From Paula:
Can you believe it's Christmas Eve already? Time really does seem to fly faster with each passing year!
This entry is a little outside of our normal format. We usually try to post something before the upcoming service to help us prepare. I thought we could use a chance to reflect a little on our service yesterday as well as the 3 prior weeks.
Was there anything that especially touched you? Something that helped to bring a little of the true meaning of Christmas into your holiday hustle and bustle? A message that really got through to your heart? A song or other part of the worship service that you especially enjoyed? A scripture that hit you differently this year than it ever had before?
Let us know how God has made himself known to you in this special season...
Monday, December 24, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Sunday, December 9th
From John:
From the 3rd chapter of Matthew:
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the
wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven has come near." This is the one of
whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord, Make his paths
straight.'"
This passage introduces two of the themes for this
Sunday: repentance and preparation, or anticipation.
In this context, I believe that repentance may have
less to do with being sorry and more to do with
turning toward Jesus. Not only must we turn our
hearts, minds, and actions toward the Living God, but
we must do so quckly! God longs to use us now, but He
cannot use us to our fullest potential if we hesitate
to make corrections in the direction of our everyday
lives, when needed.
Anticipation. Christmas is a very tangible example of
anticipation. Most of us not only look forward to the
day, but also spend a great deal of time, money, and
effort in preparation for it. May it also be said of
us when it comes to the kingdom of God.
This Sunday, purpose to water the seeds of
anticipation your heart, that you may be completely
turned toward our Savior in all that you are.
From the 3rd chapter of Matthew:
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the
wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven has come near." This is the one of
whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord, Make his paths
straight.'"
This passage introduces two of the themes for this
Sunday: repentance and preparation, or anticipation.
In this context, I believe that repentance may have
less to do with being sorry and more to do with
turning toward Jesus. Not only must we turn our
hearts, minds, and actions toward the Living God, but
we must do so quckly! God longs to use us now, but He
cannot use us to our fullest potential if we hesitate
to make corrections in the direction of our everyday
lives, when needed.
Anticipation. Christmas is a very tangible example of
anticipation. Most of us not only look forward to the
day, but also spend a great deal of time, money, and
effort in preparation for it. May it also be said of
us when it comes to the kingdom of God.
This Sunday, purpose to water the seeds of
anticipation your heart, that you may be completely
turned toward our Savior in all that you are.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Elder's Corner
From George Trivelas:
Connected
A couple of months ago I looked around on a Sunday morning – it was one of those weeks when attendance was low- only about 40 people. It bothered me, not so much the low number, but I noticed not very many people were sitting together. It struck me and made me ask, “Why aren’t people sitting together?” When my family goes to see a movie, we don’t all sit in different rows, we sit together. We laugh, we whisper, we share popcorn. We talk about it afterwards. When we share a meal together, we all crowd around the table, we share highs and lows, we hang on each other, hug on each other, encourage one another. Isn’t that what families do? Aren’t we a family? Shouldn’t it be the same?
When I was growing up, family time was not always happy. Spending time together usually consisted of some kind of argument or fighting between my parents or between me and my brother, or both. It was not something I looked forward to or a safe environment for sharing. Perhaps you also have wounds and apprehension because of past experiences, but take a step into today. We are now part of God’s family, and it’s a safe, loving place where we can:
Spend time together and ENJOY it!
Confide in one another, share struggles and joys.
Look for ways to encourage and uplift one another.
Speak honestly with each another.
We all need to assess ourselves and our families from time to time, and ask some hard questions. It is the same way with our church family.
Are we connected with the rest of the family?
Do we share and confide in one another?
Do we encourage one another regularly?
I have been asking myself these questions and to be honest I find myself not being the example I would like to be. Let’s pray that we all would strive towards that ideal where we connect like a family, share and confide in one another, uplift and encourage one another regularly and enjoy being together!
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35.
