Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday 2-13-2020

Thankful Thursday sits squarely on the eve of Valentine’s Day. A day where we now share words of kindness, appreciation, and love from one person to another. It is good to share these warm thoughts and expressions with loved ones.

Have you paused to know and appreciate warm thoughts and expressions of love for yourself? I ask this question because a friend of mine, a fifth grade teacher, tried an exercise with her class. As they worked on completing it, she heard comments such as: “This is hard!”

Let’s try the exercise here (especially since we are to be working on our personal mission statement with the added so that!) Consider this thought: what do you bring to the world? Now, complete these sentences: “I am good at…”, “People like me because…”, and “I contribute meaningfully by…”

As you answer these questions, it may help you work towards building the personal mission statement for your life. You can do this (and yes, it may be hard, but you’ve got it!) Dig in, enjoy the self exploration, and write down your response. It’s a great valentine to give to yourself (& the world!)

Blessings to you!

2-13-2020 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to worship this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15, or 10:30 AM. If you would like to know more about these services, click here. Can’t make it to worship? Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

2-16-2020 Fruitful Living sermon series continues. This January/February book study series is based off the book “Bearing Fruit: Ministry With Real Results” by Lovett Weems and Tom Berlin. This week will be relevant to the information found from chapters 6 & 7 (Pages 55 – 77).

Wednesdays Be In the Light Activities at Gravel Hill. To enjoy the Be In the Light Meal from 5:30 – 6:30 PM in Fellowship Hall, signing up is requested. You can see what the planned meal is each week and sign up here.

Thankful Thursday 2-6-2020

Thankful Thursday offers the gift of lifting our eyes to meet the eyes of those around us. As I observe the world around me and even all the people in my own home (including me), it is with more and more frequency faces are looking at a screen versus another the face of another human with which they interact. It has been said that the eyes are the windows to our souls.

If our eyes are the windows to our souls, what are you allowing your eyes to see; thus your soul to see? Are you blessing it by drinking deeply from the Word of God? Do you gift it with meeting the eyes of another treasured soul from God?

When on your screens and in real life, curate the content you allow your eyes to see to the best of your ability. You are valuable and worthy of seeing the beauty and goodness God has placed in this world. I encourage you to put the screen down more frequently and pick up the eyes of a loved one more.

That for which you are looking is what you will find. Here is a bit of inspiration from Psalm 121:

 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; …

Whether on a screen or face to face, seek wisely my friends!

Blessings to you!

2-6-2020 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to worship this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15, or 10:30 AM. If you would like to know more about these services, click here. Can’t make it to worship? Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

2-9-2020 Fruitful Living sermon series continues. This January/February book study series is based off the book “Bearing Fruit: Ministry With Real Results” by Lovett Weems and Tom Berlin. This week will be relevant to the information found from chapters 6 & 7 (Pages 55 – 77).

Wednesdays Be In the Light Activities at Gravel Hill. To enjoy the Be In the Light Meal from 5:30 – 6:30 PM in Fellowship Hall, signing up is requested. You can see what the planned meal is each week and sign up here.

Thankful Thursday 1-30-2020

Thankful Thursday awaits the production of my life mission statement. Earlier in our sermon series, Pastor Doug challenged us to write down our life mission statement. The following week, he added to the challenge: tweak your mission with the statement so that…

Our response to this amendment answers the heart behind our mission. The heart is the driving factor in the chosen action. When our response why is strong enough, we will do what others won’t. When we do what others won’t, we become able to do what others can not.

This growth inspires and challenges those around us. Keeping our eyes on God pulls us closer in relationship with Him. It grows us into whom we are called to be. As we change, we always have one we can depend on: God.

God is good. He is … always here, Our Rock and Our Shepherd. Keep coming to Him for direction for He is leading. We are a part of community and in turn, the harvest. How you will be a part of the fruitful harvest?

I’m grateful each of us has room to grow. And I’m cheering you (and myself) on to defining your life mission statement so that…

Blessings to you!

1-30-2020 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to worship this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15, or 10:30 AM. If you would like to know more about these services, click here. Can’t make it to worship? Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

2-2-2020 Fruitful Living sermon series will continue. This January/February book study series is based off the book “Bearing Fruit: Ministry With Real Results” by Lovett Weems and Tom Berlin. This week will be relevant to the information found from chapters 4 & 5 (Pages 33 – 54.). To get your copy, order one online. If you need assistance in ordering, please contact the church office (717)838-2147.

Wednesdays Be In the Light Activities at Gravel Hill. To enjoy the Be In the Light Meal from 5:30 – 6:30 PM in Fellowship Hall, signing up is requested. You can see what the planned meal is each week and sign up here.

Thankful Thursday 1-23-2020

Thankful Thursday delivers yet another day where we wake up, greet the day with our attitude of choice, and rise to meet the opportunities before us. Many of us rotely make our way through the moments blandly slogging through the schedule ahead. And yet those schedules glimmer with gems that twinkle to meet our attention.

Do we lift our eyes to see those sparkling moments? Or do we lock our eyes on the 12 inches in front of our feet checking for our footing for the smooth path of the known that lies ahead? Often our choice comes by default to our subconsciousness. Our human nature looks downward and inward.

