Sharing With Steve
Over the past weeks several things have happened that have caused me to think about grace, faith, and works. This past Sunday during Sunday school we studied the passage in James that talks about faith and works. He is pretty clear that faith is to be seen by what we do. Paul is very clear to say that we are saved by grace through faith not of works (Eph. 2:8-9). But in the very next verse he says that we are God’s workmanship created in Him to do good works. Other scriptures say that we can recognize those who serve Christ by the fruit they bear. Jesus spoke of the sheep and the goats. The sheep are ushered into the fold because they did the good deeds. The goats are cast into darkness because they failed to do good works.
None of us are good enough to be saved by our works. That is futile. We are saved by grace; we don’t deserve it or earn it, but God gave it to us nevertheless because He loved us and sent His Son to die for us. At the same time, we can’t cheapen grace by not following through by changing our lives and live for Christ.
This is not an easy subject. Individuals, churches, and organizations have debated, argued, and even fought over these matters. I am very comfortable in what I believe and my understanding of how grace, faith and works go together. But what about those times that the lines are blurred? What about that person that you do not have the faintest idea of what their relationship is in the Lord? What about a loved one who passes and there is no firm confirmation of a steady walk with the Lord? What about that good person who does not go to church or seem to have a relationship with the Lord, but is a better person that someone who never misses a church service. The only conclusion that I can come to is that we serve a God of grace. None of us can make it without grace. God sees the heart and I trust Him to make that call.
I will rejoice with everyone who lives eternally with Him, and I will not be disappointed or question God if someone that I know did not make it. Do I dare tell God that He is not fair? God is fair, righteous, and just. And when that time comes I will see and understand things the same way that He does. Until such time I count on His grace and strive through my actions to produce the good works that will bring glory to Him.
Sunday Evening Service Due to Brooksie Way
The annual Brooksie Way Half Marathon will be held on Sunday morning, September 27. Walton Boulevard will be closed during the race so we will not be having our usual Sunday morning worship service. In the past we have had a service on Saturday evening. Last year the Newtons cooked a pig and we had a great time. Because of some scheduling conflicts we are moving the service to Sunday evening this time. We will again have a pig roast at 5 p.m. and our service will be at 6 p.m. If you have any questions please call the office.
Wednesday Night Bible Study & Children’s Activities; LIFE Groups resume in September
The Adult Bible Study and Children’s Activities will start up beginning Wed., Sept. 30 at 7:00 p.m and meet every other Wednesday evening. The LIFE Group that meets at the Couture home will begin Wed., Sept.23 at 7:00 p.m. and the LIFE Group that meets at the Schwartzenberger home begins Thurs., Sept. 24 at 7:00 p.m. Both will meet every other week. The LIFE Group that meets at the Cox home continues to meet the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month.
Sisters in Service Tea
All ladies and their guests are invited to our Sisters in Service Tea on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 11:30 a.m. Enjoy tea sandwiches, dessert, tea and coffee. Pictured here is a sample of just one of the many lovely tables from last year’s Tea. A sign-up sheet is posted in the foyer. Please plan to attend. You’ll learn more about Sisters in Service that meets on the 4th Mondays at 7 p.m. with projects or guest speakers, along with a devotional and refreshments.
Men’s Prayer Breakfast resumes this month
During the school year the men meet every other month on the second Saturday to have breakfast. We have a cooked meal followed by a devotion/lesson and prayer. We resume this activity on Saturday, September 12 at 8:30 a.m. for scrambled eggs, biscuits, sausage, and drink. This is always a good time of fellowship. There is a sign-up sheet in the foyer. For more information please call the office.
Procedure to Borrow Church Property
Anyone wishing to borrow items from the church building should first get permission from Steve Martin. In addition, check to see that items you are borrowing are not needed for a church function (such as tables and chairs for a pot luck or Tuesday AA meeting) by checking the church calendar at www.mccrochester.org. In order to keep track of property leaving the building, a Log Sheet for borrowed items is located in a binder in the church office. Please return items promptly after use and in good condition.
