Readings for the Week of September 11, 2016

The readings this week provide a sketch of the results of the coming of the Spirit upon the person.  It draws from the Old and New Testaments.    

Mon. Sept. 12-Exodus 31: 1-11  At the making of the Tabernacle (God’s House during the Exodus), the Spirit of God blessed the artists and artisans that their work would be worthy of the God’s House.

Tue. Sept. 13-1 Samuel 9:27-10:16  Sometimes the power of God’s Spirit can make someone behave…in an extraordinary way.  Saul here was anointed to be King and the Spirit came upon him.

Wed. Sept. 14-2 Kings 2: 1-12  The Spirit of God was upon God’s prophets, as illustrated by Elijah and Elisha, perhaps the two most powerful prophets in God’s service.

Thu. Sept. 15-Luke 3: 1-22  This is the story of the baptism of Jesus, where the Spirit comes upon Him in the form of a dove.

Fri. Sept. 16-Luke 4: 1-15  This is the story of what the Spirit did to Jesus first time out.

Sat. Sept. 17-Acts 2: 1-47  This is the story of the Spirit coming upon the Apostles at Pentecost and the launch of the church.

Readings for the Week of August 28, 2016

The sermon this week was drawn from Revelations 21, the New Heaven and the New Earth.  For our readings this week, we will read through the last chapters of the Bible.  Apologies for the delay in posting as the family and I were on vacation.

Mon. Aug. 29-Rev. 15-16  So begins the final battle.

Tue. Aug. 30-Rev. 17  Final Judgment Part 1

Wed. Aug. 31-Rev. 18  The end of Babylon (Rome)

Thu. Sept. 1-Rev. 19  Announcement of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Fri. Sept. 2-Rev. 20  The Final Battle

Sat. Sept. 3-Rev. 21-22  The Final Joy of Christ.

Readings for the week of Aug. 21, 2016

Our passage in Romans speaks to the issue of how sin is to be dealt with in light of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  The push forward however is to consider the ‘new life’ as a whole as it occurs through Jesus.  The passages this week look forward to how that ‘new life’ is formed.  This ideal of the ‘new life’ arose as it became more and more obvious that Jesus’ return was not going to be immediate, but that there were a lot of people in the world to be reached with the gospel before that happened.  So how does one live life under the blessing of the empty cross?

Mon. Aug. 22: Acts 2: 37-47  This is the formation of the community living the new life in Christ after Pentecost.

Tue. Aug. 23: Acts 6: 1-7  As the new life in Christ built up the community, there was need for new leadership to carry out the social responsibilities of the community.

Wed. Aug. 24: Ephesians 4:17-5:20  Paul speaks to the application of Christian principle and the teachings of Jesus to the new life in Christ.

Thu. Aug. 25: 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31  The metaphor of the body is given for us to understand the new roles and responsibilities of the new life in Christ.

Fri. Aug. 26: 1 Timothy 4:1-16  As the next generation of leadership arises to continue the new life in Christ, this is Paul’s charge to one such leader.

Sat. Aug. 27: 2 Timothy 3:10-4:18  In passing the torch, Paul reflects on what he has done in the new life in Christ, how he has led his life that way, and what comes next.

Readings for the Week of August 14, 2016

The Sermon Scripture this week is Philippians 2: 5-11.  It is drawn from "The Bible: An Introduction" resource that we have produced at our church.  It is a piece of Scripture I recommend people take to heart and to memory.  For it is the backstory of Jesus, before he came to us, and the postscript-what happens between the gospels and the Second Coming.  The Scriptures this week are drawn from connections made during Sunday’s Sermon.

Mon. Aug. 15: Philippians 2: 1-18--This is Sunday’s passage placed in its wider context in the letter to Philippi.

Tue. Aug. 16: Luke 2: 1-20—The angels come to the shepherds at Christmas.  Reflect on the song of the angels in the light of the words of Philippians 2: 5-11.  They knew this story.

Wed. Aug. 17: Genesis 3—This is the story of the fall of Adam and Eve.  It contains the curses placed upon them, but note vs. 22-God speaks of ‘Themselves’ in the plural.