When we pause as nature does to rest, recover, and regroup, reflection on the power of our choices ignites the spark of possibility to make one small change. That one small change creates a ripple effect. When you choose your morning attitude, which do you take on for the day: I have to … attitude OR I am able to … attitude?

We have the gift of free will. The Bible offers the perfect model for living a life with the gift of free will fully submitted to God through Jesus Christ. He modeled looking heavenward and outward. Go to God first and then connecting with others. Your choice decides the day you have either dismal or blessed.

Grateful for the choice, the responsibility, and powerfully positive possibility.

Blessings to you!

1-23-2020 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to worship this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15, or 10:30 AM. If you would like to know more about these services, click here. Can’t make it to worship? Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

1-26-2020 “Navigating Troubled Waters” shared by Pastor Shawn Lochinger with verses select from Matthew 6 & 7.

2-2-2020 Fruitful Living sermon series will continue. This January/February book study series is based off the book “Bearing Fruit: Ministry With Real Results” by Lovett Weems and Tom Berlin. This week will be relevant to the information found from chapters 4 & 5 (Pages 33 – 54.). To get your copy, order one online. If you need assistance in ordering, please contact the church office (717)838-2147.

Wednesdays Be In the Light Activities at Gravel Hill. To enjoy the Be In the Light Meal from 5:30 – 6:30 PM in Fellowship Hall, signing up is requested. You can see what the planned meal is each week and sign up here.

Thankful Thursday 1-16-2020

Thankful Thursday meets us on the sixteenth day of the year. Many work with motivated spirits towards the goals and resolutions made just a few days ago fueled by the promise of a fresh, new year. That openness and promise beckons the creative spirit within each of us.

We will choose to express our creativity in a myriad of ways, but promise is our shared commonality. Our experiences, talents, and desire to express marry in a way that is unique to each of us. When we look to God for the direction of that expression, we search for alignment with Him.

That alignment begins when we look to God, see what we have, and use His direction to create. When we click with His Will for our lives, we are “in the zone.” We receive more energy, more motivation, and more joy from our creating. This leads us to do more. We grow.

In this growth, change occurs. And usually, it is hard! Keep looking to God ~ these hard places are where God is working in ways to multiple the goodness in ways we never imagine.

These tough places hold God’s goodness. He’s there with you and He’s ahead of you waiting on the other side of the tough place with the blessing of making it through and all the lessons you’ve learned and the multiplied gifts of your creating. Cheering you on as you create and grow!

Blessings to you!

1-16-2020 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to worship this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15, or 10:30 AM. If you would like to know more about these services, click here. Can’t make it to worship? Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

1-19-2020 Fruitful Living sermon series continues. This January book study series is based off the book “Bearing Fruit: Ministry With Real Results” by Lovett Weems and Tom Berlin. This week will be relevant to the information found from page 19 through 33. To get your copy, order one online. If you need assistance in ordering, please contact the church office (717)838-2147.

Wednesdays Be In the Light Activities at Gravel Hill. To enjoy the Be In the Light Meal from 5:30 – 6:30 PM in Fellowship Hall, signing up is requested. You can see what the planned meal is each week and sign up here.

Thankful Thursday 1-9-2020

Thankful Thursday houses a crisp day blanketed with a recent snowfall. It was a breath-taking, beautiful reminder of the awesomeness of God’s handiwork. The snowfall brought the peace of a blanketing snow, the power of its impact via downed tree limbs and icy road conditions, and the beauty causing many attempts of capturing the gorgeousness with cameras.

The most amazing part? By this weekend, most all the snow will disappear! The fleeting moments of peace, power, and beauty quickly replaced by the next moments of the weather cycle. If you are looking for them, here to you will find peace, power, and beauty.

In this year of 2020 vision, where are you looking? What are you training your eyes to see? Pause and answer these questions. Why? Because you will find what you are looking for. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

If you don’t like the answers to your questions, write down what you DO want to see. Look at this every day. Train your eyes and your mind to see your desired answers. Look for them to bless each day.

Blessings to you!

1-9-2020 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to worship this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15, or 10:30 AM. If you would like to know more about these services, click here. Can’t make it to worship? Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

1-12-2020 Fruitful Living sermon series continues. This January book study series is based off the book “Bearing Fruit: Ministry With Real Results” by Lovett Weems and Tom Berlin. This week will be relevant to the information found from page 11 through 18. To get your copy, order one online. If you need assistance in ordering, please contact the church office (717)838-2147.

Wednesdays Be In the Light Activities at Gravel Hill. To enjoy the Be In the Light Meal from 5:30 – 6:30 PM in Fellowship Hall, signing up is requested. You can see what the planned meal is each week and sign up here.

Thankful Thursday 1-2-2020

Thankful Thursday greets us on the second day of the new year. Before us lies the gift of possibility. Opportunities to greet old scenarios with a new attitude or a new planned response to shift actions towards a more positive life impact. With this great, wide-open slate of possibility, changing several areas of life for improvement or feeling better seems great; however, I’d like to challenge you to pick one.