Connected
A couple of months ago I looked around on a Sunday morning – it was one of those weeks when attendance was low- only about 40 people. It bothered me, not so much the low number, but I noticed not very many people were sitting together. It struck me and made me ask, “Why aren’t people sitting together?” When my family goes to see a movie, we don’t all sit in different rows, we sit together. We laugh, we whisper, we share popcorn. We talk about it afterwards. When we share a meal together, we all crowd around the table, we share highs and lows, we hang on each other, hug on each other, encourage one another. Isn’t that what families do? Aren’t we a family? Shouldn’t it be the same?
When I was growing up, family time was not always happy. Spending time together usually consisted of some kind of argument or fighting between my parents or between me and my brother, or both. It was not something I looked forward to or a safe environment for sharing. Perhaps you also have wounds and apprehension because of past experiences, but take a step into today. We are now part of God’s family, and it’s a safe, loving place where we can:
Spend time together and ENJOY it!
Confide in one another, share struggles and joys.
Look for ways to encourage and uplift one another.
Speak honestly with each another.
We all need to assess ourselves and our families from time to time, and ask some hard questions. It is the same way with our church family.
Are we connected with the rest of the family?
Do we share and confide in one another?
Do we encourage one another regularly?
I have been asking myself these questions and to be honest I find myself not being the example I would like to be. Let’s pray that we all would strive towards that ideal where we connect like a family, share and confide in one another, uplift and encourage one another regularly and enjoy being together!
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Sunday, November 18th
"And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things and because of Your will they existed, and were created." -- Revelation 4:9-11
This Sunday the 18th we will have the opportunity to experience together the presence of the One who lives forever. Come ready to listen to the words of John's vision as if for the first time. What do you hear? What do you feel? Fear? Anticipation? Dread? Jubilation? Open your imagination (God created that, too!) to the images and descriptions as John struggles to put human words to an ethereal, unexplainable experience. Will you be ready to bow before the throne?
for the worship team --
Robyn
This Sunday the 18th we will have the opportunity to experience together the presence of the One who lives forever. Come ready to listen to the words of John's vision as if for the first time. What do you hear? What do you feel? Fear? Anticipation? Dread? Jubilation? Open your imagination (God created that, too!) to the images and descriptions as John struggles to put human words to an ethereal, unexplainable experience. Will you be ready to bow before the throne?
for the worship team --
Robyn
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Sunday, Novermber 4th
From Paula:
This Sunday, Bruce will be preaching out of 1 Corinthians 11:1-16. I have found it helpful this week to read this passage in The Message, as well as several other translations. You can do this easily by visiting Biblegateway.com. Here is what it says in The Message:
1-2 It pleases me that you continue to remember and honor me by keeping up the traditions of the faith I taught you. All actual authority stems from Christ. 3-9 In a marriage relationship, there is authority from Christ to husband, and from husband to wife. The authority of Christ is the authority of God. Any man who speaks with God or about God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of Christ, dishonors Christ. In the same way, a wife who speaks with God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of her husband, dishonors her husband. Worse, she dishonors herself—an ugly sight, like a woman with her head shaved. This is basically the origin of these customs we have of women wearing head coverings in worship, while men take their hats off. By these symbolic acts, men and women, who far too often butt heads with each other, submit their "heads" to the Head: God.
10-12 Don't, by the way, read too much into the differences here between men and women. Neither man nor woman can go it alone or claim priority. Man was created first, as a beautiful shining reflection of God—that is true. But the head on a woman's body clearly outshines in beauty the head of her "head," her husband. The first woman came from man, true—but ever since then, every man comes from a woman! And since virtually everything comes from God anyway, let's quit going through these "who's first" routines.
After reading this passage, I thought it would be interesting for us to use this forum to discuss some of the ways in which our culture affects our behavior in worship. For example, I have heard Jim mention our casual culture several times in reference to the way it influences our interactions with God. What are some other cultural things that infuence us as a church? How do you think they affect our worship?
Have a wonderful week!
