Announcements Mark Your Calendars-- On Wednesday, April 2 @ 6:45 we will have a representative from Jews for Jesus to explain how the traditional Passover meal foreshadowed Jesus' death & resurrection. If you're interested in helping prepare for this event, please send me an email. We need someone willing to host the representative on the night of April 2 and some help preparing for the event. Youth Committee-- Meeting on March 18 @ 6:30 Devotionals-- If you're interested in having all of the New Testament daily devotionals on your e-reader, they can be purchased on Amazon. Just click here for 6 years worth of devotionals that cover the entire New Testament. Community Kitchen Spot There are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God and the community needs some help feeding them. If you would like to help out, please bring the following items to church this Sunday & put them on the bookshelf. Plastic Forks, Knives, Spoons Dinner Napkins Heavy Duty Sectional Dinner Plates Dessert Plates New Hope News Sunday School--Don Kaller is going to be teaching the adult Sunday School class in March & April. Fruit of the Spirit-- Sunday evenings @ 6:15 Pray For: Norma Capone, Christine Dyer Peggy & John L. We need to continue to pray for a cure to cancer, a beast that continue to tear our families and society apart. For the kids in confirmation class: Ashley, R.J., Chase, Jade & Jackson Links Keith's Random Thoughts Purim begins this Saturday evening. It's the Jewish festival that celebrates the deliverance of the Jews from wicked Haman. This deliverance is made possible through the courage of Esther and the cunning of her cousin Mordecai. What is so appealing about this little-read story (it's the only book in the Bible that doesn't mention God) is that everything works out in the end. The Jews, who had done nothing wrong, are saved. The heroes are rewarded. Haman and his wicked friends are killed. It sets the scene as a just world. Many of today's movies and books are like this. By the end, everything is set right. The culprits are caught and punished, the heroes rewarded and lauded for their efforts, and the victims are often compensated for their loss, even if its nothing but a sense of satisfaction that justice has been done. We love these stories because something within us is drawn to the neatness with which they are concluded. The real world rarely resembles these fictional tales. In the real world, the bad guys are sometimes caught, sometimes punished, unless they have enough wealth and/or privilege to get around the system. Justice is sometimes accomplished, except for when it is delayed or wrongly delivered. Often, things go unsolved or unsettled. Heroes are sometimes rewarded, unless they are pilloried. Situations get complicated and messy and often stay that way for years and decades. So it's nice to 'escape' to fiction and enjoy a tale when things are set right. It's even better to take confidence in God and trust that all things will eventually end up that way. God promises that, in the end, justice will be done. The martyrs who are crying out for justice in the book of Revelation eventually see their murders avenged. The poor will no longer be trampled upon. The hungry will eat their fill. Evil will be destroyed. In the end, all will be set right. Let us trust in God, and in the meantime, may we work for a more just world, joining with God's ongoing Kingdom work. Text for this Sunday Acts10(Common English Bible) New Hope on iTunes Keith's Blog & Devotionals for your Kindle
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Announcements Mark Your Calendars-- On Wednesday, April 2 @ 6:45 we will have a representative from Jews for Jesus to explain how the traditional Passover meal foreshadowed Jesus' death & resurrection. If you're interested in helping prepare for this event, please send me an email. We need someone willing to host the representative on the night of April 2 and some help preparing for the event. Youth Committee-- Meeting on March 18 @ 6:30 Community Kitchen Spot There are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God and the community needs some help feeding them. If you would like to help out, please bring the following items to church this Sunday & put them on the bookshelf. Plastic Forks, Knives, Spoons Dinner Napkins Heavy Duty Sectional Dinner Plates Dessert Plates New Hope News Sunday School--Don Kaller is going to be teaching the adult Sunday School class in March & April. Fruit of the Spirit-- Sunday evenings @ 6:15 Pray For: Norma Capone, Christine Dyer Peggy & John L. This whole situation in Crimea. I think we especially need to pray for the individual people. It's easy to focus so much on the global implications and the bigger situation that we forget about people like you and I who are just struggling to live their daily lives in the midst of this chaos. For the kids in confirmation class: Ashley, R.J., Chase, Jade & Jackson Links Keith's Random Thoughts I get pretty excited about baseball season. To me, there is something grand about stretched out in the sun with a baseball game on the radio... it just feels right. The long months between the end of the Reds' season and the beginning of Spring