MIDWEEK MESSAGE #96
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #96. Thank you for allowing me to “bother” you this week. I hope this Week of Love has started out well for you and will end well.
I have a special word for you at the end of this message, but I hope you will read all the information before you get there.
In a week and a half, February 27th, the Care Team Ministry Launch will take place with a pitch-in following the second service. I have been using the past 4 Midweek Messages to give you some details about the Care Team Ministry. Hope East and Diana have been working hard the past few weeks to have all the material ready for the kickoff on February 27th. Here is a short recap of the previous week’s presentations: HOPE #1 introduced you to the whole idea and the mission of the Care Team Ministry (MM #92). HOPE #2 told you a little bit about the Wellness Care Team and Remembrance Care Team (MM #93). HOPE #3 gave you some information about the Children and Family Care Team and the New Baby Care Team (MM #94). HOPE #4 introduced the Bridal Care Team and the Military Care Team. HOPE #5 is the final part of the Care Team wheel.
- Disaster Relief Care Team. In 2005 and then again in 2008 (which was the really big flood) Spencer needed disaster relief. Our own local organization worked side by side with FEMA to bring help to affected families. The purpose of this team would be to create plans that could be put into action should a natural disaster (tornado, flood, fire) strike our area again. Our plan is to be able to turn part of our building into a temporary disaster relief center.
- Security Care Team. As much as we don’t like to talk or even think about this topic, it is a reality in our day and age. We would hope and pray nothing would be needed in this area, but we want to be proactive and provide security during services as needed.
I sincerely hope you will make plans to attend the launch, if nothing else than to find out more about the Care Team Ministry. What would be even greater would be if you found one of these ministries really touch a soft spot in your heart and for you to say, “I want to be involved”. The church is made up of all sorts of individuals with different gifts. We function best when each person is doing his/her part. Sort of like what the Apostle Paul talks about in I Corinthians 12: “For the body is not one part, but many. If the foot says, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?…But now there are many parts, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; or again, the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ “ (verses 14-21 with some editing) (Scripture from NASB2020). So…remember February 27th for the launch. I look forward to seeing you there!!
I’d like to chat with you about Route 66. For the uninitiated, Route 66 is taken from the 66 books of the Bible. Like driving the original Route 66, you can’t stop at every scenic place or historic monument (unless you have unlimited time). I take you on a trip through all 66 books with some extra stops along the way. It takes 2 years to go through it with breaks along the way. This last time has been the hardest due to COVID interrupting the rhythm. I had some requests to start it back up and after two weeks, the class decided to take a short 3 week hiatus to see if starting over in Genesis might be more inviting. I have a couple of (I believe) pertinent questions for you to consider:
- Would you be interested in attending?
- I will be offering the class on Wednesday evenings from 6-7. Would that interest you?
There will be a sign-up sheet on the back table for the next couple of weeks or you can call/text me to be added. I would like to hear your thoughts. One more thing: this is not limited to OVCF people. If you have someone you know who would like to attend, please feel free to invite them. There is no obligation to attend OVCF and I won’t “sheep steal.” J
I know Valentine’s Day is over but I wanted to leave you with a thought. I wrote this in my Living in the Shadow blog Monday.
Our Daily Bread had a really cool story about 2 octogenarians, one from Germany and one from Denmark. They had each enjoyed 60 years of marriage before they were widowed. Though living only 15 minutes apart, their homes were in separate countries. Still, they fell in love, regularly cooking meals and spending time together. Sadly, in 2020, due to ‘rona, the Danish government closed the border crossing. Undeterred, every day at 3:00 p.m., the two met at a border on a quiet country lane and, seated on their respective sides, shared a picnic. “We’re here because of love,” the man explained. Their love was stronger than borders, more powerful than a pandemic.
I believe that is what I Cor. 13 is all about. Love that has no borders.
Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not brag. Love is not arrogant. Love does not act disgracefully. Love does not seek its own benefit. Love is not provoked. Love does not keep a record of wrongs. Love rejoices in the truth. Love keeps every confidence. Love believes all things. Love hopes all things. Love endures all things. Love never fails. (NASB2020)
A love like this comes from above. It was perfectly modeled by a loving Father. It was perfectly exemplified by a life-giving Son.
How do you love? (End of devotion)
I am firmly convinced if we could ever love like Paul writes about our lives and those we come in contact with would change. Let’s try to start loving like Jesus did.
And with that I will close. Have a great rest of the week. I love you all.
Pastor Bill
