Spirit of Peace plans to celebrate St Patrick’s Day early on Thursday afternoon March 16th.
Everyone in the community is invited to a free health and wellness presentation, lunch and exercise program following.
Corned Beef Cabbage Red Potatoes
If you have a favorite St Patrick themed side dish you are welcome to bring it to the meal and discuss it if you like.
The presentation starts at noon on March 16, the meal follows at about 12:20 and anyone interested in discussing and participating in the exercise is welcome at about 1:20.
Valley View Community Center 400 West Meigs St. Valley NE.
At 3:00 anyone interested in visiting the residents at Golden Living may join us in a St Patrick’s Day presentation there with history, prayer, arts and crafts.
Conclusion at 4:00 is expected.
Volunteers, Planners and Donations are welcome.
Spirit of Peace Pastors Michael and Cathy Hanus may be contacted at 402-541-7019 or through SpiritofPeace.us
Lords Salvation Celebration
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!
Introduction:
Grace, the Good News and Righteousness all meet here among us today. As children of God We Share in the Good News. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16.
As believers, let us see the world through eyes and wisdom more trusting and accepting of truth than Nicodemus.
Abram and Sarai lived as resident aliens depending upon the goodwill of strangers while traveling in obedience to to God. This vulnerable wedded couple pose as siblings in order to save their mortal lives. The focus of this story is about what God is doing for them and their faith despite their vulnerabilities.
Our Psalm Song of Ascents confesses that God made All Heaven and Earth, therefore all representations of other gods are false. Despite the trials and tribulations that travelers find along their journey they must acknowledge and trust in the Lord.
In his letter to Romans, Paul is affirming In God We Trust. God sent His son to save us, all of us, Jews and Gentiles. It is our belief and common faith that connects us to Abraham.
The Good News is the Word of God. Amen.
The Summons
John Bell
– performed by Spirit and Song
Scripture:
I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Gen. 12:2.
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Ps. 121:2.
For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham. Rom. 4:16.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16.
What Wondrous Love is This
Con Que Pagaremos
Anonymous
– performed by Fernando Ortega
Prayer: God of the Living, from whom we pass from the shadow of death
to the light of the resurrection. Remain with us and give us hope that, rejoicing in the gift of the Spirit who gives life to our mortal flesh, we may be clothed with the garment of immortality, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Praise You in this Storm
Casting Crowns
Prayer: God of the Covenant, You call us to be fruitful servants within creation, and to offer our lives as the foundation of Your realm. We lay before you the desires of our hearts, that we may be transformed by their fulfillment.
Grant, O God, that the prayers we offer may be Your channel for new and abundant life not only hoped for, but worked for, through faithful word and deed. Amen.
I Love to Tell the Story
Katie Hankey (1866).
Prayer: God of Amazing Compassion, lover of our wayward race, you bring to birth a pilgrim people, and call us to be a blessing for ourselves and all the world.
We pray for grace to take your generous gift and step with courage on this holy path, confident in the radiant life that is your plan for us, made known and given in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing:
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!
Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!
Fruit of the Tree Reflection
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!
Introduction:
Jesus finds Himself in the wilderness after His Baptism. The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into a confrontation with the temptations offered by Satan. Jesus emerges victorious. How do we measure up?
In Genesis we visit the well known Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. Satan, under the guise of a serpent, uses persuasive deceit to rob the vulnerable Eve and then Adam of a Life of Ease in Paradise. How do we engage or better yet disengage Satan in our lives?
Psalm 32 is associated with the Rite of Penance. Confession and a contrite heart fits in with the practice of humility necessary to live rightly before God.
In Paul’s Letter to the Romans, he wants to make the point that we are responsible for our sins even though we may be helpless to stop them.
Given the knowledge we discuss and glean in faith today, how will we manage ourselves as we live in the future?
Morning has Broken
Eleanor Farjeon (1931).
Cat Stevens
Scripture:
The Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden …”. Gen. 2:16.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Ps. 32:5.
Just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. Rom. 5:18.
Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'” Matt. 4:10.
