Friday, January 16, 2026

Happy Friday! 
 
Today's scripture reading takes us into the 17th chapter of Genesis... to a conversation between God and Abram...
 
            "I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations."   (Genesis 17:5 NLT)
 
A childless man when he stepped onto the biblical stage, Abram bore an ironic name: it means "exalted father." But after God promised to give Abram a child and make his descendants into a great nation, he was renamed Abraham, "father of a multitude."
   
Abram had grown up pagan in Ur of the Chaldeans, among people who "worshipped other gods" (Joshua 24:2 NLT). But the real God had big plans for Abram, as indicated by his new name.  
   
In a way, God renames each of us when God calls us to faith. The apostle Paul identified sexual sinners, the greedy, drunks, abusers, and idolaters as the kind of people naturally separated from God (1 Corinthians 6: 9-10). But when in God's love, the Lord reaches out and we respond to Jesus, God has much better names for us: "cleansed... made holy... made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ" (verse 11 NLT).
   
Now, like Abram, we please God by simply believing what God says (Genesis 15:6). If God calls you a clean, holy, righteous person through faith in Christ, accept that truth and live into it.  
 
               Lord, thank You for calling me worthy through my faith in Jesus. Help me to live up to the honor You've shown me. Amen. 
 
+++ We gather for worship on Sunday at 8:30am and 10:00am. This week, we welcome back Rev. Dr. Russ Hall, who will be preaching and leading worship while I am away in NYC. Russ's message is entitled, "Love Given and Love Received". We will, of course, be "live-streaming" the worship service on the church's FaceBook page at 10:00am and then "uploading" the completed worship service to the church's YouTube channel when the worship is concluded. Thanks to all those who are stepping up to help with the task of worship leadership this week. Plan to join us for worship either here in the Sanctuary or online on Sunday! 

+++ Congratulations to all the winners of last week's "Chili-Chowder-Soup Cookoff".   We had a wonderful time with great food and fellowship, and we thank the Fellowship Team and all who worked so hard that we could enjoy this wonderful event.  

+++ This Sunday we receive one of our 6 church-wide offerings when we pledge to help with the work of improving Human Relations in our world. Look for the special offering envelopes in the Narthex on Sunday for your second-mile gifts and thanks for supporting this important mission work!  

+++ The church office will be closed on Monday, January 19th as we celebrate Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. The office will reopen on Tuesday morning at 9:00am. Emergency phone numbers are on the church answering machine if needed. 

+++ For team and ministry leaders... Please remember that Annual Reports for 2025 are due in the church office by January 30th! We will be publishing the Annual Report of the congregation in early February and we want to make sure each team/ministry is represented in this important report of our ministry.   
 
Make this day a great day and enjoy the new name God gives us all when we believe and accept God's call!   
​Pastor Jack