Training games can be pretty bleak for this baseball fan. The rhythm of pitching and hitting brings an added joy to my life. It's pretty easy for me to get caught up in baseball. I can spend a day thinking about it, wondering how the Reds will do this year, examining their flaws and rejoicing in their strengths. I can wonder about the other teams in their division and how other moves might affect the team. I can think about the matchup tonight and wonder why player X is struggling so badly. In short, it can occupy my mind. Baseball is one of many things that can do so. We all invest a lot of time thinking about things, about people and situations. Most of our thoughts don't lead us toward resolution or progress, they just turn the wheels of our minds. We think about our jobs and our health and our families and our friends and the future and the world news and the weather and we often speculate about the many possible ways life can go wrong. We think a lot. What happens, at least with me, is that I think about all these things so often that I forget to think about God. I don't mean to, I just get so caught up thinking about everything else that I don't have any leftover time to give to God, and while I promise to do better tomorrow, there is often a new batch of thoughts (or the old ones) then. It's not that these things are bad. It's just that God doesn't want to be resigned to the leftovers. God wants to be first in our minds, and he wants the awareness of his presence and love to permeate our family, friends, jobs, etc. We can enjoy these things as faithful disciples. It's a tough balance. It requires intense re-training of our hearts and minds, and it requires hard work that is easily avoided. I think it's worth it, though. I think that investing our time and energy in such training will yield peace in our hearts and minds down the road. A confidence and awareness in God's presence is worth working toward, isn't it? Maybe I'll think on that during the next ballgame... Text for this Sunday, March 9 Acts9:1-22(Common English Bible) Meanwhile, Saul was still spewing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest, 2 seeking letters to the synagogues in Damascus. If he found persons who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, these letters would authorize him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 During the journey, as he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven encircled him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice asking him, “Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me?” 5 Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus, whom you are harassing,” came the reply. 6 “Now get up and enter the city. You will be told what you must do.” 7 Those traveling with him stood there speechless; they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 After they picked Saul up from the ground, he opened his eyes but he couldn’t see. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind and neither ate nor drank anything. 10 In Damascus there was a certain disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He answered, “Yes, Lord.” 11 The Lord instructed him, “Go to Judas’ house on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias enter and put his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 Ananias countered, “Lord, I have heard many reports about this man. People say he has done horrible things to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 He’s here with authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone who calls on your name.” 15 The Lord replied, “Go! This man is the agent I have chosen to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 Ananias went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord sent me—Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you were coming here. He sent me so that you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly, flakes fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. 19 After eating, he regained his strength. He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days. 20 Right away, he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. “He is God’s Son,” he declared. 21 Everyone who heard him was baffled. They questioned each other, “Isn’t he the one who was wreaking havoc among those in Jerusalem who called on this name? Hadn’t he come here to take those same people as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul grew stronger and stronger. He confused the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. New Hope on iTunes Keith's Blog & Devotionals for your Kindle Announcements Read Across America-- Monday, March 3 is Read Across America Day. East Brainerd Elementary is looking for people who will come to the school for ~30 minutes and read to the kids. If you are able, please call Janet Cox (855-6161). Thanks! Ash Wednesday-- Our Ash Wednesday service will be next Wednesday @ 6:30 in the sanctuary. Job Opening-- If you're interested in being a breakfast host at Homewood Suites, they're hiring for a few positions. Community Kitchen Spot There are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God and the community needs some help feeding