook my hand and looked me in the eye.

The first song on the screen also had poor contrast, making it hard to read from the rear seats. There were a lot of children in the Sanctuary, a personal joy for me.

A large round stained glass window accentuates the rear chancel wall but was covered with a black drape. I thought the window might contain a cross, as I couldn’t see one in the Sanctuary. But as we left I drove around to check, and no cross.

The sermon was on differentiating Scriptural references to killing and murder. I believe the Bible is very clear that abortion is murder, and it always seemed to me that being pro-abortion after you have been born is hypocritical.

Jan’s thoughts:

We were greeted warmly as we entered the building, then by several others who introduced themselves and welcomed us.

The building seemed fairly new, but we did not have an opportunity to tour at all. The only signage I noted was toward the restrooms. We also noticed a bulletin board indicating the numerous global missions in which the church is involved.

The Sanctuary was spacious and pretty. Unfortunately the only stained glass was covered by black cloth to prevent the sun from blinding parishioners. However, as the pastor pointed out, it was also appropriate on this Sanctity of Life Sunday.

We heard some contemporary music when we first entered the building, but missed it since we did not enter the Sanctuary until the announcements were underway.

As usual we sat near the back, and I briefly considered moving closer to the front in order to see the words on the screen. Had they been white on that dark background, or at least larger, it would have been easier.

The sermon, called “The Unsanctity of Life,” was based on Exodus 20:13. The pastor had an excellent progression from “In Scripture, the choice of words is inspired by God” to “This particular Hebrew word (for murder) does not apply to animals, to execution by the state, to killing in self-defense, to killing in the course of a just war, or any other matter except the unlawful, premeditated killing of another human, including involuntary manslaughter.”

He pointed out, however, that "we live in a culture of death," where even some who would raise money to help save animals from death may believe that a woman has a “right” to an abortion because “it’s her body.”

He made too many points for me to enumerate, but his clear stand was that life originates with and belongs to God, that we have no “right” to end a life prematurely, that “there is a difference between terminating life and terminating treatment,” and that “there are no throw-away people.”

It’s too bad that in this world we need a day to have this point brought consciously to mind.

Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Valencia Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Valencia Presbyterian Church, 80 Sterrett Street, Valencia, PA 16059, 724.625.2002, www.valenciapresbyterian.com, Rev. Gary Weston, Pastor.


Bob’s thoughts:

On our second try we were able to visit Valencia Presbyterian Church. It was simply a matter of a left turn as opposed to a right, but I really feel it was more than that, like when Christ would tell the disciples something and Scripture says the meaning was clouded for them at the time. I felt that sort of fog last week and was unable to follow the very simple directions.

Speaking of directions, this church has directional signs outdoors, an area often overlooked.

When we entered the smaller, colorful Sanctuary it was apparent everything else was downstairs. We had a brief look around before the service. The pew line from the Sanctuary was angled into the addition, giving the effect of focused seating and a very pleasant worship area. I especially enjoyed the pendant lights with red and blue glass.

A lot of children came forward for the Children’s Message, which was very well tied to the main message of the Prodigal Son. For the children the idea of a lost dog notice and relating how they would react to the dog returning was a great way to relate the message.

The Scouts were honored after the message and were included in prayers. There were numerous prayers throughout and of course I appreciated the large wood cross and that the offering was taken in response to the Word. Also the very professional bulletin.

The sermon, “Prodigals Welcome,” got me thinking of something I read recently about how the father running out to greet his wayward son had a benefit we wouldn’t think of: saving his son’s life. The robe, sandals, signet ring, and father’s embrace and kiss signified to the locals that the father welcomed the son home; otherwise the locals would have stoned the son for disgracing the father.

May we emulate the father’s unconditional love when we welcome our prodigals.

I sensed the strong presence of Christ in worship today.

Jan’s thoughts:

Today we arrived at the church we planned to attend last week. Immediately upon pulling in to the parking lot we noticed the outdoor directional signs and parking spaces marked and set aside especially for visitors – a very welcoming gesture.

The Sanctuary is not deep but had obviously been widened, and once the service began I could see why – it was nearly full. There were several unique touches here.
We were too early for the prelude, but music playing softly as we entered the Sanctuary seemed to quiet people’s talking.
The stained glass was intricate and colorful.
The overhead lights hanging down had some color in them.
As I mentioned the Sanctuary is very wide, so some of the pews were angled effectively.
The signage was excellent, including restroom signs protruding into the hallway.
During worship the Parish Associate spoke about an upcoming mission trip via train to an Indian reservation in Montana.

The bulletin was excellently arranged and looked professionally done, with an extra flap on the right page. Usually these are for gleaning further information about visitors, but this one was used for prayer requests on one side and event sign-ups on the other.

It seemed to take a while for the people to approach us, but the greetings were friendly.

There were a surprising number of children of all ages, and the Children’s Message about a lost puppy was geared to their ages and mindsets. Also, for the second week running – in different churches yet – we were treated to a well-done ceremony acknowledging Boy and Girl Scouts present.

The music was blended, with the words to all the music as well as other parts of liturgy displayed on the screen in the Chancel.

