Zelienople Church of Christ

Today we worshiped at Zelienople Church of Christ, 112 Mennonite Lane, Harmony, PA 16066, 724.816.2035, www.zeliechurch.com, Pastor Reid Moon.

Scripture – Ephesians 3:16-21 ESV

…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Bob’s thoughts:

I have felt called to revisit this church for a while. Today, after an hour and a half of aimless driving, we ended up right where God was sending us just before the service started. I hope to look where He would like us to go a little sooner and save gas, but no matter what the plans, I am in awe of His orchestration to get us where we need to be.

We were welcomed by a number of people who remembered us. I admit some faces were familiar to me but for the most part I remembered the external setting.

The only cross I noticed was on a banner.

The pastor thanked the congregation for their support after a memorial service for his mother, a tough time to preach a sermon or anything else.

His message, “True to These Feelings…True to God” was a most interesting reflection. We readily claim our blessings from God and attribute many things to God. I don’t think we ever get to realizing our feelings were also created by God and part of Christ’s experience here on earth.

When we are abused, are we called to forgive the abuser? He talked about the long abuse of Joseph and his forgiving his brothers when he realized they were finally getting it. Maybe this was a wake-up call to the congregation that the abused, lonely, and shunned are not alone.

Communion was served without a corporate call for confession, but there was enough time for personal confession while the elements were silently served.

We enjoyed conversation with some members and with the pastor after the service.

I was glad for a chance to share something God had put on my heart. I try to always pray for the people on the prayer lists from the bulletins we are given when visiting. Recently I was talking with an elderly neighbor who lamented that she didn’t know why God was letting her live. During my prayer time the idea came to ask her to pray for those on the list, and over the following weeks more clarity was provided. I want to encourage churches to ask their shut in members to pray for those on their prayer list. It helps them focus on others, helps them feel connected, and blesses them with a sense of purpose. The phenomenal benefits cannot be denied. I think it is important that the shut in member’s name is also on the list for prayer, and it is good to let the congregation know that there are people unable to be present who are praying for those on the list.

Jan’s thoughts:

Just the opposite of a week ago, today we had no idea where we should worship. But it was a gorgeous fall day, so we drove…and drove…and drove…and ended up here. We’ve decided we need to plan better, but for this day I’m convinced this was where we were to be.

This is a small, friendly, out-of-the-way church that I did not recognize until I walked in and saw a couple of people who had popped into my mind recently. We chatted and caught up on recent developments at the church, then sat down to worship.

The sanctuary was nearly full with people of all ages, including many children for whom children’s church is provided. There are no instruments of any kind, so the singing is led by the pastor with his clear, strong voice. Of the seven musical selections, I was familiar with only one but everyone else seemed familiar with them.

I appreciated being able to participate in Communion. I must have missed the time of confession of sins, so I did so silently.

The sermon, “True to These Feelings…True to God,” was hard-hitting and not for children. The pastor outlines last week’s message as having dealt with forgiveness and wisdom and whether God wants someone to stay in an abusive relationship (He does not). The feelings referred to in this week’s sermon title are the feelings accompanying abuse.

After defining abuse as the intentional harming of another person over a period of time, he outlined the Biblical story of Joseph. Although Joseph started out as his father’s favorite, he was sold into slavery by his brothers then unjustly accused by his master’s wife and thrown into jail.

After confirming that feelings are from God and are not necessarily good or bad but just are, he listed the feelings commonly resulting from abuse: guilt, worthlessness, self-blame, frustration, confusion, anger leading to bitterness, a desire for revenge, loneliness, fear of being shunned or having one’s feelings minimized. He said that many people “close the door” on their feelings in an effort to make them go away. The thing is, the feelings aren’t behind the door, they’re in the heart, and there they will stay until they are dealt with.

Joseph had a great deal of time to consider what he might say to his brothers and to get past his feelings. The pastor pointed out that our feelings can short-circuit God’s work and Joseph waited until he was certain his brothers had changed before he forgave. He advised not to close off feelings of abuse but be honest with God. There also can be great benefit in professional counseling, and we have true hope in God’s promises.

