Sunday, November 8: Commission and Board meetings after the morning worship. A light lunch will be provided.
Monday, November 9: WMF and MMI meetings at eh church at 7pm.
Saturday, November 14: Ladies Inspirational Fellowship Time (LIFT) at the Sangerville Ruritan Hall at 8am. Our MMI group will be serving the lunch for the event.
Sunday, November 15: Thankoffering Sunday - guest speaker will be Jerry Dove from the Gideons.
Tuesday, November 17: The WMF and MMI will be serving the Bridgewater Retirement Community Street Luncheon at the church at 12 noon.
Wednesday, November 18: The WMF and MMI will be serving a meal to the Sangerville Ruritans at 7pm.
Tuesday, November 24: Community Thanksgiving Service at Emmanuel COB at 7pm.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Pastor's Penpoint - "Thanksgiving for the Coming of Advent" - November 2015
And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him." May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:12-13)
I know, I know. The Christmas season still seems a long way away. Unless you've been to one of the stores that has had Christmas decorations out since Labor Day. But the Advent season will be upon us the last Sunday in November.
Seems fitting right after Thanksgiving, a time when we acknowledge all that we have been blessed with, that we right away turn our attention to the child that held within his birth the hope of humanity for all time.
Among Christians, Advent celebrates the coming of the Savior, a period of expectant waiting and preparation - both for the birth and earthly ministry of Christ and for His return.
Advent is traditionally celebrated the four Sundays before Christmas as a means of preparing our hearts for the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Each Sunday is marked with the lighting of a candle that represents hope, peace, joy and love. The fifth candle represents the birth of the Christ - we will again light the fifth candle at our Christmas Eve Service.
The word Advent is derived from the Latin "adventus", which means "coming". It's telling and re-telling the story of why God came into this world and also pointing and looking forward to His coming again.
Before we get caught up in the holiday rush ... let's begin now to prepare ourselves for the offering of thanksgiving - and the reality of an approaching child.
Hoping your coming weeks are "calm and bright."
~Todd
I know, I know. The Christmas season still seems a long way away. Unless you've been to one of the stores that has had Christmas decorations out since Labor Day. But the Advent season will be upon us the last Sunday in November.
Seems fitting right after Thanksgiving, a time when we acknowledge all that we have been blessed with, that we right away turn our attention to the child that held within his birth the hope of humanity for all time.
Among Christians, Advent celebrates the coming of the Savior, a period of expectant waiting and preparation - both for the birth and earthly ministry of Christ and for His return.
Advent is traditionally celebrated the four Sundays before Christmas as a means of preparing our hearts for the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Each Sunday is marked with the lighting of a candle that represents hope, peace, joy and love. The fifth candle represents the birth of the Christ - we will again light the fifth candle at our Christmas Eve Service.
The word Advent is derived from the Latin "adventus", which means "coming". It's telling and re-telling the story of why God came into this world and also pointing and looking forward to His coming again.
Before we get caught up in the holiday rush ... let's begin now to prepare ourselves for the offering of thanksgiving - and the reality of an approaching child.
Hoping your coming weeks are "calm and bright."
~Todd
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Preparing for Winter
19 people from Mount O spent a cool morning this morning cutting and delivering firewood to widows and others in the community. We thank God for strength and safety and for all those who helped. 10 truckloads were delivered.
Pastor's Penpoint - "Church Mice" - October 2015
"Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." (Titus 1:21)
Fall (or Autumn) is my favorite season of the year. I enjoy wearing sweaters, seeing God's tapestry and mastery on display in the leaves that turn and soup weather.
For many, fall is a season that brings sadness as winter is right around the corner. I recently heard someone say fall reminds them that as humans we have fallen short of the glory of new life that we have been given - and is celebrated in the spring of the year.
While I confess I did not fully understand their thought, I empathized with them that as those who are redeemed, the enemy continues to whisper is our ear, saying we are not good enough and reminding us of our past. The fact is, being a Christian does not mean perfection. No one is perfect; we all have fallen at one point or another.
Our hope is, however, as Christians we believe that God extended His lovingkindness and forgiveness to us who are unworthy when His Son Jesus was nailed on the cross. God's love will continue to be available for us, though we can never deserve it. All we need to do is believe and accept that love.
Do we truly believe that God washes away all sin or only the sins that we believe are forgivable? This season, get out a bit and marvel at God's creating and artwork. Marvel as well at what the Master is creating in you. As you have probably heard it said before, "When the enemy tried to remind you of your past - remind the enemy of his future!"
Loving while waiting...
~ Pastor Todd
Fall (or Autumn) is my favorite season of the year. I enjoy wearing sweaters, seeing God's tapestry and mastery on display in the leaves that turn and soup weather.