them. If you would like to help out, please bring the following items to church this Sunday & put them on the bookshelf. Plastic Forks, Knives, Spoons Dinner Napkins Heavy Duty Sectional Dinner Plates Dessert Plates New Hope News Sunday School--Don Kaller is going to be teaching the adult Sunday School class in March & April. Fruit of the Spirit-- Sunday evenings @ 6:15 Pray For: Norma Capone, Christine Dyer For the kids in confirmation class: Ashley, R.J., Chase, Jade & Jackson Links Keith's Random Thoughts It takes a looooong time to get out the door at our house. Caleb loves to walk down the stairs by himself. It's one of my favorite parts of my day, but you can't be in a hurry. He takes his time. Then he wants to get into the carseat by himself. This, too, takes time. I want to encourage him to do things on his own, but I also like to get places on time. These two factors seldom can both be true, and so I try and rush him. I cringe when I hear myself saying these things. I don't want him to feel constantly rushed. I love when he slows down and checks out everything. (This kid not only stops to smell the roses—he waits for them to grow.) The world is a beautiful place, and I want to encourage him to revel in its beauty. It's me that needs to slow down. I'm the one that needs to move at his pace, rather than rushing by to hurry the world along, hoping to arrive on time. God made a wondrous world around us. It's my hope that we'll all slow down enough to appreciate it, to wonder in it, to recapture the spirit of a child and give thanks for the glory that surrounds us. Text for this Sunday, March 2 Acts8:26-40(ESV) English Standard Version (ESV) 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. New Hope on iTunes Keith's Blog & Devotionals for your Kindle Announcements Job Opening-- If you're interested in being a breakfast host at Homewood Suites, they're hiring for a few positions. Potluck!-- This Sunday Community Kitchen Spot There are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God and the community needs some help feeding them. If you would like to help out, please bring the following items to church this Sunday & put them on the bookshelf. Plastic Forks, Knives, Spoons Dinner Napkins Heavy Duty Sectional Dinner Plates Dessert Plates New Hope News Sunday School--We start Matthew 12 this coming Sunday. Fruit of the Spirit-- Sunday evenings @ 6:15 Wednesday Suppers--Bring your supper and join us at 6, or come to study 1 Samuel (we'll be in chapter 25 next week) at 6:30. Pray For: Norma Capone, Christine Dyer Our Presbytery meeting on Saturday For all those in the path of the storms tonight. Pray for safety, and in the midst of frightened chaos, may we reach for the hand of God only to recognize that we are already there. Links Keith's Random Thoughts I've been watching the Olympics lately, and there are so many moments when I stop and think, “I could never do that and walk away.” Women's figure skating was on last night, and I'm watching a woman jump around on a blade 1/8” thick, and then when she's done doing that, she reaches up behind her, where her leg is, and grabs the skate's blade while spinning in circles. If I tried to do that, I'd fall flat on my face, tear every muscle in my groin and slice my hand open on the skate. The Russian judge would not score that well. Giant Slalom? I'd make the first two gates, hit the third one with my face, then tumble forward down the rest of the hill, forcing spectators to flee for their lives while a giant snowball with skis sticking out destroyed everything in its path. Luge? Ha! I could go on. Curling is about the only sport I could do well in. Bobsled brakeman is probably within my reach. Rachel and I were joking about what we might look like doing pairs figure skating... Sure, I'll just throw you six feet in the air while you're spinning in circles, catch you gracefully and set you on your feet, all the while gliding around on ice. The problem is that it's all too easy to do this with my spiritual life as well. I look at others who have it all sorted together and see their dedication and discipline to the devotional life and I am alternatively jealous and harsh toward myself. I think it comes to easily to them, and I don't believe that I could ever achieve such a disciplined life. Of course, I skip the part where they have spent years crafting their lives, and it wasn't easy for them. They had to fight against resistance at every turn, constantly refocusing their efforts, until eventually their work paid off. Not that they can just relax now, but their work has turned devotions into a life-giving thing, and they return to it time and time again because it is such a foundational part of their life now. The Olympic athletes have done the same. Luge doesn't come naturally the first time. No one did a triple axle (I have NO idea what the difference is between the different figure skating jumps. They all look similarly hard to my untrained eye) the first time they put on skates. No one skies the giant slalom after graduating from the bunny hill. It takes hard work and countless hours. They make it look effortless by all the effort they have invested. So may we be patient with ourselves, and