The sermon, called “Prodigals Welcome,” was based on Luke’s telling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Following the reading of the Scripture the pastor read “The Prodigal Son in the Key of F” – a humorous re-telling of the parable with every possible word beginning with the letter “f.”

He also mentioned C.S. Lewis’ statement that grace is what sets Christianity apart from every other world religion and tied that to what he called the “conceited” (meaning self-righteous) people who do not believe they need grace because they do not believe they’ve done anything wrong.

I tend to agree with Lewis – grace is indeed amazing, and I for one am exceedingly grateful every time I find myself on the receiving end of it.

Glade Run United Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Glade Run United Presbyterian Church, 1091 Pittsburgh Road, Valencia, PA 16059, 724.898.3503, www.gladerunchurch.org, Rev. Greg Wiest, Pastor.


Bob’s thoughts:

We visited Glade Run for their traditional service. The Sanctuary is very nicely tied together: a larger cross is framed with a rounded archway in wood paneling. Over all, the wood trim and ceiling treatment draw attention to the impressive stained glass. It has the feel of a country church.

There are matching banners in front: very colorful, but I’m not sure of the significance. I was disappointed that the offering was not taken in response to the Word.

I’ve never attempted to ring handbells, and maybe there is a concentration required that demands seriousness, but I had hoped for a smile when their exceptional worship was done.

The message was part of a series on Christianity and other religions. I am not sure what is gained by the comparisons but do believe it will help in our witness to other faiths. I am always amazed at how parts of a faith are made up at will, but am reminded of all the ‘extras’ the Jews added in and the host of things added by some denominations within the Christian church.

If we encourage other faiths to talk about their beliefs, we are able to explain our personal relationship with Christ. I agree our strong witness are our prayers for them and the witness of how we live our lives for Christ.

Something seemed to be missing in worship however. Worship. The elements were there, but there was no noticeable passion or joy. Other than the children and some young mothers, I only saw one smile during the service. There is something very Presbyterian in this. Maybe we are affected by the Reformed Presbyterian, that we feel we can’t be happy in worship.

The only reason I note this is for what came after the worship service. We were looking at a bulletin board of missionary activities during the coffee fellowship time, and I commented to Jan how I thought we stood out and was surprised that no one greeted us. As if on cue, people came by and introduced themselves and invited us to join them. That fellowship time was characterized by joy and laughter, a time of sharing and breaking bread together (well, cake, which I enjoyed in spite of my doctors’ directives).

I don’t know if you try to redirect some of that joy to worship or bring worship to the coffee hour. The worship time was marred by some folks sitting nearby who not only talked throughout the service but spent their time complaining.

The benediction reflected a personal belief about how we readily accept Christ as Savior but have trouble acknowledging Him as Lord.

I really enjoyed talking to the pastor and others. Also was impressed with the mission involvement. We hope to make it back for the contemporary service.

Jan’s thoughts:

This building was much larger than I expected; very well kept and tastefully decorated with much attention to detail. Plenty of parking space.

The signage was part of the décor, so it was unobtrusive. We asked the location of the restrooms when we entered and they turned out to be through the Sanctuary and down the hall a ways. It was a good thing we asked as we would never have encountered them just looking for them.

The pews were comfortably padded and set in a curved arrangement. The Chancel boasted lots of wood, including a huge Celtic cross against the rear wall. I never tire of seeing the beautiful stained glass, and the colors on these particular windows were unusual and quite stunning.

The bulletin was well-done, with the worship service information on the outside sheet and all the inserts foldable inside so as not to get in the way during worship. It worked well.

We attended the 8:45 a.m. traditional service but will likely return for the 11 a.m. contemporary service at some point.

Bob will probably write something about this, but I’ll say it too: I sensed almost no passion or joy from anyone during this service with the exception of the pastor. However the people were like another congregation after the service, which I’ll address in a moment.

The sermon was part of a series contrasting faith in Christ with other faiths, and today’s message was “Jesus and Hinduism.” He pointed out that yoga is one of the philosophical schools of Hinduism, a fact which seems to be lost on many of its numerous practitioners. He outlined some great steps to take should you be seeking to evangelize someone of the Hindu faith, and actually I thought they were great points to keep in mind in any evangelization effort aimed at someone of another faith or someone with no faith. They originated with Indian-born Christian apologist and author Ravi Zacharius. I wrote as fast as I could and I think I got them all:
1. Begin by creating a relationship. Show respect for their beliefs without compromising your faith.
2. Listen more than you talk (good advice in general).
3. Respond to their needs.
4. Emphasize the personal relationship with Christ (something lacking in every other faith).
5. Pray for them.
6. Don’t overwhelm them – take your time. Studies show that younger people especially are open to hearing the Good News.
7. Our call is to present the truth of Christ. People can only be loved into the Kingdom, not coerced or dragged.

Following worship we sought out the restrooms again and as we were looking at the bulletin board full of information and communications from missionaries, several people approached us and introduced themselves. They were extremely friendly, showing us where to find coffee and inviting us to try some of the many cakes, etc. We each spent some time with several members who took the time to share some of the church’s history as well as personal conversation. The obviously friendly teasing, chatting, and general fellowshipping going on seemed so different from the stoic (Presbyterian) worship. We may just visit again for the 11:00 contemporary service after all. We were very glad we stayed for the fellowship time.