Prayer: God of wilderness and water, your Son was baptized and tempted as we are. Guide us through this season, that we may not avoid struggle, but open ourselves to blessing, through the cleansing depths of repentance and the heaven-rending words of the Spirit. Amen.
Just as I am
Charlotte Elliot (1823).
Antrim Menninger Choir
Prayer: Beloved friends, in this season of repentance and healing, we accept God’s invitation to be ever-mindful of the needs of others, offering our prayers on behalf of God’s community in the church and the world.
Fill us with your strength to resist the seductions of our foolish desires and the tempter’s vain delights, that we may walk in obedience and righteousness, rejoicing in you with an upright heart. Amen.
We Believe
Newsboys
Prayer: Dear Lord God of mercy, your word was the sure defense of Jesus in his time of testing. Minister to us in the wilderness of our temptation, that we who have been set free from sin by Christ may serve you well into life everlasting. Amen.
God be with You
Jeremiah Rankin (1880).
Jim Reeves
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!
Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!
Ash Wednesday Reflection
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!
Introduction:
Remember You are dust. Repent and be faithful to the Gospel.
You have come from dust and you will return to dust.
Expect to hear any of these disturbing words as you appear before the minister who will rub ashes into your forehead in the sign of the cross. Why?
Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God
Marantha Singers
Scripture:
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near. Joel 2:1.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Ps. 51:1.
We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5.
Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matt. 6:1.
Proclamation of Gods Kingdom
Prayer:
Righteous God, in humility and repentance we bring our failures in caring, helping, and loving, we bring the pain we have caused other, we bring the injustice in society of which we are a part, to the transforming power of your grace.
Grant us the courage to accept the healing you offer and to turn again toward the sunrise of your reign, that we may walk with you in the promise of peace you have willed for all the children of the earth, and have made known to us in Christ Jesus. Amen.
O for a Closer Walk with God
William Cowper (1772).
Prayer:
Gracious and merciful God, you see into the secret places of our hearts, where we mourn our sins. As we turn again to your grace, receive our prayers.
Look with mercy on our contrite hearts, wash from us the stain of iniquity, and create a new and right spirit in us, that we may declare your praise and offer an acceptable sacrifice in these Lenten days; through Christ Jesus, who bore our sins on the cross. Amen.
Lords Prayer
Charlotte Church
Prayer:
O God, you delight not in pomp and show, but in a humble and contrite heart. Overturn our love of worldly possessions and fix our hearts more firmly on you, that, having nothing, we may yet possess everything, a treasure stored up for us in heaven. Amen.
Just as I am without one plea
Charlotte Elliot (1835).
Antrim Mennonite Choir
Blessing:
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!
Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!
Transfiguration Celebration
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!
Introduction:
Exodus informs us that Moses was on the mountain for forty days and nights before he came down with the law on the tablets.
In Psalm 2, David tells us that we will be happy taking refuge in the Lord.
Peter informs us that prophecy comes to us through those moved by the Holy Spirit speaking the Word of God.
God confirms that Jesus is His Son. God Said It, That Settles It. The disciples must first understand their Jesus Christ before they can properly proclaim.
What would you think and do if you are witness to this Transfiguration?
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Reginald Heber (1826).
Scripture:
Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. Ex. 24:18.
Serve the Lord with fear, with trembling kiss his feet, or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way; for his wrath is quickly kindled. Happy are all who take refuge in him. Ps. 2:11.
No prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:21.
This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him! Matt. 17:5.
Sovereign Lord
Cassidy Brothers
Sweet Spirit
Prayer: Holy God, mighty and immortal, you are beyond our knowing, yet we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ, whose compassion illumines the world.
Transform us into the likeness of the love of Christ, who renewed our humanity so that we may share in his divinity, the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who live and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Name of All Majesty
Timothy Dudley-Smith
Promising Voices
Prayer: Dear Lord God, as your Son drew apart to be in prayer with you, we offer our prayers for the transformation of the world and the church.
You revealed your glory and presence in your beloved Son, Jesus the Christ. In receiving our prayers, reveal the glory and presence of your Spirit alive in the world today, free us from all doubts, and empower us to act as a transfigured people. Amen.
