Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.

— Psalm 25:4

And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”  And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”  And the four living creatures said, “Amen!”  and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Yes, that’s right, people from every nation, language and culture will one day unite together in praise.  All we do when we gather, whether morning or night, Sunday or weekday,  is get a little practice in, bringing some of God’s “not yet” into our “already.”

The theme and emphasis for these Sunday evening gatherings for 2012 is:   “Love one another.”  John 15:12, John 15:17, 1 John 3:11

• A six-week intensive series in practical Christianity
• Rev. Wayne Harting led us into a deeper experience of faith and ministry
• This course lasted from Sunday, February 19th through Sunday, March 25, at 6:00-7:150 PM
• Teachers, Leaders and all who want to “go on to perfection” in faith and ministry [were] urged to attend [--and many did!]. 

What next?  How will we keep moving on to maturity in Christ?

Learning Jesus is a lifelong enterprise which engages our whole being:  body, mind, and spirit.  Like any journey, it is good to have companions on the way.  Join us this Easter Sunday:

Easter Sunrise service at 7:00 a.m.  Our friends from the Marbury Baptist Church will join with us for this community event.

Sunday School at 9:00
Worship celebration at 10:00 — Christ is risen!

Come back the following  Sunday to hear about Jesus in  his role as The Good Shepherd… join in our new time for Bible study on Thursday evening at 6:30…. join a Sunday School class.

Even better: make sure that learning Jesus becomes more than something you do at church…. look for him everywhere, and welcome him into your life.  Then come share your struggles and victories with others.

Expect a blessing…. Give a blessing!

He went in the place of all who are accused, whether innocent or guilty of any crime. He was sent there by the collective judgment of the best religious system the world had ever seen, that of the Jews, together with the best legal system the world had ever produced, that of the Romans, both enriched and informed by the philosophies and culture of the Greeks. All the best of our human institutions condemned the Son of God as a criminal.

On that morning as the sky grew unnaturally dark, he, full as he always was of the holy Spirit of God, cried an anguished cry on behalf of every one of us who has ever felt abandoned. By his own choice he fulfilled his own word, “I only do what I see my Father doing,” thus demonstrating that our heavenly Father suffers with, thirsts with, every human being, and forgives even those who harm the innocent, “for they know not what they do.”

On a Friday morning much like this one, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Will you take a moment, and remember?

Let all that you do be done in love.

— 1 Corinthians 16:14

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.

– John 3:16

Learning Jesus

• A six-week intensive series in practical Christianity
• Rev. Wayne Harting will lead us into a deeper experience of faith and ministry
• Sunday, February 19th through Sunday, March 25, at 6:00-7:30 PM
• Teachers, Leaders and all who want to “go on to perfection” in faith and ministry are urged to attend.  A sign-up sheet is available at the church so we can plan to have enough space and enough materials for everyone.

Focus 40

Across the Church of God in North America, churches and individuals are being challenged to forty days of prayer and fasting, from February 29 to March 8.  The goal is for 25,00o  new disciples to come into the Kingdom of God.  A wealth of material is available to help us join with many other churches in this journey.  Material  is available to help adults, youth, and even children to take part.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
— Psalm 37:5

For the New Year, 2011, we want to “hold on to what we have received,” but also to build on that foundation. So, introducing the theme for the Marbury Church of God in 2012….

Give A Blessing!

It is my prayer that we will find ways to heed the words of Jesus, “Freely you have received, freely give,” and become more and more intentional about celebrating the Good News by sharing it with others, by word and deed as individual persons, and by how we come together as a group of God’s people in our own place and time. Lord knows, we can’t outpace God in giving. Happy new year, and let the blessings flow!

Pastor Bob