Monday, March 26, 2012

PJ's April Blog 2012

Dear Friends, April 2012

Greetings to you in the powerful name of Jesus the Christ!

It seems as though no matter where I look I see info about the new movie coming out called “The Hunger Games”. Now I must admit that I know nothing about the plot. But the title intrigues me – “The Hunger Games”. It must have something to do with a game and it must be a game that one wants to win because we have a hunger for it. Well, I am not at all sure that I am close to the plot but it has clearly got the attention of people around the world. Everyone is excited about the release of this movie at mid night – March 22nd. I find this all rather interesting because we are in the midst of another kind of event that will having a lasting impact on the world. In fact the event I am thinking about will also touch the lives of people all over the world. It is not the release of another movie or the Final Four or some other type of game. The event that has caught my attention is the empty tomb on Easter morning.

Luke recounts the events this way in Luke 24 – “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.’ And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.” Wow! That is what the world is truly hunger for – NEW LIFE! This is no game what Jesus has done! This is no movie that Hollywood has produced to entertain us. No – this is real! Death could not hold Jesus in the tomb. The victory over sin and death has been won by Jesus!

We are told that after they saw the empty tomb and heard the word from the messengers of God that they went out to tell other what they had seen and heard about Jesus. What story are you sharing with your neighbor or coworker who is hungry for peace? What story are you giving witness to with those loved ones who are sick or grieving? Let us share with the world the Good News about Jesus Christ who lives! Let us tell others about the one who can satisfy the hungers of our hearts. Let us invite them to worship this Easter so that God’s Spirit can touch them with a peace that is beyond all human understand. Remember? Remember like those early followers of Jesus did. They not only remembered but they went out into the community telling others about Jesus Christ! Worship times on Easter Sunday are as follows:
SUNDAY – APRIL 8
8:00a.m. Easter Celebration & Holy Communion
9:30a.m. & 12:30PM Easter Egg Hunt
10:30a.m. Easter Celebration & Holy Communion
11:30a. m. Esperanza Para Todos & Holy Communion / Easter
CHRIST LIVES!!

In Christ,
Pastor Jim (P.J.)

Friday, March 2, 2012

PJ's March Blog

Dear Friends, March, 2012

Greetings to you in the powerful name of Jesus the Christ!

Be sure to join us on Wednesday evenings during Lent (begins on February 22) as we discover together what it means to “GET OUT OF THE BOAT”! Let’s go for a walk this Lent. The Bible is, among other things, a list of unforgettable walks. The first one was taken by God himself, who, we are told, used to walk in the garden in the cool of the day. But as a general rule, God asked people to walk with him. Perhaps the most unforgettable walk of all was taken by Peter the day he got out of a boat and walked on the water. Join us as we explore this familiar bible story in Matthew 14 and what it means to walk together with Christ!
Our evenings during Lent will begin with a SOUP & SANDWICH MEAL served by the youth of Atonement from 6:00-6:45PM. A freewill offering will be taken to help support our youth ministry. Worship will follow the meal at 7:00PM and will focus on the Matthew 14 texts of Jesus walking on the water.

SOUP SERMON THEME

March 7 / Beef Vegetable Soup “COME FOLLOW ME”
March 14/ Potato Soup “HELP!”
March 21 / _________________ “IS GOD ENOUGH?”
March 28 / _________________ “WAITING”

I am also looking for volunteers to share about how Christ has been present for you in the storms of life and the impact that had on your life. These would be reflections on the Matthew 14: 22-33 story of Jesus walking on the water. They would be no longer then 7 min. Let Pastor Jim know if you would like to share your story.
There will also be “Get Out Of The Boat” small group gatherings each week where we will view a DVD and talk further about walking with God. They are:
*Sundays at Herbie’s Café during Sunday School at 10:15AM
*Sunday afternoon at Reeve’s home at 5:30PM
*Thursday mornings at 6:30AM at Herbie’s Café at Atonement
The Sunday morning focus during Lent will be on prayer. There will be a prayer room set up that will be open though out the week for you to stop by and have a quite time with God. There will also be a prayer wall where you can share your prayer concerns with others who come to this quite place to pray.
Come and join us during Lent as we go for a walk with God. Remember - You’re One Step Away From The Adventure Of A Life Time”

In Christ,

Pastor Jim (P.J.)