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

About God’s Love…

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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

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!

Thankful for the Thanksgiving Service

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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.