may we take the long-term view with our feeble beginner efforts, trusting in the Holy Spirit to lead us deeper. Text for this Tuesday, December 24 Acts6:8-7:60(ESV) New Hope on iTunes Keith's Blog & Devotionals for your Kindle Announcements Lynn Meyer Memorial Service-- Will be Sunday, February 16 @ 2pm at Ridgedale Baptist Church on Hickory Valley Road. Fruit of the Spirit-- Sunday evenings @ 6:15 Community Kitchen Spot There are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God and the community needs some help feeding them. If you would like to help out, please bring the following items to church this Sunday & put them on the bookshelf. Plastic Forks, Knives, Spoons Dinner Napkins Heavy Duty Sectional Dinner Plates Dessert Plates New Hope News Sunday School--We start Matthew 11 this coming Sunday. Wednesday Suppers--Have begun! Bring your supper and join us at 6, or come to study 1 Samuel (we'll be in chapter 25 next week) at 6:30. Pray For: Norma Capone Christine Dyer The folks at Trinity Presbyterian Church Give thanks! For today. For life. For a community. For food to eat and water to drink. For hope. For Jesus Christ, our Savior. Links Keith's Random Thoughts Have you ever watched a two year old brush his teeth? It's awkward. I've seen more grace (but less enthusiasm) at the zoo watching a hippopotamus lumber out of a pond. I find myself saying things like, “Don't bite the brush,” all the while laughing as my son wildly pushes a tiny brush around his entire face. I love it, but I am also very aware that the plaque does not tremble in fear at the sound of the toothbrush, because I'm not sure the brush ever comes into contact with his teeth. The doctor, however, told us that it doesn't matter too much. His baby teeth only have to make it a few years. What is important is setting habits and routines so that Caleb will brush his adult teeth, the ones he has to keep for many decades. Brushing his teeth now sets a pattern that will keep him healthy later on. So as ungraceful as his brushing may be, it's important. Our early spiritual growth attempts fits into the same pattern. Often, we struggle to do it well. We stumble at our attempts to pray. We read the Bible and our attention drifts, or we can't make sense of it. We try, but we don't feel like we're doing much good. The important thing, though, is that we're setting a pattern in place. We're putting habits in place that will bear fruit later. At first, we may not see the fruit, but over weeks, months, years and decades, our practices will build up, cumulatively, and make a huge difference in our overall quality of discipleship. Text for this Tuesday, December 24 Acts4:32-5:11(ESV) 32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. Ananias and Sapphira 5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. New Hope on iTunes Keith's Blog & Devotionals for your Kindle Announcements Kids' Musical-- This Sunday! Service of Healing & Wholeness-- For all who struggle with any and all of Christmas, we hold this service yearly as a place to come and let the hope of Christ and the love of the community surround us. December 22 @ 6pm. Candlelight Christmas Eve Service of Lessons & Carols-- December 24, 7 pm. Community Kitchen Spot There are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God and the community needs some help feeding them. If you would like to help out, please bring the following items to church this Sunday & put them on the bookshelf. Plastic Forks, Knives, Spoons Dinner Napkins Heavy Duty Sectional Dinner Plates New Hope News Sunday School--We push forward through Matthew 8 this coming Sunday. Sam's Card--Please check and see if you have the church Sam's Card. We are not sure who borrowed it last, but it has not been returned. Pray For: Lynn Meyer—please pray for Roger and Lynn as the eternal life into which she was baptized draws near. While death has been defeated and the veil separating us from God has been torn in two, there is still much pain and many tears as we grieve the wounds that death punches into our hearts and minds. Norma Capone--she will be in surgery throughout today, so please be in constant prayer for her The O'Rear Family Christine Dyer For Jessica and so many others wrestling with cancer For Christmas joy and hope and peace and wonder to wash over all of us in such powerful ways that we never forget what Christ our King has done for us Links Keith's Random Thoughts Apparently, Christmas is next Wednesday. My tree still isn't up... People ask if we're ready for Christmas. Well, I suppose that depends on what you mean. By 'ready', do you mean that presents are bought and the house decorated? The answer would be no. We don't do many presents at Christmas, and decorations are still in their boxes in the basement. Who knew a second kid could make things that much more chaotic? By 'ready', do you mean ready to receive a Savior into my life, a light for my darkness, hope for my despair? I am ready in the sense that I need a Savior. I am a mess, and only my Lord and God can save me. I cannot save myself. The way that I act, the way that I think, the way that I live—it is all in need of redemption. In that sense, I am ready. But if you were to ask whether or