Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
(Isaiah 60:1)
Wednesday Church
with Rev. Mike Fonfara, D.Min.
January 16, 2013 - Second Week after Epiphany
Welcome to your mid-week faith boost for January 16, 2013. We are deep within the Epiphany Season celebrating God's many appearances in our world. Think about this fact. Because of divine love, God chooses to be present through the Bible, nature, Church, corporate worship, personbal meditations, missions, and a host of epiphanies too numerous to mention here. Praise God! So, worship well and get a Christian power surge!
WORSHIP SERVICE
Call to Gather
Praise God for gifts and graces given.
Praise God for hope abounding.
Praise God for the promise of eternal life.
Worship God for divine love oozing throughout the whole creation.
Invocation Prayer Including A Confession of Sin
Wedensday worshippers honor you, O God. Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving for blessings enjoyed. Our souls are filled with praise for your loving kindness abundantly given. We love you! Still, we are slow to honor your righteousness and obey your teachings. Forgive us of our many sins, unknown and fully recognized. We ask this in Christ's holy name. Amen.
Scripture John 2:6-10 (Tyndale The Book)
Six stone waterpots were standing there; they were used for Jewish ceremonial purposes and held twenty to thirty gallons each. Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." When the jars had been filled to the brim, he said, "Dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies." So, they followed his instructions.
When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing from where it had come (though, of course, the servants knew) he called the bridegroom over. "Usually the host serves the best wine first, he said. "Then, when everyone is full and doesn't care, he brings out the less expensive wines. But, you have kept the best till now."
Praise God for hope abounding.
Praise God for the promise of eternal life.
Worship God for divine love oozing throughout the whole creation.
Invocation Prayer Including A Confession of Sin
Wedensday worshippers honor you, O God. Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving for blessings enjoyed. Our souls are filled with praise for your loving kindness abundantly given. We love you! Still, we are slow to honor your righteousness and obey your teachings. Forgive us of our many sins, unknown and fully recognized. We ask this in Christ's holy name. Amen.
Scripture John 2:6-10 (Tyndale The Book)
Six stone waterpots were standing there; they were used for Jewish ceremonial purposes and held twenty to thirty gallons each. Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." When the jars had been filled to the brim, he said, "Dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies." So, they followed his instructions.
When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing from where it had come (though, of course, the servants knew) he called the bridegroom over. "Usually the host serves the best wine first, he said. "Then, when everyone is full and doesn't care, he brings out the less expensive wines. But, you have kept the best till now."
(This is the remarkable first miracle of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding.)
Message
Most Christians look for God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit in the big miracles of life, such as healings, lessons, life after death journies, special blessings asked and received, financial help arriving just in time, and an enormous number of graces received often unexpectedly. This is good!
However, always looking for Jesus in the big miracles limits the Christian's chances for enjoying the Savior's presence. Jesus' presence is in the small miracles, too.
Appreciate Jesus' presence in the kindness of an ICU nurse, a bird's early morning song, a church choir's beautiful worship anthem, a baby's smile, and in uncounted occurances throughout the day.
Here's the point. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit live in the whole creation. They are everywhere. Do not miss any opoprtunities to enjoy sacred moments because you fail to acknowledge a divine touch in all normal as well as miraculous events.
Prayer of Commitment
Lord God: We have hear your voice in many sounds today. We have see your touch amid the mundane and spectacular daily events. We know that you are with us every minute of life. No longer will we ignore your presence in our lives. We praise you for every sacred occurance! Amen.
Closing Thought
May the love of God empower you to find complete joy throughout this winter day!
Next Wednesday Church worship will be posted
at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, January 23, 2013.
Please visit Wednesday Church again!
Rev. Mike Fonfara, D.Min
SOUL REFRESHMENT ...
DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING ...
CHRISTIAN POWER SURGE ...
