Church News (Page 9)
The Ministry
It didn’t start out as a Ministry. Actually, in a way it is a “side” ministry. It started as a caring note as a text on my phone. It was the Sunday before Thanksgiving when one of our friends had a medical emergency. We were leaving on Wednesday to be with friends, that we managed to do every year for many years. I talked to the wife and said I feel terrible leaving you at a time like this, but…
The Bleeding Sacrifice
Isaiah 53:4-64 Surely he has borne our griefsand carried our sorrows;yet we esteemed him stricken,smitten by God, and afflicted.5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;he was crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,and with his wounds we are healed.6 All we like sheep have gone astray;we have turned—every one—to his own way;and the Lord has laid on himthe iniquity of us all. The Lenten season has grown to become a time of high importance to me…
Radical Hospitality
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9) The bible has a lot to say about hospitality. Through many years of ministry, I am convinced that hospitality can be one of the most effective ways of building community in a church, but also connecting with those who are seekers. Yet, as I write that last sentence, and I reflect on my own household’s practice of hospitality, we could do better. Over the child-rearing years the pace of life…
SFNAZ Newsletter – March 2023
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PASTORAL DEVOTIONAL SFNAZ ANNOUNCEMENTS SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SCHEDULE Learning & Growth Opportunities (All ages) ……………..9:30am Worship Service ……………………………………………………………………… 10:45am SFNAZ ELECTION RESULTS Congratulations to newly elected board member, Eric Zahl. We are thankful and excited to see how God uses him on our church board. Please continue to pray for him as well as the rest of our board members as they listen for the way God is leading his church. Delegates elected to represent SFNAZ…
Faith of a Child
Last week we recognized the first anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine. I was privileged to have been ministering to Ukrainian refugees in Poland when the war reached its six-month milestone. A couple of weeks ago the Church of the Nazarene sent out an email that included a video of our compassionate ministry work supporting Ukrainian refugees. Much of the video featured the work of the Sweet Surrender ministry in Poznan, Poland. The last image in the…
Hide-and-Seek
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. PSALM 139:8 – 10 Our little granddaughter loves to play peek-a-boo. It is so cute to watch her hide her eyes behind her chubby little hands. …
Faithful
Be faithful even to point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 I was listening to the kindergartners at my kids’ school recite this memory verse one by one to me this morning and really thinking about the meaning of this verse and how deep it is. If you just look at the first half of the scripture, death sounds so final. I am so glad that the verse continues with the crown…
SFNAZ Newsletter – February 2023
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PASTORAL DEVOTIONAL. SFNAZ ANNOUNCEMENTS SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SCHEDULE Learning & Growth Opportunities (All ages) ……………..9:30am Worship Service ……………………………………………………………………… 10:45am SFNAZ WELCOMES THE HERSHBERGERS Pastor Wes, Casandra, & Taylor Hershberger arrived in Spokane! Pastor Wes was installed as Lead Pastor of SFNAZ by NW District Superintendent, David Mowry and presented his first sermon series “Just Jesus”. We are so grateful to have them as part of the SFNAZ family and are excited for the opportunity to…
WHAT THEY MEANT FOR EVIL-GOD TURNED TO GOOD
Our day started out just like all the other days. Get breakfast ready, fix lunches, feed the cat and get a few things ready so we can continue our adventure. We get to the church, and everything looks like we left it. I fix lunch and look around a little. The House is very spacious, and we enjoy watching the view. We are blessed to be in such a beautiful place with that dam view! It is a peaceful Saturday. …
Comfort
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. –Romans 5:3-5 Comfort, it has so often been my goal. I can safely say that I have never looked to be uncomfortable on purpose. Why would I? That seems such a…
Shine The Light
You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 CEB) One of…
Freely Given
We wrapped each and every present with the greatest care. We found the exact bow to go with the wrapped present. It couldn’t have been more fitting. The presents looked absolutely stunning under the perfectly decorated Christmas tree. Each light was placed to shine the right color on each decoration on the tree. The tree couldn’t have looked better. We saw some of these exquisite, decorated trees on Facebook. The owners were so proud of their achievements. Each piece of…