Several members and the pastor were kind enough to take considerable time for conversation following worship.

Our prayer for this chu

Lord, we pray for Your continued Presence with this congregation. Help them extend forgiveness to those who have wronged them and free their hearts from the pain. Amen.

Zelienople Church of Christ

Today we worshiped at Zelienople Church of Christ, 112 Mennonite Lane, Harmony, PA 16066, 724.816.2035, www.zeliechurch.com, Pastor Reid Moon.

Scripture – NIV

Hebrews 12:18-24

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Exodus 19:9-13

The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”

Exodus 19:16-19

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.

Bob’s thoughts:

This has been an interesting Sunday. We chose (or were led to) a church in Harmony. We had wanted to worship here to facilitate meeting up with one of our daughters and grandchildren in Zelienople to share lunch.

The church building is small but the church has a large heart. Signage was virtually non-existent but we entered directly into the sanctuary, which has a low enough ceiling that the ceiling fans would be effective.

I did find a cross on a wall banner and the Communion serving trays. The service has a lot of music and no instruments are used, though I’m not sure why.

It was a joy to hear a baby somewhere in the sanctuary that tried to sing along with each selection.

My uncontrollable cough came back and someone slipped out to get me a bottle of water…a sign of a healthy church.

The sermon was about the difference between God’s inaccessibility during Moses’ time when sinful people could not be near to God and now, following Christ’s death for our sins, God does not see our sinful selves, but our Savior. There was some insight into Christ’s Crucifixion: we get caught up in believing there is something more we need to do to earn our salvation. It brought to mind something I read from Max Lucado in this morning’s devotions: Christ’s payment was so complete that He used a banking term when He said “It is finished” (John 19:30)…“tetelestai” (the final payment, the ultimate payment). We don’t earn grace and we can add nothing.

We were warmly greeted and got to talk to some members after the service. A highlight was a boy who asked if he could pass out the bulletins and then went and welcomed everyone as he gave them.

After a pleasant lunch with family where I was blessed with a gracious server, we stopped for a few things at Shop & Save. When the woman at the checkout asked how I was, I told her honestly that I was overwhelmingly blessed. I was telling her how I felt I missed an opportunity earlier in the week to pay for the groceries of the woman ahead of me when a clerk ran up with $20 from the woman who had been ahead of me checking out. The woman asked to put that toward my bill and abruptly left the store. As much as I appreciated it, the clerk’s reaction was priceless. “You just told me you were overwhelmingly blessed and this woman pays for your order.”

What an awesome God we serve.

Jan’s thoughts:

Within moments after we entered we were greeted and engaged in friendly conversation with the pastor and several others. This was followed by greetings from still other members and an invitation to join the chili cook-off following worship.

A friendly youth gave us each a bulletin and verbally welcomed us to the church.

As the pastor had mentioned, there was plenty of singing but no instruments of any kind. However there surely was beautiful music praising God.

Celebration of Communion every week is unusual in my experience, but this church does so. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to partake.

Early in the service one of the members who had greeted us handed me a notebook. He referred to it as a Prayer Journal and invited us to write any prayer requests we might have. The journal was then passed around the rest of the congregation and used by the pastor as the basis for the morning Praise and Prayer time. Since we are perpetual visitors, we seldom participate in this part of the service and I felt blessed to be included.

The sermon was titled “Angels in Joyful Assembly” and was a study of the contrast between the unapproachability of God at Mt. Sinai and His mercy at Mt. Zion.

I found the subject fascinating and plan to read more of the Scripture; I also enjoyed his fervent, authentic style of preaching.

Partway into the sermon Bob had a coughing spell and one of the gentlemen left for a moment and brought him a bottle of water. This is the kind of thoughtful hospitality that makes an impact.

Our prayer for this church:

Father, we pray You continue to bless this congregation and let them share their joy in serving You. Amen.