Thu. Aug. 18: Deuteronomy 5: 1-21—This is the ‘second’ recording of the Ten Commandments.  Note verse 8, in the ‘idols’ commandment, same formula of application as Philippians 2:10.

Fri. Aug. 19: Romans 3: 9-26—Paul demonstrates that the death of Jesus takes away the judgment of sin and the penalty of death from those who believe, a promise to bring relief to all who believe in Him.

Sat. Aug. 20: Matthew 11: 20-30—This is a passage of contrasts, cursings and blessings, but it concludes with beautiful promise of Jesus that there is nothing we cannot lay upon His shoulders that He will not remove from between us and Himself.

Readings for the Week Starting Aug. 7, 2016

The readings this week take you about halfway through the book of Hebrews.  If you find yourself repeating passages from previous weeks, that is okay.  The power of the bible comes from reaching in afresh.  A passage that is read a hundred times can offer up something new on the one hundred and first reading that was never seen before.  This is the power of the Holy Spirit helping us to know.

Mon. Aug. 8-Hebrews 1 & 2

Tue. Aug. 9-Hebrews 3

Wed. Aug. 10- Hebrews 4

Thu. Aug. 11-Hebrews 5

Fri. Aug. 12-Hebrews 6

Sat. Aug. 13-Hebrews 7 & 8

Cover Letter From The Summer Herald July, 2016

Dear Neighbors,

All too often, during the summer, we hit a cash crunch in the church.  Attendance, and giving, both drop.  As you are gearing up for summer plans and vacations, retooling lives to having the kids at home and under foot, please do not forget that the life of the church goes on.  Services go on, bills come in, the day-to-day does not come to a halt.  If you not able to come to church, would you please take a moment to drop your pledge or offering in the mail before you head out or away?

We are working on an easier system to make pledges and offerings for Sundays when attendance becomes a challenge.  The plan is to put up a “Paypal” donation button on the Church’s Facebook page, and then on the website.  After some searching and review, the Session has come to the conclusion that the Paypal online system is the most secure for our purposes. 

Having said that, if there is a member of our church family who is familiar with another way of doing this that is more secure and convenient, please let me know!  There is only one God, and neither the Session nor I aspire to that position.

Money is always hard to talk about.  But maybe not if we remember that it is a gift from God, as is everything else in life.  That is why the liturgical line on Sunday goes something like, “God has given us so much, let us give back a portion for His work…” 

We tried the National Public Radio version for a while, “The work and ministries of this church are supported by the pledges and donations of its members…”  While that is true, the greater truth is that the members are supported, in all things, by God.

Please remember to continue with your pledges and offerings.  Our hope is, by delaying this Herald till after July 4^th, it does not get lost in the ‘pre-season’ preparations.  May God bless you and bless our church.

Peace,

Rev. Peter Hofstra    

Readings for the Week of July 10, 2016

The law of God is an overarching theme of the Bible, for good and for bad.  It is the way to God, but a way that cannot hope to be mastered by we the people.  We just aren’t good enough.  So along comes Jesus, who tosses everything on its ear.  He didn’t end the law, he fulfilled it.  That changed the very nature of the beast, from condemnatory to preparatory.  It goes from being an instrument of our judgment by God to a tool to teach how to offer our lives more fully to our God.  There is lots of law in the Bible, five full chapters of it to start with, the Torah, Genesis to Deuteronomy.  We are going to consider passages around the Ten Commandments.

Mon., July 11: Exodus 20:1-21  The law and the reaction of the people.

Tue., July 12: Deuteronomy 5:1-33; 6: 1-3  This is the recap in the last book of the Torah.

Wed., July 13: Deuteronomy 6:4-25  The ‘why’ of keeping the law is given.

Thu., July 14: Matthew 22:15-40  The rulers of the Jews are taking turns taking their shots at Jesus, who completes his defense with a summation of the whole law.

Fri., July 15: Matthew 5: 15-26  Jesus lays out his relationship to the law and what he intends with it, giving a practical example of interpreting “Thou shalt not murder”.

Sat., July 16: Matthew 5: 27-48  He continues on the law, taking about “Thou shalt not commit adultery”, then going on to develop his thoughts and summary of the new role of law.