not I am ready to hand everything over to my Savior, the honest answer is no. I hold back from letting Christ be Lord of all of life. I stubbornly refuse to cede complete control to him, and I suffer as a result of that choice. The burdens that I choose to carry weigh me down, body and soul, and I am struggling forward, waiting for Christ to relieve me of these burdens, ignoring the fact that he has already made the offer and that I am carrying them of my own volition. I need to let him be Lord, but I am afraid of the unknown quality of my life if I were to let him reign supreme in my heart, mind, body & soul. So if I'm honest, I'm not ready. My soul and heart are yearning to be set free from the prison of despair and sin, and Christ has unlocked the door and beckoned me out into the light. He has come into my cell and sat with me, and he has shown me the way to abundant life. Yet, here I sit, in the darkness, stubbornly resisting, holding onto sin, trying to tunnel my own way out of my cell with my gnarled and bleeding hands. It's foolish. But it's what sin does to us—leaves us as fools wishing for meager gifts when Christ the Lord has set all of heaven before us as a gift, yet we somehow believe the lie that we are better off playing in the shadows. “Behold, the light has come!” Text for this Tuesday, December 24 Luke 2:1-7(ESV) In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. New Hope on iTunes Keith's Blog & Devotionals for your Kindle Announcements Cantata-- This Sunday! Service of Healing & Wholeness-- For all who struggle with any and all of Christmas, we hold this service yearly as a place to come and let the hope of Christ and the love of the community surround us. December 22 @ 6pm. Candlelight Christmas Eve Service of Lessons & Carols-- December 24, 7 pm. Community Kitchen Spot There are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God and the community needs some help feeding them. If you would like to help out, please bring the following items to church this Sunday & put them on the bookshelf. Plastic Forks, Knives, Spoons Dinner Napkins Heavy Duty Sectional Dinner Plates Dessert Plates New Hope News Toy Drop Thank You-- Thank you for all your generosity for the toy drop! (The guy from the Forgotten Child Fund came and picked up the toys today, and he said we had way more toys than any other place he had visited. Hope you are proud of the congregation's giving!) Sunday School--We push forward into Matthew 8 this coming Sunday. Pray For: Lynn Meyer--please pray for Roger and Lynn as the eternal life into which she was baptized draws near. While death has been defeated and the veil separating us from God has been torn in two, there is still much pain and many tears as we grieve the wounds that death punches into our hearts and minds. Norma Capone—please pray for her this Friday as she undergoes treatment. Christine Dyer For Jessica and so many others wrestling with cancer For each and every individual who waits in a hospital bed. Some wait anxiously for doctors to bring back reports. Some wait longingly for visitors. Some wait to leave, bored and confused as the days run together. Some wait for death. In each and every room, there is a child made in the image of God, born of two parents, filled with hopes and dreams and joys and fears. Each and every one of them matters to God. Links Keith's Random Thoughts Cancer sucks. Death sucks. Frankly, we have too much of both. Sickness & death tear at the fabric of our lives, tearing us in pieces and ripping us apart, bringing chaos to the creation that God created, ordered and called 'Good'. It wasn't supposed to be like this. We introduced this sin to the world. God called us to live a certain way, and we selfishly chose disobedience, and the consequences of that choice brought sickness, death and all sorts of brokenness into the world. All of our sin has brought death to all of us. Humanity, all of us, are broken. What we need, even more than physical healing, is a Savior. I always pray for physical healing, for myself and for others. I pray that the Great Physician would do a miracle in the body of the one that is suffering, that disease and sickness might be conquered & health might be restored. But even if we are physically healed, it only delays the inevitable. We will get sick again. We all die. What we truly need is someone to deliver us from the bondage of sin and death. What we need is someone who will break the shackles of death, so that we will be restored to life, so that we will be in a state where death and disease and chaos cannot touch us. This is exactly what Christ has done. Christ doesn't physically heal all of us, just as he didn't heal everyone in the Gospels, but he offers us something greater, something deeper—liberation, and the hope that, one day, we will be free from death. One day, we will live in a place where there is no thought of disease. Our resurrection bodies will be good, and they will stay that way. Forever. So death still sucks. But fortunately, we can place our trust in One who delivers us through death into life. Text for this Sunday, December 15 Luke 1:26-38(ESV) 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. New Hope on iTunes