Worship on June 8
It was warm outside. Many gathered together to enjoy our worship service.
Mr. Remaly took charge of our announcement time. Jane E., Arelene G, Vicki R, Carol M and Kelly F. each shared prayer concerns with the congregation.
When the announcement time was completed, Dave Need honored our seniors. We had a breakfast for them during the Sunday school hour. Here in the worship service we gave them a gift certificate to The Carpenter’s Son bookstore.
Phil Burkle was our liturgist of the morning. He called our worship service to order. He pointed out that the pastor was talking about the Sabbath Day today. He said that as a farmer, he is often tempted to work on Sunday. When the weather is good, one should act. He has learned through the years that God honors the farmer who does not work on Sunday. The crops are still planted. The harvest is still good. When we honor God, God will bless us.
Jennifer Lawrence led our singing of the morning. Her husband, Rodney, accompanied on his guitar. Our opening songs were “Here I am to Worship” and “I Love You, Lord.”
Follow the time of prayer, Jennifer taught the children. She asked them what it meant to reach a goal. They talked about a variety of marks they may reach in their life. She talked about hitting the mark that God has set aside for us is the most important. She pointed to the cross on top of the Christian flag. She asked us to suppose that represented the goal God has for us. She took a balloon that was blown up and let it fly. It didn’t hit the cross. So our life can be. We can have all kinds of energy and good intentions. If we lack direction, we will never see God’s promises. She had tied a fishing line to the cross. She put another balloon on this line. It was able to hit the goal with the right direction. So should we seek God’s direction in life.
As the children were returning to their seats, the pastor called Phil to the microphone. He asked if Phil was a part of the Rossville Business Association. The 2 of them gave a commercial for the coupon books that the Association is selling as the church is offering to give something away in the book, although the pastor would not tell us what that was. They did a great job of selling these books, but they didn’t have any to sell this morning.
Following the offering we sang, “Near to the Heart of God.”
The Scripture lesson was from Hebrews 4:1-11.
The pastor talked about what it meant to experience a Sabbath Day’s rest. He said that Sunday should be holy. It should represent the holy rest that we will experience when we are with God in eternity.
The pastor also said that the Sabbath Rest is a gift to God’s people. How do we combine that gift with the gift of family that God has given to us? The work week can pull families apart. How can we use Sunday to bring us back together again?
Sunday should be the highlight of the week. A portion is spent in worship as a gift back to God. The rest should be used to make memories with our family or close friends.
God has given us a gift of rest. Don’t sell that gift for dirt.
The closing hymn was “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.”
About 145 folk enjoyed our day of worship together.
