Category Archives: Church Family

Transitions…

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Last evening, the Walk on Water small group transitioned. It concluded its study of Peter walking on the water. The idea was that the students would learn to step out in faith to do what God was commanding them to do. It was a great time in the group to evaluate our lives and to consider what God might be leading us to do and our willingness to do it. In these last couple of meetings we have been talking about what we want to do next. Several topics have arisen, but as is generally the case, many people don’t want to express their opinion openly for fear of imposing their will on the group, so I handed out papers for people to vote and some who were absent voted by email.

  • Five people said they wanted to do another book study like we did when we did Genesis.
  • Four people said they were interested in The End Times.
  • A couple wanted to read a Max Lucado book. Please be in prayer concerning all the small groups in our church and the direction they each take.

What would be of benefit to you? Is it time for a transition in your life? Speak to me or to Peggy Bloom concerning small groups and topics you may be interested in.

Things to pray for include Clyde and his family as he has been hospitalized, Joe as he has his shoulder surgery, and transitions in our church family. It’s neat to see what God is doing in small groups and in our body as a whole. Pray that he will continue his work and we will be cooperative.

What a Difference…

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Yesterday, I stopped in to see Jack in the Rehab Center. Wow — what a difference. He walks the hall (with assistance) and can laugh and joke around. He and Glen and Myrtle and I had a good long visit together, reading Scripture and sharing stories. When I told Jack that we pray for him regularly his face showed great gratitude. He has a long road ahead of him, but may be able to be back home in a couple of weeks. Please remember him in prayer.

Speaking of prayer — please pray concerning the needy in our community. The Fuel Fund for the churches is exhausted and we’re using general monies in the Ministerial Association to meet the needs of people in our area. However, this fund only has enough money in it to last for a few families. Pray for warmer weather and for our community in general — that a means for needy people to have their basic necessities will be provided.

Naturally, remember to pray for those whose lives were changed by the recent earthquake in the South Pacific. Remember our missionaries there. You can find information concerning such things here:
http://www.cmalliance.org/news/

Thanks.

~Pastor Steve

Keeping Up…

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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

Rewards of Christmas

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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!

To the Glory of the Father…

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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