Keith's Blog & Devotionals for your Kindle Announcements Toy Drop & Clothing Drive-- Thanksgiving Day, a time of celebrating our blessings, seems in danger of being replaced as a national holiday by Black Friday, a day that elevates consumerism. Rather than retreat in fear, the Outreach Committee has chosen to see this as an opportunity. They're going to have a toy drop/clothing drive from 8 pm on Thanksgiving Day until noon the following Friday. We're encouraging people to pick up an extra toy and drop it by the church to benefit the Forgotten Child Fund. What we need: volunteers willing to staff the church, people willing to take fliers around the community, and all the publicity we can get! Community Kitchen Spot There are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God and the community needs some help feeding them. If you would like to help out, please bring the following items to church this Sunday & put them on the bookshelf. #10 Cans of Sweet Potato / Yams #10 Cans of Italian Style Green Beans No-Bake Pumpkin / Apple Pies No-Heat Dinner Rolls Plastic Forks, Knives, Spoons Dinner Napkins Heavy Duty Sectional Dinner Plates Dessert Plates 3 Oz. Souffle Cups New Hope News Wednesday Bible Study--Last night was our final study of the year. We'll pick up again in the new year. Thanksgiving Supper – For over 10 years, JoAn & Philip Wright have been faithfully leading a Thanksgiving meal here at the church (@ 2:00) for any and all who would like to join us. If you'd like to come, please speak with JoAn beforehand. Pray For: For Jessica and so many others wrestling with cancer Dorothy Parks-Piatt, as she continues her journey For those who look at Thanksgiving and feel their hearts tremble as scars, old and new, remind them of who will not be sitting around the table because of conflict, death or sickness. Links Some options for Thanksgiving morning activities: Keith's Random Thoughts Tuesday morning, we realized the toilets in the church weren't working properly. By Tuesday night, enough dirt had been pulled back from where we had some work done in the yard to reveal a 4 foot gap in the sewer pipe. It had been severed by someone who believed that it was an entirely different and irrelevant pipe. As it was put, “assumptions were made that should not have been made.” We do this all the time. We assume the person who cut us off in traffic is an arrogant jerk, rather than an over-tired new father who isn't thinking properly because he's slept 4 hours in the past week. When we say hello to someone and they ignore us, we assume they are upset, rather than wondering if they are consumed by some terrible news they just received. I've done this with people. I've assumed that Caleb has a good reason for throwing 24 crayons on the floor. I've assumed that I know the full picture of someone's situation. I think that people are fine when, in reality, their lives are falling apart. The reason I make assumptions is because I haven't taken the time to know the full situation. I haven't made time to sit down with someone and listen, truly listen, to what's going on in their lives. It certainly requires a willingness and trust on their part to share with me, but it also demands something from me—patience. I have to be willing to sit down with someone and make them the most important thing for the time we have together. Rather than get distracted by all the other things competing for my time and attention, I have to be willing to listen. Jesus astounds me. He had the power to fix every single problem in the world. He could have healed everyone at once, then rectified global injustices with a word. There were countless things demanding his attention. Yet, in the midst of all the demands, he intentionally made time to sit down with individuals and break bread, to listen to their joys and deepest heartbreaks. He would eat with anyone, regardless of social position, and he loved them, individually. When we invest time in relationships, we are then able to stop making assumptions, because we have a fuller picture of why people act the way they do. When we truly listen with a loving heart, we stop assigning motivations and understand why they are the way we are. Then the Holy Spirit knits us together, drawing us ever closer as we wander this journey of life together. Text for this Sunday Mark 16:1-8(ESV) When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. New Hope on iTunes Keith's Blog & Devotionals for your Kindle Announcements Toy Drop & Clothing Drive-- Thanksgiving Day, a time of celebrating our blessings, seems in danger of being replaced as a national holiday by Black Friday, a day that elevates consumerism. Rather than retreat in fear, the Outreach Committee has chosen to see this as an opportunity. They're going to have a toy drop/clothing drive from 8 pm on Thanksgiving Day until noon the following Friday. We're encouraging people to pick up an extra toy and drop it by the church to benefit the Forgotten Child Fund. What we need: volunteers willing to staff the church, people willing to take fliers around the community, and all the publicity we can get! Community Kitchen Spot There are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God and the