This Sunday, Bruce will be preaching out of 1 Corinthians 11:1-16. I have found it helpful this week to read this passage in The Message, as well as several other translations. You can do this easily by visiting Biblegateway.com. Here is what it says in The Message:
1-2 It pleases me that you continue to remember and honor me by keeping up the traditions of the faith I taught you. All actual authority stems from Christ. 3-9 In a marriage relationship, there is authority from Christ to husband, and from husband to wife. The authority of Christ is the authority of God. Any man who speaks with God or about God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of Christ, dishonors Christ. In the same way, a wife who speaks with God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of her husband, dishonors her husband. Worse, she dishonors herself—an ugly sight, like a woman with her head shaved. This is basically the origin of these customs we have of women wearing head coverings in worship, while men take their hats off. By these symbolic acts, men and women, who far too often butt heads with each other, submit their "heads" to the Head: God.
10-12 Don't, by the way, read too much into the differences here between men and women. Neither man nor woman can go it alone or claim priority. Man was created first, as a beautiful shining reflection of God—that is true. But the head on a woman's body clearly outshines in beauty the head of her "head," her husband. The first woman came from man, true—but ever since then, every man comes from a woman! And since virtually everything comes from God anyway, let's quit going through these "who's first" routines.
After reading this passage, I thought it would be interesting for us to use this forum to discuss some of the ways in which our culture affects our behavior in worship. For example, I have heard Jim mention our casual culture several times in reference to the way it influences our interactions with God. What are some other cultural things that infuence us as a church? How do you think they affect our worship?
Have a wonderful week!
Elders' Corner
From Jim Winkelman
As I began growing in my Christian faith, and discovering the difference between the law and the covenant of grace, I became very aware of the small number of “commands” in the New Testament. Oh, don’t mistake my words – there are plenty. But the focus is so narrow. Matthew 22 and Matthew 28 sum it up nicely. Matthew 22:
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
There are two. Love God and love each other. And the big one, Matthew 28:
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
I want to talk about this one. How is your personal evangelism? Do you excel or struggle at sharing your faith? Peter says in Romans 1, “16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
Why would anyone be ashamed of the gospel?
What has made you ashamed to share your faith?
What is the hardest thing about sharing your faith?
Why did Paul call the gospel “ powerful”?
Over the next few articles I will provide, I would like to share some Personal Evangelism Training I received from Jeff Walling. We will talk a little about S.W.A.T. – Start, Witness, Ask, Tell.
Start = Romans 1:16 - How to Begin a Conversation about Jesus
Witness = Mark 5:19 - Sharing What God has Done for You
Ask = 1 Peter 3:15 - Learning to Listen as You Share with Your Friends
Tell = Acts 8:35 - Presenting the Good News in a Good Way!
Lets us learn together how to best share the “good news” with all who cross our path.
As I began growing in my Christian faith, and discovering the difference between the law and the covenant of grace, I became very aware of the small number of “commands” in the New Testament. Oh, don’t mistake my words – there are plenty. But the focus is so narrow. Matthew 22 and Matthew 28 sum it up nicely. Matthew 22:
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
There are two. Love God and love each other. And the big one, Matthew 28:
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
I want to talk about this one. How is your personal evangelism? Do you excel or struggle at sharing your faith? Peter says in Romans 1, “16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
Why would anyone be ashamed of the gospel?
What has made you ashamed to share your faith?
What is the hardest thing about sharing your faith?
Why did Paul call the gospel “ powerful”?
Over the next few articles I will provide, I would like to share some Personal Evangelism Training I received from Jeff Walling. We will talk a little about S.W.A.T. – Start, Witness, Ask, Tell.
Start = Romans 1:16 - How to Begin a Conversation about Jesus
Witness = Mark 5:19 - Sharing What God has Done for You
Ask = 1 Peter 3:15 - Learning to Listen as You Share with Your Friends
Tell = Acts 8:35 - Presenting the Good News in a Good Way!
Lets us learn together how to best share the “good news” with all who cross our path.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Sunday, October 28th
Hi All!
We're going to be looking at I Corinthians 14:26 on Sunday. Here's the
gist of it--"Let all things be done for edification."
Here are some questions: Why are you planning to worship with the
saints Sunday morning? Do you have in mind how you can help build up His
body? What condition should your heart be in to receive edification?
Why does He want us to be intentional about what we're doing together?
Hopefully these questions will spark some desire in you for conversation
about this prior to Sunday - all in the hopes that we are encouraging
each other and preparing our hearts and others for our time together
before God.