SECOND ANNUAL SCRAPBOOK CROP AT MEADOWBROOK
By Cindy Gerstenlauer
Meadowbrook will be hosting the second annual Scrapbook Crop on Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. It will be open to church attendees as well as to the community. Proceeds will benefit our Teen Ministries to help finance outings like camp and CIY. Registration forms are available on-line, on the bulletin board in the foyer, or by contacting crop coordinator Cindy Gerstenlauer, cgerstenlauer@comcast.net. Please make your reservation by Sept. 14th.
Most scrapbooking is done away from home, free from all the obligations and distractions, as that is when there is designated time to do it. When an actual date is made to scrapbook, then it is a happy event to spend time with others in a similar pursuit, and more gets done. Preparing for this event gets you organized and motivated to do something constructive with all those photos. You don’t have to feel guilty about this time away as typically you are working on something for your loved ones, who enjoy looking at the fruits of your labor. You come home refreshed with a sense of accomplishment.
Scrapbooking is a lot like quilting, only instead of working with cloth, you are working with photos. You are stitching together your lives onto scrapbook pages, just like stitching together the squares of a quilt. You care about your color choices, your techniques, and your placement. Scrapbook techniques change over time, just like anything else. Tools get invented and become popular. The craft or medium we use may vary, but our hearts and goals are the same, to put our lives onto fabric and paper. We chronicle who and what we care about. We chronicle our hopes and dreams and prayers.
The beauty of scrapbooking is that each person is making an album that suits them alone. Beginners and more advanced scrappers can comfortably sit in a crop together. Each person will take an idea you give them and make it their own at their own level and in their own style. Scrappers typically like to share their ideas, pages, techniques, and creations with each other. Supplies and equipment are often shared. When people are inspired it takes very little else for them to enjoy the day.
How Meadowbrook Members Can Help
Even more value can be added to the event by knowing you are helping others by your attendance and participation. Volunteer opportunities will be in the Sunday Bulletin and will be posted on the bulletin board in the foyer. It is especially important that the teens be present and willing to assist croppers as necessary, especially when unloading and loading their cars. Please join us!
FROM THE PEW
INCREDIBLE JOY – The one thing I ask of the Lord – the thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in His Temple. Psalm 27:4 NLT
I read the Book of Psalms often and a common theme that comes through is how incredibly joyous David was in many of the Psalms he wrote. David absolutely delighted in living for God and praising God. In Psalm 63, David writes, “My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you” (verse1). In verse 3 David writes, “Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you.” It is verse 6, however, that has always stood out to me. David writes, “I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.” Just imagine! The Lord’s instruction was so pleasurable to David that he would rather meditate on God, then sleep. I believe David lay there hour after hour just relishing in the incredible peace that comes from being in the presence of the Lord.
Throughout his Psalms, David describes over and over again of his need for God’s protection. David often called out to the Lord for help and the Lord always responded. He protected David from his enemies and delivered him from his fears. He provided him with shelter and rest. Is it any wonder that David constantly gave thanks to the Lord for the joy, and peace, that He provided?
I believe that we can have the same joy and peace that David experienced when we trust in the Lord. When we surrender to Him, and put our trust in Him, we can call out to the Lord in our distress; He will hear us and deliver us from our fears. He will be the same rock and fortress for us that He was for David. He will take us to His high place of safety and shelter us beneath His wings. And, like David, we can then sing His praises and delight in the perfect peace that only He can provide. God will provide us with the same life of excellence He did for David if we abide in Him. Art Drake
Ruth Cagle – Sept. 2
Ron Meegan – Sept. 5
Rick & Pat Sipe (Anniv.) – Sept. 6
Philip Johnson – Sept. 7
Mike & Linda Tingley (Anniv.) – Sept. 10
Hector & Laura Urteaga (Anniv.) – Sept. 12
Dave & Toni Deaton (Anniv.) – Sept. 13
Patricia Davis – Sept.17
Karen Hippensteel – Sept. 27