community needs some help feeding them. If you would like to help out, please bring the following items to church this Sunday & put them on the bookshelf. #10 Cans of Sweet Potato / Yams #10 Cans of Italian Style Green Beans No-Bake Pumpkin / Apple Pies No-Heat Dinner Rolls Plastic Forks, Knives, Spoons Dinner Napkins Heavy Duty Sectional Dinner Plates Dessert Plates 3 Oz. Souffle Cups New Hope News Wednesday Bible Study-- Next week will be our final Bible study of 2013. Join us as @ 6:30 as we study 1 Samuel 20. Bring your supper and share in fellowship at 6. Thanksgiving Supper – For over 10 years, JoAn & Philip Wright have been faithfully leading a Thanksgiving meal here at the church (@ 2:00) for any and all who would like to join us. If you'd like to come, please speak with JoAn beforehand. Pray For: The Ivey family The people of the Philippines, and those in distant places filled with anxiety about loved ones Teachers. Teachers who feel overwhelmed. Teachers whose joy is contagious. Teachers whose hearts break for their children. Teachers who are overworked and underpaid. Teachers who wake up early and do everything they can to prepare kids for the future and help them face today. Teachers who see vulnerable kids and often go above and beyond what is expected of them. Teachers who sometimes feel helpless. Teachers who are excited and empowered and changing lives. May God give them grace, strength and peace to continue to do their jobs well. Links To follow up on last Wednesday's visit from David Martin: Keith's Random Thoughts I've spent a lot of time trying to process what I witnessed in Haiti, the good, the bad and the tragic. At some point, maybe I'll run out of things to say about Haiti. At some point, maybe I'll get so caught up in the chaos and busy-ness of life in Chattanooga that Haiti will recede into the background. The turbulence there will take a backseat to whatever is right in front of my face. I think there is always the danger that we forget. By that, I don't mean that there is danger that we'll forget about Haiti, that we'll forget about poverty in Chattanooga and hungry kids in our neighborhood. There will be times that we forget, that we're not actively in prayer or support of that ongoing work. The important thing there is that we allow our lives to establish rhythms where we continue to circle back and spend our time and energy in regular service to others. When I speak of the danger of forgetting, I mean there is danger that we'll forget that our every waking moment is an opportunity to participate in God's ongoing mission. That's the danger—that we stop seeing the bigger picture and start getting caught up in our own little story, believing that is all there is. Think about what you're doing right now. What you've done today. What you'll do tomorrow. Now think about this: God cares about it, and whatever it is that you are doing is an opportunity to glorify God. Maybe you just finished folding laundry. You can pray while you're folding laundry. Maybe you're about to cook dinner. You can pray while you do this, and you can also use God's creation to create something that tastes wonderful, and if you're feeding others along with yourself, that's a moment of service. If you're at work, when you work well and work ethically, you're using the gifts God has given you for his greater glory. You're earning money which can be used well to love others as well as yourself. You can build relationships through your work that may lead others to recognize God's sovereignty over all of life. Are you out shopping? Look at the people around you. Pay attention to them. Is there someone who looks like they need someone to listen? Can you be in prayer for the people around you? Being Presbyterian means we don't have to shrink back from the world. We can engage in it and trust that God is at work there. We can participate fully in the outside world and know that God is redeeming it, using faithful servants like you and I to spread that message of redemption. Life moves in rhythms. There are times to help and serve the people of Haiti. There are time and ways to help the people of Chattanooga. Whatever we do, we join in God's mission to participate in going out to spread the Good News of salvation. We don't always have to be in Haiti to do so. There are times we need to go out with intention, to be in foreign places, but there are ways and times to join in with God's mission in your work and your school and your house. May we not forget God's mission—he calls us with the intent that our lives are used to make disciples in all the world. When we shrink God's call to focusing only on our personal salvation, we've missed the larger point. God sends the church out with purpose. May we participate constantly in this mission, looking for ways to reach out in all we do. May we recognize his claim on ALL of life and on ALL of the world. Text for this Sunday Mark 2:13-17(ESV) 13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of[a] the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat[b] with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” New Hope on iTunes Keith's Blog & Devotionals for your Kindle Announcements Celebration-- Sunday, November 10: We'll celebrate the McMillan Building and re-dedicate it for its future use. Join us after church for this joyous occasion! Thank you!!