May He continue to make you (and me) aware of His blessings in Christ.
For the worship team,
Danette Feight
We're going to be looking at I Corinthians 14:26 on Sunday. Here's the
gist of it--"Let all things be done for edification."
Here are some questions: Why are you planning to worship with the
saints Sunday morning? Do you have in mind how you can help build up His
body? What condition should your heart be in to receive edification?
Why does He want us to be intentional about what we're doing together?
Hopefully these questions will spark some desire in you for conversation
about this prior to Sunday - all in the hopes that we are encouraging
each other and preparing our hearts and others for our time together
before God.
May He continue to make you (and me) aware of His blessings in Christ.
For the worship team,
Danette Feight
Monday, October 22, 2007
Bruce's Blog
Hey everybody,
Bruce has posted the text from yesterday's sermon on his personal blog.
Check it out here:
bt-graceandpeace.blogspot.com
Hope you're having a great week!
Bruce has posted the text from yesterday's sermon on his personal blog.
Check it out here:
bt-graceandpeace.blogspot.com
Hope you're having a great week!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Sunday, October 21st
From Jim Winkelman:
"Do This In Remembrance Of Me". How many of us grew up with these words from Luke 22:19 present in the church building? Many of you remember them written on the communion table.
At this week's gathering, we will focus on the dangerous act of remembering Jesus through communion. Please take some time this week to read Luke 22:7-20, John 13 and Matthew 26:26-29. Give yourself some undistracted time with a cup of coffee and the word of God, or at the kitchen table with your spouse, or turn off the TV and read these verses to your kids and ask them their thoughts. These are holy words, words God wants us to read, hear and think about over and over.
Notice that God provides. Jesus sent Peter and John and they found everything just as they were told. It is evident that Jesus desired to share the Passover with the Twelve. And in the end, a New Covenant was established. Does any of this make sense?
"While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom, we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle—and Greeks pass it off as absurd. But to us who are personally called by God himself—both Jews and Greeks—Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can't begin to compete with God's 'weakness.' " --1 Corinthians 1:22-25 (MSG)
"Do This In Remembrance Of Me". How many of us grew up with these words from Luke 22:19 present in the church building? Many of you remember them written on the communion table.
At this week's gathering, we will focus on the dangerous act of remembering Jesus through communion. Please take some time this week to read Luke 22:7-20, John 13 and Matthew 26:26-29. Give yourself some undistracted time with a cup of coffee and the word of God, or at the kitchen table with your spouse, or turn off the TV and read these verses to your kids and ask them their thoughts. These are holy words, words God wants us to read, hear and think about over and over.
Notice that God provides. Jesus sent Peter and John and they found everything just as they were told. It is evident that Jesus desired to share the Passover with the Twelve. And in the end, a New Covenant was established. Does any of this make sense?
"While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom, we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle—and Greeks pass it off as absurd. But to us who are personally called by God himself—both Jews and Greeks—Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can't begin to compete with God's 'weakness.' " --1 Corinthians 1:22-25 (MSG)
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Welcome!
Welcome to the new Enumclaw Community Church Blog! We have decided to give blogging a shot as a forum for some discussion of various topics during the week. The worship team will be posting thoughts about the upcoming service each week for you to think about and discuss. If you have comments to add to the discussion, just click on the comment button under the post you wish to discuss. You will have to set up an account with Blogger if you don't already have one but it's fast, easy and free! If you have any questions or need someone to give you a quick lesson in how to use this web site, please contact Paula Pritchard for assitance.
It is our hope that this will be a safe place for our members to discuss ideas and share what God is doing in their lives during the week. Please remember that we are to conduct ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to God. Any rude or inappropriate comments will be immediately deleted.
This blog is not intended to replace our current system for prayer requests. Please continue to forward those requests to George Austin.
Happy Blogging!
It is our hope that this will be a safe place for our members to discuss ideas and share what God is doing in their lives during the week. Please remember that we are to conduct ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to God. Any rude or inappropriate comments will be immediately deleted.
This blog is not intended to replace our current system for prayer requests. Please continue to forward those requests to George Austin.
Happy Blogging!
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