Another Friday has arrived! And with it comes the excitement of another wonderful Sunday of worship and praise coming up! Here are some words I read from Psalm 51 this week...
"Renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51: 10 AMP) The winter grows long. The days drag on. We go through seasons of putting out seemingly endless fires. God must have timed the seasons so they test our ability to persevere --- just when we think we can't take one more day of the summer heat, the autumn wind, the winter chill, or the springtime rains, a new season begins. When the seasons grow long, or the daily grind seems unbearable, we lean on the Lord for the strength to keep going. Isaiah tells us that those who hope in the Lord "shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired" (Isaiah 40:31 AMP). We should never become weary in doing good. Be assured that God always helps us to endure when we lean on God. So when work gets more and more stressful, when the kids are trying my nerves, and when I'm shoveling snow while it's still snowing, join me in praying, Help me to persevere, O Lord. +++ Our Sunday morning schedule has us worshipping at 8:30am and 10:00am! This week we celebrate the 4th Sunday after the Epiphany and we will hear about the authority of Jesus, as he drives out an evil spirit in Mark 1. My message, "The Authority of Jesus" will see me thinking through how so many people fail to recognize and embrace this authority. Our "live-stream" will take place on the church's Facebook page at 10:00am and then we will "upload" the recorded worship to our YouTube channel as well, following the worship service. We are so blessed to have so many people joining us for worship each week both in person and on-line and we can't wait to "see" each of you in worship on Sunday! +++ Check out our church website, www.churchofthebells.com to see information including our newest staff member, Lorlie Wood and reach out to her through email! You will find lots of great information and pictures on our church website! +++ Just a reminder to Team and Ministry area leaders that annual reports for your area of ministry are due into the church office by January 31st! Thanks for helping us meet our publishing deadlines by getting your reports in on time! +++ We received word this week that our friends at Sleep in Heavenly Peace need to change our date for our fall bed build to September 14th, due to a scheduling conflict. Please note this new date on your calendar! +++ Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14th. We will worship at 7:00pm that evening and offer the Imposition of Ashes. We will also begin our Lenten emphasis, Guided to the Cross, that evening. We will offer take home materials for all church families to help you keep a good Lent as we journey toward the Cross on Easter! And we'll introduce a special Lenten Mission project to help feed the hungry right here in Syracuse! The whole family can be a part of this project and many lives will be changed as a result of our mission work. Make this day a great day and always remember to pray, Help me persevere, O Lord! Pastor Jack Welcome to the end of another work week, Friends!
As I return to the office after a few days of "retreat" with our Bishop and clergy, I offer you these words from James... "Let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:4 KJV) Most of us spend our days rushing from one task to the next. We talk fast, we walk fast, and expect fast service, fast cash, and fast credit. Red lights don't turn green fast enough for us. Our meals must be ready instantly. Things just don't happen quickly enough. We grind our teeth while on hold, waiting in line, or even waiting for the Web page to download.... because we hate to wait! If we continue to move through life in a state of perpetual haste, we will surely sacrifice opportunities to hear the Holy Spirit speak. Growth and maturity become evident as we exercise this discipline. In addition, an abundance of patience is required to be a good listener, counselor, or teacher who purposefully nurtures and cultivates others. Patience is, you know, a fruit developed by God's presence in you. Let God begin to work God's own patience into your life. So join me in praying, Grow your patience in me, Jesus, when it just seems like there is no time and there is always something that needs my attention. Yes, even when people fumble or talk slowly or I'm waiting in line just pray, Grow your patience in me, Jesus. Amen. +++ Guess what time worship is this week? If you guessed 8:30am and 10:00am you are correct! On this 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, we will hear Jesus call the first of his disciples from Mark 1: 14-20. And that text has me thinking about how "Discipleship Involves Discipline". If you are wondering about and maybe even questioning your individual call from Jesus, I hope you will join me as I think this through! If you can't be with us in the Sanctuary.... look for us on our "live stream" on the church's Facebook page at 10:00am. And, of course, we will upload the recorded worship service, after it is completed, on the church's YouTube channel. So there are lots of ways you can join us for worship on Sunday! And, if you're worshipping on Facebook live.... leave us a comment to say Hi! And you can also leave prayer requests in the comment section and we will try to incorporate these into our Morning Prayer time as well. +++ You'll also want to check out some new photos on our church website! Look under the News & Events tab and you just might see a picture of yourself at our 2nd Sunday Luncheon! +++ To all team and ministry leaders.... Please remember that your Annual Reports are due into the church office by January 31st.... so that we can assemble the Report books in a timely fashion. Thanks for helping us meet our publishing deadlines. +++ Immanuel's Chair Yoga group will take a break until April. We will let you know when the group will resume! +++ Thanks to those who have begun to donate to our new, electronic church sign! Just put your gifts in the small church building on the display in the Narthex. We hope to see the new sign installed and working later this spring! How exciting! Don't forget to write SIGN on the memo line of your check! I've already heard of one of our saints who will be tithing their income tax return check to support this endeavor! Now that's the way to creatively make this dream a reality! +++ And I hope you'll be ready to hear about Lenten worship plans and our 2024 Lenten theme, "Guided to the Cross" in the next couple of weeks. Because friends, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14th! And this year we'll offer take-along materials to help every household in our congregation journey to the Cross together! Make this day a great day and always try to remember to pray, Grow your patience in me, Jesus. Amen. Pastor Jack Greetings, Saints!
