Midweek Message 02/10/2022

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #95

 

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #95. After an interrupted week caused by the weather here’s to a full week of uneventfulness (except good things)!

I think the first agenda item for this MM is a big, huge shout out to Jim Jones, Will Schneider, and Dimitri Robinson for clearing off the church parking lot and sidewalks so we would have plenty of parking for Sunday’s service and be safe walking to the church building. Many thanks men for a bang up job.

It was so good to see everyone this past Sunday. After a week of live stream service where the only ones in the room were Jo (who hears me all the time) and Joe Pavich (thanks for doing the live stream that Sunday. My apologies to Joe for saying Ryan was here.), and after last week’s limited attendance due to several reasons, it was so nice to see people in seats. I heard the children’s programs were really bustling as well. A little birdie told me that the preschool class had 13 children and they had to ask another one of the teenagers to help the two (Teacher and helper) who were already in there. The willingness to help was so important. I would mention her name but I don’t want to embarrass Cammie. J

Over the past three Midweek Messages I have been sharing glimpses of the Care Team Ministry that is the dream of Hope East.  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).  Last week I told you about the Children and Family Care Team and New Baby Care Team (MM #94).  Of course, that is assuming you save the Midweek Messages!! J This week let me introduce you to two more parts of the Care Team Ministry wheel.

  1. Bridal Care Team. This team’s main ministry will be praying for and assembling a gift basket for the new bride and groom.
  2. Military Care Team. This team has two components. One is to send cards to active-duty service members and packages to deployed members. The other component is keeping in contact with families of those who are actively deployed. This includes coordinating some meals, possibly arranging help with needs like yard work, or child care while their parent takes a few hours to be refreshed.

 

For a more complete explanation of the following ministries which were mentioned in the previous weeks, and these two, please plan to attend the pitch-in dinner planned for February 27th following the second service. Hope will give a more complete description of the Care Team Ministry and will also give you a chance to be involved. So much of furthering the Gospel and the work of the church has nothing to do with the gifts which others see or hear. God didn’t make us all cookie cutter Christians so that we all look the same or do the same things. He has made each one of us unique and has given us different gifts to use in passing on His love. I sincerely hope you will give being involved in the Care Team Ministry an honest consideration. We need you and the unique gift you bring to the table. I’ll share the last two aspects of the Care Team Ministry with you next week.  And I KNOW you are so excited that you will be holding your breath until then.

Hope East and Macy Carlson have launched what they call The Testimony Project.  They introduced it to us this past Sunday. It is loosely based on the I Am Second white chair testimonies. If you are interested in seeing what the white chair testimonies are you can go to https://www.iamsecond.com/ for ideas. There are a wide variety of people who tell what God has done in their lives.  I hope this idea really catches on. It will be encouraging to hear the stories of how Jesus has changed your life. Please pick up a Testimony Project info sheet to find out how you can add YOUR testimony to OVCF’s Facebook group album.

During my Communion thought Sunday I mentioned reading a book by Kim Sorrelle called Cry Until You Laugh. Kim’s story of her struggle with a double mastectomy, then the death of her husband within 6 weeks during that same time due to pancreatic cancer which spread to his liver, was captivating. As they came to grips with the weight of it all, a word came to Steve: Complete. The following is from her book:

“Steve is complete. I think that over the next several months, Steve will learn everything God means by that. Right now it is a comfort, a warm, fuzzy blanket, a special word from God.

Other things seem backwards too. Who sends peace in the middle of a storm? Someone might throw you a life jacket, maybe, but not peace that wraps around you so that the storm blows all around but never gets close enough to muss your hair. Then there’s hope. Why is there hope when doctors throw around terms like “terminal,” and tell us they can “treat” Steve but not “cure” him? Most of the time I expect God to come through the front door, but He is quietly entering through the back door. I don’t know if I will ever understand the way God chooses to do things, but I have to say He is genius.”  (Page 84)

Questions abound in my mind sometimes about the way God works.  But then I tell myself that He doesn’t have to explain Himself to me at all. He is under no obligation to tell me. His way is perfect and sure, even though I don’t understand it. Even though I cannot see my way. Even though I feel overwhelmed at times. Even though I feel lost. God does what God does in His own way and in His own time. It is not for me to know and figure out everything. Someday I will, but then again, I suspect it won’t concern me. J  We all know folks who are going through some type of struggle-big or small-who need a listening ear. Be that non-judgmental, caring ear. Hold them. Let them cry. Be Jesus to them.

Have a great rest of the week. I look forward to seeing you Sunday. Love you all much.

Pastor Bill

 

 

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