For many, fall is a season that brings sadness as winter is right around the corner. I recently heard someone say fall reminds them that as humans we have fallen short of the glory of new life that we have been given - and is celebrated in the spring of the year.
While I confess I did not fully understand their thought, I empathized with them that as those who are redeemed, the enemy continues to whisper is our ear, saying we are not good enough and reminding us of our past. The fact is, being a Christian does not mean perfection. No one is perfect; we all have fallen at one point or another.
Our hope is, however, as Christians we believe that God extended His lovingkindness and forgiveness to us who are unworthy when His Son Jesus was nailed on the cross. God's love will continue to be available for us, though we can never deserve it. All we need to do is believe and accept that love.
Do we truly believe that God washes away all sin or only the sins that we believe are forgivable? This season, get out a bit and marvel at God's creating and artwork. Marvel as well at what the Master is creating in you. As you have probably heard it said before, "When the enemy tried to remind you of your past - remind the enemy of his future!"
Loving while waiting...
~ Pastor Todd
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Pastor's Penpoint - "Oh Yes, Our God Laughs" - September 2015
"He who sits in the heavens laughs ..." Psalm 2:4
How can we his creatures think things are funny unless the whole idea of humor came from God in the first place? I've never heard a sermon about God's sense of humor. Nor have I read a theology book that lists God's laughter as one of his indisputable characteristics. But I think it is. And unless we see that side of God, I;m not sure we'll totally appreciate him.
After all, as Christ's church, we don't want to be called names like "The Frozen Chosen" or "The First Church of the Frigidaire."
Think about his creation. Surely he made creatures such as the otter, dolphin, and penguin, just because they delighted him so much. Or consider what we find in Scripture itself (keeping in mind that Scripture was inspired by God). Job 39:13-18 (a very serious book) describes the life of a stork in pretty funny terms. Verse 17 says, "For God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense." I hope I'm never described that way!
The prophet Jonah, who had a flair for the dramatic, makes us laugh in retrospect. After running from God, being rescued from drowning by spending three days in a a fish's belly, and then complaining that God rescued Nineveh from destruction, Jonah throws a tantrum about a vine dying because it made him so hot and uncomfortable to lose its shade. In Jonah 4"9 he complains about the vine saying, "I am angry enough to die." Doesn't it make you want to say, "Good grief, Jonah. Lighten up!" God must have had a sense of humor not only to put up with but use Jonah for his glory and purposes.
Proverbs is a funny book at times. If you read it aloud to a group, it's difficult not to laugh. Proverbs 11:22 says, "Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion." Doesn't that give you a warm fuzzy feeling on the days you feel less attractive? You wonder if Solomon had just fought with one of his many wives when he said, "Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife" (21:9). However, my favorite proverb is 22:13. And there's the night owl's favorite verse, "If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse" (27:14). I had a co-worker once who quoted this to me, reminding me that not everyone wakes up cheery and ready to roll.
But I think Hebrews 11:12 is the funniest verse in the Bible: "Therefore there was born even of [Abraham], and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars in heaven ..." (emphasis mine).
Of course God's humor is never cruel the way humans twist it to be at times. In fact, God is entirely pure and untainted, and so is his humor. Such a God inspired the author of Proverbs to write, "A happy heart makes the face cheerful" (15:13), or seen from the opposite point of view in verse 30, "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart."
So let us laugh a bit and enjoy our Lord. Proverbs 16:24 says, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Aren't you glad?
~ Pastor Todd
How can we his creatures think things are funny unless the whole idea of humor came from God in the first place? I've never heard a sermon about God's sense of humor. Nor have I read a theology book that lists God's laughter as one of his indisputable characteristics. But I think it is. And unless we see that side of God, I;m not sure we'll totally appreciate him.
After all, as Christ's church, we don't want to be called names like "The Frozen Chosen" or "The First Church of the Frigidaire."
Think about his creation. Surely he made creatures such as the otter, dolphin, and penguin, just because they delighted him so much. Or consider what we find in Scripture itself (keeping in mind that Scripture was inspired by God). Job 39:13-18 (a very serious book) describes the life of a stork in pretty funny terms. Verse 17 says, "For God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense." I hope I'm never described that way!
The prophet Jonah, who had a flair for the dramatic, makes us laugh in retrospect. After running from God, being rescued from drowning by spending three days in a a fish's belly, and then complaining that God rescued Nineveh from destruction, Jonah throws a tantrum about a vine dying because it made him so hot and uncomfortable to lose its shade. In Jonah 4"9 he complains about the vine saying, "I am angry enough to die." Doesn't it make you want to say, "Good grief, Jonah. Lighten up!" God must have had a sense of humor not only to put up with but use Jonah for his glory and purposes.