Be Thou My Vision O Lord of My Heart
Slane
Mary Byrne, Translator (1903).
Old Irish Hymn, “Bí Thusa ‘mo Shúile,” into English as “Be Thou My Vision”
Prayer: Dear Lord God of the covenant, the cloud of your splendor and the fire of your love revealed your Son on the mountain heights. Transform our lives in his image, write your law of love on our hearts, and make us prophets of your glory, that we may lead others into your presence. Amen.
Blessing:
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!
Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!
Disciples Here and Now Celebration
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!
Introduction:
Today we learn one more installment of Jesus teaching the Sermon on the Mount. It is very fitting for the final Sunday in Epiphany. Jesus wants the attention of His disciples to gather just what it means to be His disciples. Pearls of Wisdom for us today.
How can I keep from singing
a cappella
Scripture:
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. Lev. 19:18.
Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end. Ps. 119:33.
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. 1 Cor. 3:10.
Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. Matt. 5:42.
Make me a channel of your peace.
St Francis Assisi
Sebastian Temple
Prayer: Perfect Light of revelation, as you shone in the life of Jesus, whose epiphany we celebrate, so shine in us and through us, that we may become beacons of truth and compassion, enlightening all creation with deeds of justice and mercy. Amen.
Lord of Glory
King’s Kids
Prayer: To God who welcomes all in love, let us pray for the good of the church and the concerns of those in need.
God of every land and nation, you have created all people and you dwell among us in Jesus Christ. Listen to the cries of those who pray to you, and grant that, as we proclaim the greatness of your name, all people will know the power of love at work in the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Teach me, O Lord, your way of truth
Psalmody
Prayer: Dear Lord God most holy, in Jesus Christ you have laid a foundation upon which to build our lives. Help us to follow your perfect law of love, that we may fulfill it and observe it to the end. Amen.
My hope is built on nothing less
Edward Mote (1834).
Sovereign Grace
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!
Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!
Discipleship in the City Celebration
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!
Introduction:
We are still at the scene of Jesus preaching the Sermon on the Mount. Today, Matthew brings us awareness of the responsibilities of discipleship with community focus. We are accountable and responsible for one another for the sake of the community. Pursuing success in righteousness as a disciple of Jesus Christ may intersect with and challenge perceived social earthly material success, but this is to be expected. When faced with material wealth which might be enjoyed for a portion of this life directly placed at odds with discipleship and salvation with Jesus Christ, which do you choose?
Be Not Afraid
John Michael Talbot
Scripture:
If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. Deut. 30:16.
Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Ps. 119:1.
For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Cor. 3:9.
So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Matt. 5:23-4.
Prayer: Dear Lord God, you spoke your word and revealed your good news in Jesus, the Christ.
Fill all creation with that word again, so that by proclaiming your joyful promises to all nations
and singing of your glorious hope to all peoples,
we may become one living body, your incarnate presence on the earth. Amen.
Teach me, O Lord, Your Way of Truth
Psalmody
Prayer: To Our Lord God who welcomes all in love, let us pray for the good of the church and the concerns of those in need.
God of every land and nation, you have created all people and you dwell among us in Jesus Christ. Listen to the cries of those who pray to you, and grant that, as we proclaim the greatness of your name, all people will know the power of love at work in the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
Gentile or Jew
One Bread One Body
John Foley
John Michael Talbot
Prayer: Divine Gardener, you give growth to our seeds and to the towering forest trees; you raise to abundant life that which seems dead. Teach us to choose blessing and life rather than death, so that we may walk blamelessly, seeking you through reconciliation with all of your children. Amen.
Dona Nobis Pacem Domine
Jacques Berthier
Blessing:
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!
Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!
“We have found a loving, personal God to whom we can turn.” Page 39.
Basic Text, p. 27. Some of us come into recovery with the impression that life’s hardships are a series of cosmic tests designed to teach us something. This belief is readily apparent when something traumatic happens and we wail, “My Higher Power is testing me!” We are convinced that it is a test of our recovery when someone offers us drugs, or a test of our character when faced with a situation where we could do something unprincipled without getting caught. We may even think it is a test of our faith when we are in great pain over a tragedy in our lives.