-- We packed 300 sack packs last night for the kids at East Brainerd Elementary!! Thanks to your faithful giving for $.02/meal and Beth Meulenberg's generosity with her time, we're able to make a huge difference in the lives of some hungry kids in the neighborhood. Thank you! New Hope Worship-- We're blessed to have Diane Stocker leading us in worship this Sunday! Please be in prayer for Diane as she prepares to lead worship. Community Kitchen Spot There are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God and the community needs some help feeding them. If you would like to help out, please bring the following items to church this Sunday & put them on the bookshelf. #10 Cans of Sweet Potato / Yams #10 Cans of Italian Style Green Beans No-Bake Pumpkin / Apple Pies No-Heat Dinner Rolls Plastic Forks, Knives, Spoons Dinner Napkins Heavy Duty Sectional Dinner Plates Dessert Plates 3 Oz. Souffle Cups New Hope News Wednesday Bible Study-- This coming Wednesday, David Martin from La Paz will be with us. Pray For: The people of Haiti, that the work God is doing there may continue to bear fruit. Kids. Kids who are hungry because they don't have enough food. Kids who have hungry souls because they don't get enough love. Kids who act out because they don't get enough attention. Kids who are depressed because they don't have enough close friends. Kids who suffer in school because they don't have enough support. Kids who contemplate terrible things because they don't have enough hope. Kids whom we forget because we think they have enough. Links Keith's Random Thoughts The national food of Haiti, we were told, is pumpkin soup. (We had it one night for dinner. It's pretty tasty soup. It's not a pureed pumpkin, and clearly has nothing to do with the Libby's canned pumpkin that makes up our pies. Here's a recipe.) The reason for this is that when Haiti was ruled by the French, they apparently weren't allowed to eat pumpkins. So now, whenever they get the chance to make pumpkin soup, they are reminded of their freedom. They celebrate their liberation on January 1, and the pumpkin soup is part of the ritual that reminds them of the history of their country. (I asked a Haitian what he loved most about his country. His response: The history. Here is a brief summary of Haiti's history. This is a longer summation.) Now, the history of Haiti is not exactly a string of uninterrupted triumphs. There are some awful chapters in their history. (This is certainly true of America, too. I think it's probably true of most countries.) But I think the Haitian history is a story of people overcoming remarkable challenges. They continue to work together to overcome whatever history throws their way. From the French rule to the Duvalier reign to the recent national disasters, they have overcome. This must give them hope for the future, for they can be confidant that they will overcome whatever appears on the horizon. As Christians, our history is important, too. The Bible is our primary history, and it tells the story of how God has always been with us, of how God has always shepherded us and how he will continue to do so in the years to come. We learn about God's promises and the wondrous story of salvation. The Bible isn't just history, though. It's also a mission statement. In Scripture, we learn about the purpose of the church. The church, we see, has a greater purpose than just serving itself. It's meant to participate in God's greater mission. We are called as disciples, but that calling is also a sending. We're sent into the world to tell the story of the Gospel and to demonstrate it by our works. Resting comfortably for our entire lives is not an option, though there is a place for rest. We are sent to every corner of the world, including our own backyards. Our lives are meant to be active participation in God's ongoing work of redeeming the world. So how will we participate? Will we sit down with our neighbors and learn their story, hear their history, share their joys and struggles, building relationships through which the Gospel might spread? Will we spend time with the needy in our own towns, hearing about their history and helping shine the light of hope into their lives through our selfless service? Will we travel to distant places, partnering with individuals to learn their history and join them in looking for the hope in their own situations, sharing the love of God? The answer, I believe, is yes. There are different chapters and different seasons in which our activities may look different, but we should always have our eyes open to see what God is up to and where God is calling us. We are invited to live the Good News in all we do. We are called into the grace of God, but we are also sent out, not to leave the church behind but to join in with what Christ's church is doing in all the world, near and far. May we be faithful to our calling and active in our service. Text for this Sunday Luke 19:1-10(ESV) He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” New Hope on iTunes Keith's Blog & Devotionals for your Kindle |