I will rejoice in the Lord

I attended a funeral on Friday for a minister who supported and encouraged me during my studies.  He worked overseas as a missionary, he worked for the national church, and also served in congregational minsitry.  I knew all of this about him, but what I didn’t know was about all of the personal tragedies that he faced in his life.  He never spoke of these things and in our conversations, he was always strong in his faith and positive in his outlook.  

This is one of the passages that was read at his funeral from Habakkuk 3:

Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation.  God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and makes me tread upon the heights. (Hab. 3:17-18)  

I haven't read Habakkuk in a while and this passage really made me think about our attitudes when challenges come our way, both in life and as the Church.  Is it possible to rejoice even in the valleys of life?  The stories of the Bible tell us over and over (and over!) again that this is indeed the call of God's people, to rejoice in the bad times just as we do in the good times.  God is continuously with us and at work in us and as we move towards Thanksgiving, we need to remember to be thankful for God's presence with us. 

I think that it's time for me to re-read Habakkuk!  

Blessings, Emma. 

For I know that my Redeemer lives.  Job 19:25

Under the fig tree

Tomorrow we will continue our journey through the first 4 chapters of John and we will be reading John 1:43-51, where Jesus calls the disciples Philip and Nathanael. 

In my sermon, I will be talking about an outreach movement in the United States called "National Back to Church Sunday," which encourages Christians to invite their family and friends to a worship service. 

Here is the link to this site - http://www.backtochurch.com/.  This organization has also created some great videos.  My favorites are:

Pastor Rap 
A Place for new beginnings
Welcome to Church

Click on "Watch Preview" and enjoy some creative and thought provoking videos!

Blessings, Emma.

Sermon Series - Meeting Jesus through John

Join us for the next 5 weeks as we explore the first 4 chapters of John's gospel.  In these chapters, we see how Jesus meets people where they are in their lives and we can also see how Jesus meets us wherever we are.

Here is an outline of the series:

September 14

John 1:1-18 - In the beginning… 

September 21

John 1:43-51 - Under the fig tree

September 28 (Presbyterian Sharing Sunday)

John 2:1-12 - At the wedding

October 5 (World Wide Communion Sunday)

John 3:1-17 - Late night meeting

October 12 (Thanksgiving)

John 4:4-30 - At the well

Blessings, Emma

 

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

Prayer for persecuted Christians in Iraq

My apologies for not posting on this blog on a regular basis.  I will endeavor to do so more regularly! 

As we all struggle with the news that is coming out of Iraq regarding our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, I offer this prayer on behalf of the people of God:



Gracious God,
We join our cries today with the people of Iraq:
    Who have seen too much violence,
    Who have seen too much war,
    Who have seen too much displacement,
    Who have seen too much mourning
        And borne far too great a burden.

We cry out for peace.
We cry out for stability.
We cry out for healing.
We cry out for neighbors living as neighbors, as we were meant to live.

So, we turn in prayer toward our neighbors in Iraq in their time of great need.
In solidarity with these sisters and brothers, we cry out to you:
 
Let there be joy where there is mourning.
Let there be hope where there is fear.
Let there be stillness where there is violence.
And let there be peace.
A just and lasting peace.

Lord, your grace abounds.
May it rest upon the peoples of Iraq and all those who suffer in your name. Today and always.
Amen

Yours in Christ, Emma. 

Happy Anniversary

As we gather tomorrow during worship, we will be celebrating the 169th anniversary of Knox Burlington. This is a remarkable achievement and we praise God for the blessings that He has lavished upon this congregation!  Many faithful people have given their time, talent, and treasures to this congregation over its history and God will continue to guide us by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst. 

Our guest speaker, the Rev. Dr. Stuart Macdonald, will be preaching on Luke 24 and Acts 1, and this will mark the beginning a 5 week sermon series on the Book of Acts.  In the month of June, we will be looking at how the early Church and how they gathered together as a group and then scattered to spread the gospel throughout the world.  Although I am not preaching tomorrow, I have been reminded of what the author of Hebrews tells us.  In chapter 11, he tells us about the faith of the people of God from the beginning of time until today and in chapter 12, reminds us that we are called to continue the race and keep our eyes focused on Jesus.

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through.  

That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Hebrews 12:1-3 (The Message)

Happy Anniversary!  Yours in Christ, Emma.