But a loving Higher Power does not test our recovery, our character, or our faith. Life just happens, and sometimes it hurts. Many of us have lost love through no fault of our own. Some of us have lost all of our material wealth. A few of us have even grieved the loss of our own children. Life can be terribly painful at times, but the pain is not inflicted on us by our Higher Power. Rather, that Power is constantly by our sides, ready to carry us if we can not walk by ourselves. There is no harm that life can do us that the God of our understanding can not heal.
Just for Today: I will have faith that my Higher Power’s will for me is good, and that I am loved. I will seek my Higher Power’s help in times of need. (c) 2016 NA World Services
Iroquois Prayer of Gratitude
We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us.
We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with waters.
We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicine for the cure of our diseases.
We return thanks to the corn, and to her sisters, the beans and the squashes, which give us life.
We return thanks to the wind, which moving the air has banished diseases.
We return thanks to the moon and the stars,
which have given us their light when the sun was gone.
We return thanks to the sun, that he has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.
Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in whom is embodied all goodness, and who directs all things for the good of his children.
Thank you
The Science Behind Cultivating the Attitude of Gratitude and How It Works.
The benefits include health and Wellness, better sleep, feeling more alive, reaching out and receiving compassion, even helping build a better immune system. – Derrick Carpenter. Happify. http://www.happify.com/hd/the-science-behind-gratitude/
How do we get on with cultivating an attitude of gratitude?
Freshen up the Thanks.
Make a Game about Noticing New Gratefulness each day.
Get Real about Your Gratitude Practice.
Be Both Optimistic and Realistic.
Make Thankfulness Fun by Mixing it up.
Be Creative in Engaging your Gratitude activities.
Get Social about your Gratitude.
Write a Gratitude letter.
You are on your way to positive life changes to better yourself.
Path to Faith
True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith, and every A.A. meeting is an assurance that God will restore us to sanity if we rightly relate ourselves to Him. – TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 33.
Step 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Therefore, Step Two is the rallying point for all of us. Whether agnostic, atheist, or former believer, we can stand together on this Step. True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith, and every A.A. meeting is an assurance that God will restore us to sanity if we rightly relate ourselves to Him. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 33.
Humility appears to be the key character component to getting sobriety started, and to keep it progressing. Sally N.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less. C.S. Lewis
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am having trouble with personal relationships. I can not control my emotional nature. I am prey to misery and depression. I can not make a living. I feel useless. I am full of fear. I am unhappy. I can not seem to be of real help to others. I know in my heart that only you can restore me to sanity if I am just willing to stop doubting your power. I humbly ask that you help me to understand that it is more powerful to believe than not to believe and that you are either everything or nothing. (Big Book p. 52:2, 52:3, 53:1, 53:2).
Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5.
A dear friend of mine sent me a text message that said, “I am so glad we can tell each other the good, the bad, and the ugly!” We have been friends for many years, and we have learned to share our joys and our failures. We recognize we are far from perfect, so we share our struggles but we also rejoice in each other’s successes.
David and Jonathan had a solid friendship too, beginning with the good days of David’s victory over Goliath. 1 Sam. 18:1–4. They shared their fears during the bad days of Jonathan’s father’s jealousy. I Sam. 18:6–11; 20:1–2. Finally, they suffered together during the ugly days of Saul’s plans to kill David. 1 Sam. 20:42.
Good Bad Ugly
Real friendships are a gift from God.
Good friends don’t abandon us when external circumstances change. They stay with us through the good and the bad days. Good friends also may point us to God in the ugly days, when we may feel tempted to walk away from our Lord.
Real friendships are a gift from God because they exemplify the perfect Friend, who remains loyal through the good, the bad, and the ugly days. As the Lord reminds us, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Heb. 13:5. – Keila Ochoa. Daily Bread.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank You for the good friends You have placed in my life, but above all, I thank You for Your friendship.
