What a great time we had June 14 at our first ever outdoor service! The location and weather was perfect, and over 140 people attended.
“THANK YOU” to everyone who helped make this service possible!
We have some pictures from the service. You can view them here, or check out the slideshow below. Enjoy!
We are having this Sunday’s worship service outdoors at the lighthouse on Summit Street, just south of 101st. It will start at 10:30 am. We’ve never done something like this before – it’s going to be exciting!
Since there is no parking at the lighthouse, you can park at Cullen Park or at Marina Plaza, across from Cullen Park. We will have shuttle vans if you need a ride from your car to the lighthouse.
Bring a chair or a blanket, and join us for worship at the lighthouse this Sunday!
Pastor Mike’s message on Sunday, May 31, 2009
I just returned from the C&MA General Council in Louisville, where the theme of the week was “Jesus Only.” In the Alliance, we have a 4-fold motto: Christ our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. We look to Jesus Christ to be these things to us. The one I want to focus on this week is Christ our Healer.
There are some things I don’t know about divine healing. I don’t know why some are healed and some aren’t. I don’t know why there seems to be more miracles and healings overseas than in the United States. I don’t know why Jesus didn’t heal everyone in Israel when he was on earth. But I do know this: the Bible teaches that we can and should pray for healing. Here are four points to consider:
Isaiah 53:3-6 prophcies about Jesus and says that he suffered for our sins and our healing. The sin of mankind at the garden of Eden brought brokenness, sin, death, sorrow, and sickness. The Good News is that Christ has come to restore us – to forgive our sins and to heal us. It is true enough that one day, when we are in heaven with glorified bodies, our sicknesses and diseases are gone. But I believe that healing of the body is available now, through the atonement.
Healing doesn’t come from the person praying, or from a special cloth you may buy – it comes from Jesus. Jesus demonstrated his power to heal all during his ministry. He healed all who came to him. Matthew 8:16-17 says:
That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.”
In John 5, Jesus came across a man at the pool of Bethesda who was paralyzed. The man had to stop paying attention to the water, and focus on Christ, who was soon going to be his healer. Jesus asked, “Do you want to be made whole?” We are helpless and corrupted because of the fall, only Jesus can make us whole. And Jesus healed the man.
Jesus was beaten and crucified for our healing. Christ is our healer.
So many times Jesus linked healing to faith. Remember the woman who needed healing who said, “If I could only touch the edge of his robe, I will be healed.” She did, and she was. Often he said to those who came to him for healing, “You have great faith.” When Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, he sent all the unbelievers out of the room and said to the rest, “Only believe.”
Although it is not right to blame people’s lack of faith for them not getting healed, somehow faith and healing are connected.
In James 5 we are taught to call for church elders to pray and anoint us if we are sick. “And the prayer of faith will make them well.” Later in the same chapter we are encouraged to “pray for one another so that you may be healed.” It is good and right to pray for the healing of our fellow believers, which is what we did in today’s service. What a blessing that was.
Block Party Picnic
This Sunday, May 24
4-7 pm
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Hot dogs, grills, punch, picnic supplies will all be provided.
Carry-in dish optional
Live music, games, basketball, and more!
Join us for this neighborhood party at 4212 Onondaga
Happy Mothers’ Day!
Join us for worship this Sunday as we honor our mothers, and hear about the tender care of God.
Living in the Power of the Resurrection!
Nothing can separate us! Join us this Sunday, May 3 for part three of Living in the Power of the Resurrection!
Living in The Power of The Resurrection!
From Groaning to Glory! Join us this Sunday, April 26, for part two of Living in the Power of the Resurrection!
Living in The Power of The Resurrection!
So what’s next? How does Christ’s resurrection affect my every day life? Join us this Sunday, April 19 as Pastor Mike talks about Living in the Power of the Resurrection.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
This is the last in our series on Spiritual Disciplines. It has been a great study. We have covered these spiritual practices:
We’re almost finished reading through the Gospels during Lent. You can find a reading schedule here.
Celebration
This is another “corporate” discipline – one we do together as a group of believers. Celebration and joy are important parts of the lives of believers. Psalm 150 gives us a picture of our celebration of the Lord God:
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!
No one is exempt from this great call to praise: “Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!”
I think we as Christians sometimes get a little too reserved, even boring. Some of us take ourselves too seriously. And in so doing, we may be presenting the wrong impression of our faith to other people. We should be the most alive, joyful, exciting, celebrating people on earth! As Augustine said, “The Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot!”
There is a lot in the Bible about Celebration. Here are a few examples:
We shouldn’t be afraid of expressing joy and celebrating. The Bible not only is full of examples, but show us all kinds of ways to celebrate: singing, shouting, dancing, making noise, jumping, even laughter. So in this week’s service (April 5) our children and our worship team led us in a rather noisy time of praise and celebration. It was awesome!
Finally, celebration gives us strength – strength to live, strength to serve, strength even to suffer. Nehehiah 8:10 says “This is a holy day for the Lord your God – do not mourn or weep. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine..for this day is holy to our Lord, and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Living for God will be easier when we are filled with joy and happy with our lives. Overcoming temptation will be easier when we are celebrating the goodness and greatness of God.
Don’t feel like rejoicing? Ask God to fill you with joy, and with his Spirit. Ask him to help you direct your mind and spirit to him and his beauty, so you can praise him! Look for reasons to celebrate this week, and then do it!
Final Four Party at CrossPoint
This Saturday at 6 pm we’re having a men’s Final Four party at CrossPoint. All men and boys are invited to come. We will have tacos and other fixings, the games on high definition TV, and opportunities to play euchre and other card games. All you have to bring is yourself and your friends.
Let us know if you’re coming
If you haven’t already signed up, please let us know that you’re coming by emailing or calling the church office. That way we’ll be sure to have enough food for everyone. And why not invite someone to come? We’ll have a great time.
See you Saturday at 6!