The Weekly Update #4

August 25th, 2024

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Reflections from Pastor Jennifer

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Known as the Lord's Prayer, this is the prayer that Jesus gave to His disciples and His audience. While it sounds simple, contained within these words are reminders of the greatness of God. Not only is He a loving Father, He is also Yahweh - the covenant keeper. To Him, we entrust our lives, knowing that His will and purpose for us is so much greater than we could plan for our own lives. He is our Provider, Protector, Savior, and Strength. In this prayer, we acknowledge that He alone is worthy of worship and glory. Once again, I encourage you to pray this prayer each day this week. Make it a part of your daily devotion time. Pray this prayer when you are frustrated or discouraged. Use it when you are feeling your prayers bounce off the ceiling. See if it will make a difference in your life in the coming days.

September Focus

For the month of September, our churchwide focus is Rest/Solitude. Solitude is not equal to loneliness, and rest is not just taking a nap! Solitude and rest are all about taking some time away from distractions in order to recharge. Jesus invited us, in Matthew 11:28, to draw near and find rest in Him. Stay tuned to the YouVersion Bible app for a new devotion focused on rest.

Labor to Rest

On Saturday, September 14, we invite you to join in preparing our church park. We will check the weather before selecting a definite time, but it will be no earlier than 9:00am. There is plenty of work to be done in the wooded area and around the church. Bring bug spray, water, and a servant's heart!

Community Movie Night

Rest while enjoying a movie under the stars. Saturday, September 21 will be our next outdoor movie. Sunset on that evening is 7:21, so the movie will begin around 8pm. Snacks will be provided and, depending on the weather, we may light the fire pit. Bring a chair and a friend to join you for this event.

OCC

In September, we will collect a ball or a doll for the shoeboxes. Please ensure that the item that you buy is small enough to fit into a normal shoebox. If you purchase a regulation sized ball, please deflate it and include a manual pump. We also need shipping costs for all the boxes.

FSM

This Sunday, September 1, is First Sunday Meal. Although it is Labor Day weekend, you are encouraged to make church a priority. Come to church and First Sunday Meal, then head out on the lake or other fun activities! Bring friend and family along with you!

Discovering the Lord's Prayer

Set aside seven days to pray and reflect upon the wisdom and insight Jesus gave us through the Lord's Prayer. It is the model for prayer that Jesus taught His disciples and that can bless and teach us today. This devotional will give you an insider's understanding as to what our Heavenly Father desires for us.

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Making Space for the Lord

When I think of an intimate space, I don’t think of crowded productions or big stages with many lights. Instead, I think of my favorite spot to watch the afternoon sunset as I tell Jesus how much I love Him. The moments that have marked my life with God happen in places where everybody disappears, and my only focus is God. Secret places, where the doors are shut, with no stage, lights, or service.

God desires to have intimacy and dwell with us. He is seeking lovers who will go into their rooms and pour out their perfumes for Him in secret. He seeks lovers who long to be known and seen by their Beloved.

David is a prominent example of what loving God looks like. He loved God wholeheartedly as he tended sheep, when no one knew or recognized him for his work. David also loved God when he became a king and led many. David loved God so much that he understood the need and beauty of the secret place. David’s response to what he saw and experienced with God was to gather materials to build a temple. In Psalm 132, David expressed his desire to build a resting place for the Lord.

God’s desire to dwell with His people is expressed in Scripture. He longs to be with His bride. We open prayer rooms and secret places for the Lord because we are expressing our need for Him to stay with us. We don’t just want Him to visit; we want Him to stay and reign over the Earth!

The prayer room is a secret space between us and God. We long for a place where, 24/7, we can engage in prayer and worship to God. We seek to behold Him as we sing about His beauty and partner with the Spirit in intercession for the prayers on His heart. We join in with the twenty-four elders in Revelation 4, casting down our crowns and proclaiming the holiness and beauty of Jesus.

All God wants is communion. All He wants is to be with us in the secret place where the doors are closed, and He is the only one we see. Are you willing to become His dwelling place and open a place of rest for Him?