Pastor's article
September is finally here, and you know that means it’s football season! I know some
have been playing “preseason” games, but who cares about that, now it time for real football. I don’t care if it’s high school, college or the pros, I love to watch football. While my team, the Cowboys, have disappointed me over and over again, the new season begins with hope and everyone starts undefeated.
The thing about football, or any sport for that matter, is when you want to watch a
specific team play, you have to know the schedule. Every game has a date, a time and a place. While I generally only watch football on TV, I still need to plan everything around that time. The fact is I can do other things sometimes when I watch a game, but a real game requires my undivided attention.
The fact is that if you want to do anything that interests you, or something you really
want to do you have to make plans for it to happen. Sometimes Nan and I will go do something on the spur of the moment, but usually we plan it out, that is if it’s important. So, what do you plan because it’s important?
This month our activities start in full swing! We have the Back to Church Bash to start us off. This year it is Sunday September 7. We want everyone to plan on being at church. We have a goal of having more than 120 people for Sunday School and more than 200 people in church. The saying is “if you feed them, they will come” and that is exactly what we will do! We will have tacos and all the fixings at lunch after church. We will have our kids promote in Sunday School and it is a good time to get back in the routine. All our Wednesday night activities are happening- Wednesday morning Bible study, Wednesday night Bible Studies, and of course Wacky Wednesday. We have ladies workout, and Pickleball on Thursday nights.
Sometimes peoples see church as something that is “optional, that is it’s good if there
isn’t something better to do, but it should not be. In the Book of Ephesians, the one we are reading this month in our daily readings, Paul tells us how “Children of the Light” should live. Ephesians 5: 15-20 says;
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but
understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to
debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms,
hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,
20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Paul says we have a choice of what we see as important, so we should make the most of every opportunity. We must be careful because we live in a broken world, and we need encouragement. Paul says the perfect place and action for that is speaking to one another (we do that in church), singing (we do that in church), make music (we do that in church), giving thanks (yes we do that too) and so that is the reason I hope you schedule to be here. Remember the Back to Church Bash and all the activities we have…
because…when you’re not here- well you know the rest!
In Christ,
Brother Alan
MUSIC MINISTER's article
Hey church family,
I’ve been thinking a lot about this season we’re stepping into. September always feels
like a reset button—school starts back, routines settle in, and for many of us, it’s a
chance to refocus. And I think God’s inviting us to do the same spiritually: to come back
to the heart of worship, to rekindle the fire.
Over the summer, it’s easy to drift. Vacations, busy schedules, and honestly, sometimes
we just get tired. But I want to encourage you—God hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s still
speaking, still moving, and still calling us to draw near.
Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within
me.” That’s been my prayer lately. Not just for me, but for our whole church. That we’d
come into this season with open hearts, ready to worship, ready to listen, and ready to
grow.
In the choir, we’ve been praying over new songs, solos, and the Christmas cantata
(Hope in a Manger). I’ve seen God stirring hearts—people stepping out in faith, sharing
testimonies, and singing with boldness. If you’ve felt that nudge to step out, maybe to
sing or pray or share your story, I want you to know you’re not alone. God equips those
He calls.
Let’s make this month one of intentional worship. Let’s pray over every service, every
rehearsal, and every moment we gather. And let’s ask God to do something new in our
hearts.
Grateful for each of you,
Tyler
Worship Leader
Children's Minister's article
Do you have a favorite "church sign saying?" They can be pretty entertaining! For example,
"Do you know what hell is? Come hear our preacher."
"God expects spiritual fruit not religious nuts"
"Acting perfect in church is like dressing up for an x-ray"
The problem comes when the church uses the sign to preach or convey a serious message and it misses the mark, opening itself up to misinterpretation or confusion. There's a church sign out there now that I pass frequently that currently says, "He gave his life for you. Now it's your turn." I grit my teeth every time I read it because I believe it is sending the wrong message.
Oh, I guess I know what they "mean" to be saying...that Jesus sacrificed his life for our sins so we should turn our life over to him and follow him. At least I hope that's what they mean... But that's not how I read it. When I hear the phrase "it's your turn" I immediately think of action, of doing something, of a reciprocal act. But there can be no reciprocal action from me, a sinful human, in response to Jesus sacrificing his life on the cross for my sins. Nothing I do can earn, match, reach to pay back what Jesus did. There is nothing I can do on "my turn" to benefit Jesus in any way.
The salvation that I believe Jesus provided on the cross is a free gift that I only need to accept and believe. Ephesians 2:8-9 puts it really simply:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
How many people believe the lie of needing to earn our salvation? How many people desperate for a Savior are still trying to be "good enough" to darken the door of a church? How can we set them straight?
We are heading into a season in the life of our church where we open our doors wide and invite the community in to things like Pumpkin Patch, Thanksgiving Banquet, Bethlehem Experience, Choir Performances and Christmas Eve Service. We are beginning new ministries like Kids Soccer and Sign Language classes that will also reach beyond our walls and our pews to the people who need to hear about that free gift of salvation!
I think a great goal for us all in this season is to find a place to plug in and serve. Volunteer at Wacky Wednesday and get to know kids and their families. Take the Sign Language class and let God open doors you may not have ever dreamed of walking through. Join the choir and invite your neighbors to hear you sing. Ask God to show you someone in your path that is struggling and share with them that the only thing they need to do on "their turn" is to accept God's free gift of salvation and surrender their plans to His greater plan. You'll be an unmistakable "sign" for your church and your Savior in your world!
In Him,
Marie Dittmar