As we prepare for another weekend of worship, I read these words from Psalm 37... "The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives." (Psalm 37: 23 NLT) Circumstances press in, challenge our confidence, and force us to change course continually. People require our attention and test our flexibility. Sometimes we just can't avoid the awkward situations we find ourselves in. Sometimes, in fact, we are at a total loss about what to do. And that's when we need to rest in the Lord, knowing the steps of a righteous person are ordered of God. We can't ever fully understand the meaning of the events we experience unfolding before us. Often we have no idea where they are leading us. But God promises that God has our best interests at heart; God is watching over us carefully and affectionately. God is working out all things for our good. We might not know what tomorrow will bring, but we can always rest assured that God will see us through. What a blessing to know our steps are ordered by God! So join me in praying, Order my steps, Lord, when you're running late or your car breaks down on the highway. When you're in an awkward situation or just don't understand the why of a situation pray..... Order my steps, Lord. Amen. +++ We gather for worship on Sunday at both 8:30am and 10:00am, as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. In my message, "A Very Good Beginning" I am thinking about how baptism unites us with Christ in both his death and resurrection. During each of these services we will offer a chance to Reaffirm our own Baptismal Vows and we will welcome 4 new members at the 10:00am worship service, as well. We hope you join us in person or on the church's Facebook page at 10:00am for our live-stream. And if you are away, join us on YouTube after the recorded worship is "uploaded" to our page. +++ We will also receive one of our 6 general church offerings in worship this week when we talk about Human Relations Day. We believe that as United Methodists we are called to make an impact on communities where brothers and sisters lack the resources or tools to reach their God-given potential. And so we work to build beloved communities through supporting faith-based volunteer programs, community developers and programs that work with at-risk teens. Look for the special, second-mile offering envelopes in the Narthex on Sunday and thanks for your support! +++ After the 10:00am worship we will offer this month's Second Sunday Luncheon in the Fellowship Hall. A great menu of Ham and Scalloped Potatoes is planned and we thank you for signing up so we have an abundant supply of food! +++ On Monday the office will be closed in celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. We hope you will find a way to "pay it forward" to help remember and honor the work of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.! The office will reopen on Tuesday morning at 9:15am. Make this day a great day and always be ready to pray, Order my steps, Lord. Amen! Pastor Jack Happy 2024! Here are some words from Matthew's Gospel for us on this first Friday of another new year...
"Do not worry about how or what you should speak; for it will be given you in that hour what you should speak." (Matthew 10:19 NKJV) What an honor it is to be used to voice the heart of God. Not only do we want our words to be pleasing to God and bring encouragement to others, but we also want to teach and preach with authority, even to prophesy. These are the gifts with which God has equipped the Church to edify and build up herself. We are called as Christians, every one of us, to be examples, mentors and teachers. God urges us to study the Word and to accurately handle the word of truth, preparing ourselves to give an answer to anyone who asks. (See 2 Timothy 2:15 and 1 Peter 3:15) Look for occasions to share the hope you have in Christ and to shine the light of the Gospel on a world bound in oppression to sin. Share the knowledge you have of the Truth that sets us free -- for "how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" (Romans 10:15). Look around you; the fields are ripe for harvest. Go and make disciples (which means "students") of all those around you for faith comes by hearing -- and how will they hear if there is no teacher? (See Romans 10: 14,17) Maybe you could join me in my prayer, Lord, Speak through me, when you see people in need or find yourself leading. So when you feel God gives you the nudge to say something, pray..... Lord, Speak through me. Amen. +++ This Sunday we celebrate Epiphany at both the 8:30am and 10:00am worship services. As we listen to the story from Matthew's Gospel account, we will think about the journey of the Wise Men to the baby Jesus. In my message, "Wise People Still Seek Him" I am thinking about how, over 2000 years later, the seeking still goes on for each of us. We will also celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion together and welcome back our musicians from a couple of weeks of R & R. If you can't be here in person, join us on the church's Facebook page for our live-stream at 10:00am. Or you can join us for the recorded worship service on YouTube after the service is completed. You have many ways to worship this week and we hope to "see" you on Sunday! +++ Following worship on Sunday, our meal delivery drivers will head out with meals for our shut-ins in the first meal ministry event of 2024! Thanks to Sam, Marilyn and all those who are a part of this exciting ministry to our shut-ins! +++ Next Sunday is our monthly 2nd Sunday Luncheon! Please make sure you sign up this week so we know how many people to prepare for! And thanks to our Fellowship Team who works so hard on this luncheon each month! +++ Next week is our meeting week here at Immanuel! Our Finance Team and SPRC meet on Tuesday night, 1/9 at 6:00pm and then our Administrative Council meets at 6:45pm that same evening. Then our Trustees meet the next day, Wednesday, 1/10 at 4:00pm. Thanks to all who serve on our ministry teams here at Immanuel! +++ Next Sunday, 1/14 is our Human Relations Day general offering. This church-wide offering is dedicated to working on improving human relations in communities large and small across our United Methodist Church. Look for special offering envelopes in the Narthex next Sunday. +++ On Sunday our Trustees will tell us about the replacement of our current sign with a brand new electronic sign that will really help us improve communications with our neighbors driving by on Kasson Road! The new sign has been ordered, is being constructed now and we hope it will be installed sometime this spring! Come and listen to the exciting details of this project and see an early picture of what the new sign will look like. Thanks to those who have already committed to help make this project a reality! +++ All of our Team and ministry leaders are requested to provide the office with an Annual Report of your group's ministry efforts in 2023, by 1/31/24. We will be preparing our Annual Report book the first week in February to help everyone know all the ministry opportunities that are offered here at Immanuel! Make this day a great day and always remember to pray, Lord, speak through me. Amen. Pastor Jack |
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November 2024
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