I have long appreciated Frederick Beuchner, mostly for his ability to communicate deep truths in short sentences.
This quote struck me today.
“There’s no way to earn it or deserve it or bring it about any more than you can deserve the taste of raspberries and cream or earn good looks or bring about your own birth.” — Wishful Thinking
It’s downright embarrassing — how long it’s been since I updated this blog. One would think I had nothing to write about. One would be very mistaken.
God’s been doing wonderfully amazing things at Curwensville Alliance in the recent months. Young adult ministry has been thriving. Small groups have been growing. And lives are being changed.
I spent the greater part of this day on some serious administrative planning concerning small groups at Curwensville Alliance. As I worked through this, I realized that we have about a dozen small groups — groups whose focus is upon biblically centered discipleship for the group — in our church.
Stay tuned for more information concerning small groups, namely a new section of the web site that will describe each of them.
~Pastor Steve
Sunday was such a rewarding day. In the morning, the message was about how this Christ whose birth we celebrate at Christmas removes our guilt. The message is online at the church website if you missed it or if you would like to share it with a friend. Being reminded that our guilt is gone because of Christ’s work on the cross is rewarding.
In the afternoon, I performed a funeral service for Ethel, whose son and grandson have repaired my car for the past 14 years here in Curwensville. Today, when I stopped in to see Carl he commented on the funeral — one in which the good news of Christ was presented with an eye toward Christmas — saying it was an excellent service. It’s always rewarding to present our hope in Christ and have it well-received.
In the evening, the Children’s Christmas Program was presented with many guests. It might be the best attendance we’ve had at such a service at Curwensville Alliance in years. Carrie and the rest of the leaders had worked hard, and the kids did a great job. It was well-done, entertaining, spiritually focused, and just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in church! Experiencing that event was rewarding.
Sunday night, Laurel got the same stomach flu that many have had, so since I am almost certainly infected, I’ll be avoiding people for a couple of days. This is not rewarding.
Preparing for the Christmas Eve service and the Sunday morning to follow — that’s rewarding!
See you at 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve!
I am still learning — and I am thankful for that.
I say that because, at the October meeting of the Curwensville Churches, I suggested we skip the Thanksgiving Service. Attendance had dropped over the years. Different leaders were going in different directions. I was feeling kind of frustrated, and anyone in that meeting of the pastors knew it.
A few days after the meeting, Pastor Scott stopped by. His words to me were dead on. “Steve — this is a good thing. I don’t feel like God wants us to let it die.” So we prayed about it, regrouped, and renovated it to make it a special event. And it was special.
A Day Awaits Leading Worship
The worship was led by A Day Awaits. The Curwensville Town Choir presented two special musical selections. After each pastor was introduced, Jim Bell led the people in a prayer of thanksgiving for them. Then the Curwensville Alliance Drama Team presented an amusing and thought-provoking drama before Dr. Robert Ludrowski presented his message: Turkey Wars.
The building was all but full — latecomers had trouble finding a seat. The offering received to help the needy of Curwensville was, perhaps, the largest we’ve ever received at an event of that nature.
Afterward, the good people of Curwensville Presbyterian treated everyone to enjoy pie in their social hall.
And to think — I wanted to skip it this year.
I am still learning — and I am thankful for that.
Last night, in prayer meeting, we talked about Jesus’ words in John 14:13 where he said he answers prayer that the Father might be glorified. As we gave thought to Jesus’ life and to his work in our lives, we asked the question, do we pray that the Father might receive glory? Naturally, our hearts pray so that we might receive blessing, but how much richer our lives in Christ would be if we would pray that the Father would receive glory as we ask for his blessing.
Of course, one can’t conjure the desire that the Father be glorified when one goes to prayer. It’s not something you can tack onto the beginning or ending of a prayer and feel it’s real. Instead, in our very lives, we must emulate Christ who did all to the glory of the Father. When we do this, our prayer life changes and desiring his glory in our prayers is as natural as desiring his glory in our jobs, our recreation, and our relationships.
As you look for God to receive glory in your prayers, please take a moment and pray for Jeanine. The latest on her is that she needs to regain some strength before they can schedule her surgery. Also, please pray for Ed who was taken to the hospital last night and admitted so they can adjust some of his medications.
Because of privacy concerns, it’s my practice not to place last names on this blog, so if you don’t know who these people are, give me a call or shoot me an email. If you are part of the family at Curwensville Alliance, I’ll be glad to share the appropriate information with you.
Thanks for praying to the glory of the Father!
~Pastor Steve