Monthly Archives: January 2017

Celebration

Holy Name of Jesus Celebration

Holy Name of Jesus Celebration
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Introduction:
Dear People of God, what is in a name? How many names do we hear and know for Jesus? King of Kings, House of David, Savior, Messiah, Lord. Soon our telling the Good News will describe how Jesus Christ takes our sins to the cross to gift us salvation. In our readings of Scripture throughout the liturgical year we find the truths are self-evident, we believe the Word of the Lord. We worship in Word, Song and our Presence. We stand in awe in the name of our Lord.
Let us worship!

Scripture:
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 6:24-6.
O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Ps. 8:1.
God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name. Phil. 2:9.
He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:21.

 

The Lord Bless You and Keep You.
performed by John Rutter

 

Prayer: Dear Lord God, you have claimed us as your people and entrusted the justice and holiness of your creation to our hands and hearts. Hear the prayers we offer this day on behalf of this world. Grant that we may not only pray with our lips, but be courageous in conduct, responding to your grace with faithful and fruitful action. Amen.

 

Name Above All Names
Sovereign Grace Music

 

Prayer: Dear Lord God of ancient blessing, your servant Mary pondered in her heart the treasured words spoken about her Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Prepare our hearts to receive his Spirit, that our tongues may confess him Lord. Amen.

 

Joy to the World
Isaac Watts (1719).
performed by Pastor Kevin Schuessler. Guitar.

 

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!

C.R., Reflection, Spirit on the A's

Seven Reasons We Get Stuck

Seven Reasons We Get Stuck

Celebrate Recovery
Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery Lesson 25

1. We have not completely worked the previous principle.

– Perhaps we are trying to move through the principles too quickly. Slow down! Give God time to work! Remember, this program is a process.

– “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25.

2. We have not completely surrendered our life and our will to the Lord.

– Perhaps we are trusting Jesus with the “big” things, but we still think we can handle the “small” things.

– “For good judgment and common sense, trust in the Lord completely; don’t ever trust in yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.”  Proverbs 3:5-6.

3. We have not accepted Jesus’ work on the cross for our forgiveness.

– We may have forgiven others, but we think our sin is too big to be forgiven.

– “But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us … from every wrong.” 1 John 1:9.

– “So overflowing is his kindness towards us that he took away all our sins through the blood of his Son, by whom we are saved.” Ephesians 1:7.

– Have you forgiven yourself?

– Remember, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1.

4. We really have not forgiven others who have harmed us.

– We must “let go of the pain of past harm and abuse. Until we are able to release it, forgive it, it will continue to hold us as its prisoner.

– “After you have suffered a little while, our God, who is full of kindness through Christ, will give you his eternal glory. He personally will pick you up, and set firmly in place and make you stronger than ever.” 1 Peter 5:10-11.

5. We are afraid of the risk in making the necessary change.

– We may be paralyzed by the fear of failure. We may fear intimacy because of the fear of rejection or of being hurt again. We may resist change (growth) because of the fear of the unknown.

– “Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed … I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10.

– “That is why we can say without any doubt or fear, “The Lord is my Helper and I am not afraid of anything that mere man can do to me.” Hebrews 13:6.

6. We are not willing to “own” our responsibility.

– We need to take responsibility for our past in a broken relationship, a damaged friendship, with a distant child or parent, and so forth.

– “Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover … if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23.

7. We have not developed an effective support team.

– Do you have a sponsor or an accountability partner? Do you have the phone numbers of others in you small group? Have you volunteered for a commitment to your recovery ministry?

– “Be with wise men and become wise. Be with evil men and become evil.” Proverbs 13:20.

– “Dear brothers, you have been given freedom: not freedom to do wrong, but freedom to love and serve each another.” Galatians 5:13.

– “Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command.” Galatians 6:2.

 

A.A., Reflection, Spirit on the A's

AA Promises

What Are the AA Promises?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has a set of principles to help alcoholics in recovery become productive members of society. These AA promises derive from Alcoholics Anonymous twelve steps and twelve traditions. Let’s break the AA promises out so they are easier to digest.

The AA Promises:

1. If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.

2. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.

3. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.

4. No matter how far down the scale we have gone

5. We will see how our experience can benefit others.

6. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.

7. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.

8. Self-seeking will slip away.

9. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.

10. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.

11. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.

12. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

AA Promises
AA Promises

Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us -sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them. – Alcoholics Anonymous p. 83-84.

What do the AA Promises mean?

The AA Promises are meant to be a promise for recovery. The AA promises usually begin to come true after an alcoholic has worked through the steps thoroughly and begins to apply them in their life. When it says that they will be “fulfilled among us-sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly” it means that the AA Promises will happen, but the time frame in which they present themselves are different for everyone. The AA promises will always materialize if the alcoholic works for them. This means that if you are working the twelve steps to the best of your ability and are as honest as you can be while working them, you will receive a spiritual awakening or experience, which then leads to a total personality change.

– WaterShed Treatment Programs.
The Promise
David Grover
performed by When in Rome

If you need a friend, don’t look to a stranger,
You know in the end, I’ll always be there.
But when you’re in doubt, and when you’re in danger,
Take a look all around, and I’ll be there.