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!

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.

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

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!

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)

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!