WEDNESDAY CHURCH
ON THE INTERNET
(YOUR MID-WEEK CHRISTIAN POWER SURGE)
WITH PASTOR MIKE FONFARA, D.MIN.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Second Week of Lent
Welcome, friends! Thank you for visiting this week's Wednesday Church.
The Church calendar places us in the second week of the 2013 Lenten Season. Our march towards Easter Sunday, which celebrates the total victory of our Savior Jesus Christ, continues.
Today's Wednesday Church reminds us of silence as an essential spiritual discipline. Christ's Disciples (that's us) need silence to renew faith! Our lives suffer from busy-ness. Our souls cannot hear "Jesus' soft voice of life." Our Lenten preparation lacks full communion with the Savior because busy-ness robs us of focus. What a shame! Let us be silent in the presence of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit reaping the harvest of our Christian discipline, a concentration on Jesus' teachings.
Stop now and let silence privide the spiritual atmosphere for deep prayer and sense of Jesus' presence! As you focus on the Savior, your soul will be educated, edified, and strengthened.
Pastor Mike Fonfara
WEDNESDAY WORSHIP
Opening Prayer
O Jesus, this is a great day in a wonderful Lent Season of the Church year. Today, we learn how to gain strength from your Easter victory to practice Christian discipleship. We will enjoy periods of silence to let You and God prepare our lives for the joyuous duties of faith. Thank you, Friend and Savior, for your amazing graces. Amen.
Call to Gather
"Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art -
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise; Thou mine inheritance now and always."
Receive my praise as it is lovingly given!
[Lyrics from the hymn "Be Thou My Vision" are found in The Presbyterian Hymnal (Blue, 1990 Edition).]
Prayer of Invocation/Confession
Lord of Life, Savior of Humanity, and God Incarnate,
You walked upon this earth calling the faithful to discipleship. Now, You walk the earth in the hearts of believers - still calling disciples. I believe. I am a disciple. I praise you as my Lord and Savior. Join me and strengthen me in this very brief worship service.
Please forgive me for many sins commited. My intentions are good, but my resolve is weak. Renew my soul. Make me a better person to bring you honor and glory. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness and Delaration of New Life
I know that in the name of Jesus Christ, I am forgiven and made righteous in God's sight. Amen.
Scripture Lamentations 3:26
"It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation the Lord."
Much had been written and said about silence as an integral part of spiritual formation. The following quotes present interesting ideas aboout silence as a faith tool. Do any of them speak to you? What did they say?
We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is a friend of silence. See how nature -trees, flowers, grass - grow in silence; see the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence ... We need silence to be able to touch souls. (Mother Teresa)
Silence is the mother of truth. (Benjamin Disraeli)
Deepest communion with God is beyond words, on the other side of silence. (Madeleine L'Engle)
How rare is it to find a soul guiet enough to hear God speak. (Anonymous)
Prayer of Commitment
Well, God, I need to learn silence. Teach me. Encourage me to listen carefully for your eternal wisdom. Motivate me to spend quiet time practicing kindness, forgiveness, missions, and faith. Amen.
Benediction
I go forward to proclaim my God's love, my Savior's graces, and the Holy Spirit's claim upon my life. As this is spoken, so shall it be!
SACRED MISCELLANY
1. Lent is our spring-training to prepare us for the coming season of discipleship.
2. Discipleship is the pursuit of learning as much about Jesus' way of living as you can, live it, and encourage other faithful beliwevers to do the same.
3. Never underestimate the value of a smile when sharing the love of Jesus.
4. To share Christian victory, you must live as a victorious Christian.
5. Have you said "Good day!" to God yet?
THE NEXT POSTING OF WEDNESDAY CHURCH WILL BE ON (OR BEFORE) 5 A.M ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6.
YOUR VISIT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!
Pastor Mike Fonfara, D.Min.
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("Christ of the Breadlines" by Fritz Eichenberg)
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