Hello Church,
First thing, keep little Lilly Anders in your prayers. She’s got one of the bugs going around and is really not feeling well. Hopefully by the end of the day she should have some good medicine to help with that. Also, keep the Helga Brooks family (Scott’s mom) in your prayers. She passed away yesterday.
Yesterday in worship we reaffirmed our baptism. We do that as a part of a worship service and we have a formal liturgy for that that is very good. However, I was recently reminded that we can do this everyday. I’ve been reading this book, Liturgy of the Ordinary, and the first chapter hit me with that thought that we can do this everyday.
The psalmist declares, “This is the day that the Lord has made.” This one. We wake not to a vague or general mercy from a far-off God. God, in delight and wisdom, has made, named, and blessed this average day. What I in my weakness see as another monotonous day in a string of days, God has given as a singular gift.
– Warren, Tish Harrison. Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life. p21
Every day, we can reaffirm our baptism. Not through formal liturgy, but by giving thanks, even for the average day. Through him, we have the opportunity for something new, more, or even just the chance to really settle in with what the day has given us. This week, practice this reaffirmation. Every morning remind yourself of what God has given.
If you get a chance, order this book. Its a good read. This Summer we’re going to use it as the basis for a sermon series and some things that we can practice.
In other news, if you are interested in being a liturgist, giving a children’s sermon, or helping in the nursery. If you are already doing that, you don’t need to sign-up again, but do talk to me if you want to make a change for this year. These are excellent places to get involved, and they’re open for all ages. So give it a thought, pray about it, and see where you would like to sign-up.
Also, watch for new opportunities this year for how we can come together as a church and share that with others around us. I’m looking forward to what God is doing.
Parting Shot
I really like this view in our Sanctuary. You probably see me take a lot of pictures from this angle. Whenever we’re doing something on the main level of the Sanctuary, I like being able to get this shot up to the altar. Take a look at the end of this email to see what I’m talking about.
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Have a great week!
Peace,
Pastor John
Important Announcements
New 5 session Sunday School Series starting January 29th called:
Easter, by J.D. GREEAR
The resurrection is the most important moment in history, but it is more than an event we remember on Easter Sunday. Join pastor J.D. Greear as he takes a deeper look at Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection in the Gospel of Matthew, revealing the ways we should see ourselves in Jesus’s story. Jesus died for us so that he could be alive in us today. Easter changes everything.
We will start on Sunday, Jan 29th.
Watch for more information on a Lenten Study starting later!!
Going On This Week
Community Calendars
Marceline School Calendar
My Country 99.1 Community Calendar
Worship Links
Youtube Services, Messages
Worship Music Lists: YouTube, Spotifiy
Send a note or a message to these folks!
Get caught up!
You can always get caught up on sermons if you’re behind. We try to have them posted on Monday morning, so check back if it hasn’t been posted yet.
Prayer & Devotions
The Hours
Prayer Guide - PDF (book format), Online Format
Morning | Evening | Night Prayers
Daily Devotions
Seedbed Devotions, YMI
The Upper Room, Our Daily Bread
GPS Guide from Church of the Resurrection
Daily Meditations from the Center for Action & Contemplation
Other Resources
Bible Project great Bible Study resource for really engaging the Bible
Five Day Bible Reading - Read through the Bible in a year
YouVersion Online Bible
Prayer List
Groups: Church: Denomination, Conference, Area UMC's, Area Churches
Schools: Students, Teachers, Administrators, Employees, Parents
Community: Food Pantry, Ministries in Linn County, Ministerial Alliance
Government: Leaders, Local, County, State, National
Situations: Pandemic, Racism, Economic Disparity, Mental Health, Natural Disasters
College Students: Raven Goodpaster, Colby Sims, Emma Sheerman, Brook Teeter, Brianna Teeter, Carter Vandeloecht, Liam Whittington, Jayden Newman, Enzo Anthony, Sam Gillman, Will Heller
Individuals: Helga Brooks Family, Lilly Anders, Diane Rodgers, Leland & Pat Dorrell, Rose Ayers Wright, Maddie Switzer, Vickie Gragg, Rod Versulys, Cecil Mott, Ruth Terrell, Francis Mordecai, Greg and Norma Prange, Estella Cupp, Junior Logue, Crystal’s friend Hannah, Gene Taylor, Richard Terrell, Marla Stubbs, Kyle & Carol Lake, Erica Pamplin, Pat Watkins, Vivian Dunn, Kim Corbin, Shirley Oliver, Jeff Linebaugh, Dorothy Downing, Jake Jacobs, Ron Klingsmith, Mark & Linda Ewigman, Goldie Cupp, Tony Tucker, Angie Builder, Bob & Pat Magee, Zoe Tolliver, Dan Brooks, Ruth Farris
Pioneer: Mabel Worley, Marylin Mears
Military Service: Patric Munson, Nick Cain, LTC John Casey Welch, Tyler Nanneman, Jeffrey Tucker, Kelly Tucker, Brandon Wellman, Heath Floray, Steve Graves, Michael Pyrtle, William Leukenotte, Kerry Lowrey
Parting Shot
I love the way that we can layer so much of what goes on in front of the Sanctuary. At the top is always the altar and the cross. On the main level is always what we are experiencing that day. During Advent it was March to the Manger, for Communion that’s where we come to receive the elements, and yesterday it was where the water was. Its a good way of pulling everything together.