Proverbs is a funny book at times. If you read it aloud to a group, it's difficult not to laugh. Proverbs 11:22 says, "Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion." Doesn't that give you a warm fuzzy feeling on the days you feel less attractive? You wonder if Solomon had just fought with one of his many wives when he said, "Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife" (21:9). However, my favorite proverb is 22:13. And there's the night owl's favorite verse, "If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse" (27:14). I had a co-worker once who quoted this to me, reminding me that not everyone wakes up cheery and ready to roll.
But I think Hebrews 11:12 is the funniest verse in the Bible: "Therefore there was born even of [Abraham], and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars in heaven ..." (emphasis mine).
Of course God's humor is never cruel the way humans twist it to be at times. In fact, God is entirely pure and untainted, and so is his humor. Such a God inspired the author of Proverbs to write, "A happy heart makes the face cheerful" (15:13), or seen from the opposite point of view in verse 30, "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart."
So let us laugh a bit and enjoy our Lord. Proverbs 16:24 says, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Aren't you glad?
~ Pastor Todd
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Mission Trip to Kentucky
A group of 23 from Mt. Olivet spent a week in Big Laurel, KY working through Laurel Mission to help a few of the elderly in the community. Several worked organizing the clothing store operated by the mission. Some painted a handicap ramp for an elderly lady while others worked on completing a new house for a widow. It was a great blessing for all who participated. Thanks to all who offered help through prayers and gifts of food, money and clothing. This was the 15th consecutive year a group has been able to go from Mt. Olivet to Laurel Mission.
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| One of Kentucky's 10,000+ elk |
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Pastor's Penpoint - "Be the Church" - August 2015
When most people hear the word "church" they probably think of a building. But biblically speaking, a church is much more than a building. In fact some would say the church is not a building at all, but is all about the people.
The early Christian church had no buildings, at least not in the sense of what we would consider church buildings today. First century Christians were often persecuted and, as a result, often met in secret usually in homes. As the influence of Christianity spread, eventually buildings dedicated to worship were established and became what we know today as churches. Fellowship, worship and ministry are all conducted by people, not buildings.
When speaking of the church, there is the visible and local church as opposed to the invisible and universal church referred to in the Apostle's Creed as the "holy catholic church." The visible and local church is the physical local churches that we see around us and around the world. The invisible and universal church, however, refers to all believers everywhere and is one church, united in Christ. Everyone in the universal church is a true believer, but such is not necessarily the case with visible and local churches.
The church is not a building, but a body of believers with a specific purpose. The purposes (or ministries) of the church are many, but key to any church are foundations in worship, discipleship (education) and evangelism.
If a church fails to fulfill any of these key roles - worship, discipleship and evangelism - then the church is not functioning as God intends. Granted, there are times when churches face challenges and struggles to one degree of another, but a healthy church seeks to overcome such challenges in a way that honors God and His intentions for the church.
Friends, its time to stop GOING to church. We need to BE the church!
~ Pastor Todd
The early Christian church had no buildings, at least not in the sense of what we would consider church buildings today. First century Christians were often persecuted and, as a result, often met in secret usually in homes. As the influence of Christianity spread, eventually buildings dedicated to worship were established and became what we know today as churches. Fellowship, worship and ministry are all conducted by people, not buildings.
When speaking of the church, there is the visible and local church as opposed to the invisible and universal church referred to in the Apostle's Creed as the "holy catholic church." The visible and local church is the physical local churches that we see around us and around the world. The invisible and universal church, however, refers to all believers everywhere and is one church, united in Christ. Everyone in the universal church is a true believer, but such is not necessarily the case with visible and local churches.
The church is not a building, but a body of believers with a specific purpose. The purposes (or ministries) of the church are many, but key to any church are foundations in worship, discipleship (education) and evangelism.
- Worship is God-centered, and Christ-centered. It is not about entertaining with flashy displays or presentations, but about expressing our love by worshiping our Creator.
- Discipleship is also a role of the church. It involved educated believers, but also nurturing, building or helping believers to mature in Christ.
- Evangelism is also a key role of the church. This means reaching out to a lost world with the Good News about Jesus. But beyond evangelism in the sense of reaching out with the gospel, the church must also express compassion and mercy plainly by helping others.
If a church fails to fulfill any of these key roles - worship, discipleship and evangelism - then the church is not functioning as God intends. Granted, there are times when churches face challenges and struggles to one degree of another, but a healthy church seeks to overcome such challenges in a way that honors God and His intentions for the church.
Friends, its time to stop GOING to church. We need to BE the church!
~ Pastor Todd
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