You may want to grow your gratitude this year. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 encourages each of us to “Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s well for you in Christ Jesus.” To do so, start and/or end your day by writing five things/people/experiences/emotions/etc. in your life for which you are thankful. You can put these in a journal or on slips of paper to put in a jar or in thank you notes you send out to people.

You have a wealth of gifts and talents within you. Look at what you have. Be grateful and let that gratitude pour over into blessings.

Blessings to you!

1-2-2020 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to communion & worship this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15, or 10:30 AM. If you would like to know more about these services, click here. Can’t make it to worship? Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

1-5-2020 Fruitful Living sermon series begins. This January book study series is based off the book “Bearing Fruit: Ministry With Real Results” by Lovett Weems and Tom Berlin. This week will be relevant to the information found from the introduction through page 10. To get your copy, order one online. If you need assistance in ordering, please contact the church office (717)838-2147.

Wednesdays Be In the Light Activities at Gravel Hill. To enjoy the Be In the Light Meal from 5:30 – 6:30 PM in Fellowship Hall, signing up is requested. You can see what the planned meal is each week and sign up here.

Thankful Thursday 12-26-19

Thankful Thursday lands with two feet firmly planted in the day of ordinary responsibilities. After the excitement of Christmas day: gathering with loved ones, enjoying a meal together, exchanging gifts either curated or crafted with your loved ones in mind, sharing memories of past years, and giving hugs of welcome and so long, this day breaths a sigh of welcome routine. The stewarding of our possessions, the hunt for a special place for the newly acquired gifts in your home, and preparation of meal time together, each act brings a new element to the familiar.

From Advent through Christmas Day, we focus on the gift Jesus coming to the world and being present with us. Today brings the challenge for us to choose to be present with Jesus. Pausing to make time for praising our Lord and Savior, hearing the Word, and speaking with him in prayer, these actions are some of the gifts we can give to God.

Take action of praise. Soak in scripture. Pause in prayer. Move your body outside in creation. Share a smile and spread some love. This is being present with God. This is the gift of living well.

Blessings to you!

12-26-19 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to worship this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15, or 10:30 AM. If you would like to know more about these services, click here. Can’t make it to worship? Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

Thankful Thursday 12-19-19

Thankful Thursday began with a visit to the dentist for one of my kiddos. While there, we had a discussion with one of the employees about Christmas plans. She shared that she is super excited this year due to her family from all over the country finally getting together.

The bonus excitement for her: nieces and nephews. Eleven kids under 10 all together for Christmas along with all the adults. The anticipation of seeing them open their gifts, bake cookies, and spend time together was palpable in her sharing.

We pondered the speed of time (so much faster with each year that passes!) and how the different phases of life alter the focus of where we look for joy in our lives. When young, the new toy brings promise of fun to be had. As life continues and traditions are savored (many times modified to meet the motion of life), the constant element is loved ones. Some years sharing hugs. Some years shared in thoughts. But the connection of love is always sought.

J.O.Y. It blooms in this season of coming together especially when our focus continues in this order: Jesus, Others, You. Sharing love, spirit, and time.

May you continue to have the gleam in your eye like little ones as you gather this season. Take in the gift that surrounds you: the presence of loved ones. Savor warm thoughts of those not able to join. And let your faith in our hope everlasting brightly shine in the life you lead.

Blessings to you!

12-19-19 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to worship this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15, or 10:30 AM. If you would like to know more about these services, click here. Can’t make it to worship? Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.

12-24-19 Christmas Eve Worship at 5:00 PM Children’s Worship, 7:00 PM Contemporary Worship, or 9:00 PM Traditional Worship.

Thankful Thursday 12-12-19

Thankful Thursday holds the last full moon of this decade. The brilliance of its gleam brightens the darkened landscape. The moonlight is so bright it may appear as if someone has left a light on, but outside!

The light is on. All those years ago, the birth of a tiny baby rocked the world as it was known by man. The divine greeted humankind in the form of Jesus Christ.

Jesus turned on the light for humans in this world: how to learn, live and share love. The eternal message speaks to us today. We are never alone. He is always with us.

He waits for us to look to and invite Him into our lives. As we turn to the Word each day, He illuminates areas of our lives needing attention. He softens our hearts, opens our eyes, and connects us in Christian love.

He molds the willing and imperfect us to work perfectly for His glory in this world.  Bigger than any imperfection, He knows them all. But hear this:

HE LOVES US!

No greater message is given or received.

As we walk through this season of advent (meaning “to come” in Latin), remember: Jesus Christ is Love. Come to love.  It is freely given. Open your heart to the gift of love that awaits you. As it fills you, you’ll find that it fills you up and continues pouring into you as it overflows into the lives of those around you.

Thank you God for the light you brought to this world through your Son, Jesus Christ, and the love that connects us all.

Blessings to you!

12-12-19 Experience Opportunities:

All are invited to worship this Sunday at 8:00, 9:15, or 10:30 AM. If you would like to know more about these services, click here. Can’t make it to worship? Or want to revisit a message that really spoke to you? Check out our Sunday Sermons.