Pastor Joel's Mid-Week Reminders for 1/30/2012
This entry was posted on 2/2/2012 7:00 AM and is filed under Mid-Week Reminders.
"Everyone
is
searching for you." St Mark 1.37
Human
life could be described as a long search: a search for love,
for
relationships, for meaning and purpose, for the true and the
beautiful
and the good...and for the holy. Not everyone is searching
for Jesus,
but it is in him that we will find all that we most deeply
yearn for in
life.
This is not a time when the institutional church is
prospering. Since
the turn of the millenium in 2000, almost every denomination
has
reported significant losses in average worship attendance
and
membership. Clearly, people are not turning to the Church
in their
search for answers to their deepest questions.
What are we as Christians to do? Well, our answer is right
in the
Bible. When Jesus ascended into heaven he said to his
followers: "YOU
shall be my witnesses." That's the timeless commission of
our Lord:
for each of us who are Christians to live in such a
way that,
in Jesus' words, "others may see your good works and give
glory to
God." We are the vessels of God's love to people
today. At
work, in the home, in our relationships, in public, our
simple yet
profound task as Christians is to let the love of Jesus flow
out to
others in our words, values, attitudes, and especially our
actions.
Everyone may not be searching for Jesus these days. But
what they are
looking for will be found most fully in him...and visibly
seen in his
people.
WE
HAVE
PASSED FINAL INSPECTION!
The building inspector has signed off on our upstairs. That,
along
with the elevator OK, means we are now completely free to
occupy and
use that space. Praise be to God and HUGE thanks to Al Binder
and
Randy Giesbers for shepherding us through this long journey of
construction and remodeling!
SOUPER BOWL: No,
'souper'
is not a typo. Each year on Super Bowl Sunday, churches
across America
invite people to contribute to local charities. On Sunday, Feb. 5, please
bring a few
extra dollars to fill the 3 big bowls set on the big table
behind our
worship area. All monies contributed will go to the Salvation
Army,
Union Gospel Mission, and Marion Polk Food Share. Thanks for
your
generosity!
OPPORTUNITY FOR HEALING PRAYERS
will be given during worship on Sunday,
February
12. Please remember that all information
shared with Pastor Joel when you come forward for prayers of
healing
will be held in the strictest confidence.
PIE
SOCIAL:
Our annual Redeemer Pie Social has been set for Saturday
evening, March
17 (St Patrick's Day) at 6pm. If you
can bring pies,
help organize and
/ or provide entertainment, please talk with Lorene Bartell.
To the
best of my knowledge, this is once again a fundraiser for
Habitat for
Humanity's Salem chapter.
2011
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF GIVING
are ready for you to find in your church mailbox.
Questions:
contact Deb Skiles, our Financial Secretary.
'CONNECTIONS', my
weekly
Bible Study for adults, meets every Sunday morning in the
Commons Room
at 8:50 - 9:45am. We read through the assigned Scripture
readings for
worship and then make connections with our daily life. A
lively,
relaxed discussion group for you to participate in!
INVITATION
TO
CONGREGATION:
Earl and Verna Dixon will be renewing their wedding
vows during
worship on Sunday, Feb. 5, the occasion of their 50th
wedding
anniversary. They invite the congregation to a
celebratory
lunch served immediately after worship.
DATES
AND EVENTS TO NOTE ~
Sunday,
Feb 5............10am worship, with Renewal of Marriage
Vows for Earl
and Verna Dixon. Lunch reception follows.
Sunday, Feb 26...........11:45am,
Disaster
Preparedness group meets.
Looking
ahead: Wednesday,
Feb 22, Ash Wednesday: Lent begins
Saturday, March 17, 6pm: Pie
Social (see
above)
Sunday,
April 1: Palm
Sunday
April
8, Easter Sunday
**Please
see
the weekly bulletin, the Spirit Call newsletter, and our
master
calendar for a
complete listing of dates and events.
