WEDNESDAY CHURCH
ON THE INTERNET
(Enjoy your mid-week Christian power surge!)
with Pastor Mike Fonfara, D.Min.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Third Week of Lent
"Praising God for ministries of kindness!"
Welcome, faithful friends! This week's Wednesday Church on the Internet invites you to
consider how you practice kindness as a Christian activity. Kindness sets the tone for Christian experiences. You and I must practice it for self, others, and God.
consider how you practice kindness as a Christian activity. Kindness sets the tone for Christian experiences. You and I must practice it for self, others, and God.
WORSHIP SERVICE
Opening Prayer
Great God: Our lives are filled with good and challenging days. Periods of abundance and adversity are our lot. In all periods of life, we pledge to seek and practice kindness. We pledge to be kind to ourselves, other people, and to You, O God. Send the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily kindness adventures. Amen.
We Gather for Worship
"Let everything that lives sing praises to the Lord. Praise the Lord."
(Psalm 150: 6 Tyndale, The Book)
Prayer of Invocation and Confession
Loving God: This is a great day in the amazing season of Lent. It provides true joy as we praise You. Join us in the wonderful celebration of Christian living. Your presence, O God, is special to us. Thank You for your amazine love!
In the face of this good life, we sin. Our intentions are good, but the flesh is weak. We ask for forgiveness of our sinful state in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Assurance of God's Grace and Our Pardon
God's creation is founded by love. The Almighty loves the creation. God loves us. He hears our prayers for mercy and forgives our sin. We are redeemed in the name of Christ. Amen.
Scripture Ephesians 4:31-32 (Tyndale, The Book)
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all
types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tender hearted,
forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."
Message
Whatever you decide to do, do it on the name of God! Your life will be enriched by helping other people and glorifying God with your "kindness ministry."
Christians practice kindness! No matter where you are in the world, true biblical Christians will be kind to self, family, friends, neighbors, and other loved ones. Practicing Christian kindness never grows stale.
If you want some different ways of being kind, please consider these tried and true deeds from the December, 2000 issue of O, the Oprah Magazine..
- Say "Good morning" to a person standing next to you in the elevator.
- Take a minute to direct someone who is lost, even though you're rushing.
- Write a letter to a child who could use some extra attention. Kids love getting mail.
- Offer to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbor, especially in extreme weather.
- Say "I love you" to someone you love.
- Each time you get a new item of clothing, give away something old.
- Bring your assistant coffee.
- Out of the blue, send flowers to a friend.
- Say "please" and "thank you" whenever appropriate.
Can you think of other kindness deeds?- Take a minute to direct someone who is lost, even though you're rushing.
- Write a letter to a child who could use some extra attention. Kids love getting mail.
- Offer to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbor, especially in extreme weather.
- Say "I love you" to someone you love.
- Each time you get a new item of clothing, give away something old.
- Bring your assistant coffee.
- Out of the blue, send flowers to a friend.
- Say "please" and "thank you" whenever appropriate.
Whatever you decide to do, do it on the name of God! Your life will be enriched by helping other people and glorifying God with your "kindness ministry."
Statement of Dedication
I believe in the living God that sent Jesus Christ into my life for the purpose of my salvation. He brings the Holy Spirit's power to me daily to complete kind acts and loving gestures for other people. By doing so, I glorify God in heaven and bring happiness to myself as well as people nearby. I will do it! Amen.
Closing Prayer
Lord God: Your strength is my strength. Walk with me today and for all days as I live and breathe the spiritual mandate to be Christian. To You belongs all glory through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Benediction
May the Creative God of grace, Lord Jesus Christ of victory, and
the Holy Spirit of faith walk with you now and forever! amen.
("Winter's Beauty" by Pastor Mike Fonfara)
SACRED MISCELLANY
1. Lent Season Fast Facts:
- While the early Church celebrated fasting and other preparations for Easter on a regional basis , it was not until the 4th century that all the Church agreed to celebrate a Lenten Season.
- Since the 4th century, a six week Lent (not including Sundays) gave time for fasting, gaining new members, baptisms at Easter, and ritual preparations for Easter.
- Lent is not mentioned in the Bible.
- In modern times, Lent's major foci are preparation for Easter and discipleship for life.
- Really nice ways of celebrating Lent today are sharing Bible studies about the life of Jesus with friends, doing acts of kindness, decorating the sanctuary for Easter, walking the stations of the cross at church, and other creative ideas shared with loved ones.
2. Did you know the the number forty (40) is a sacred number in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It is a large enough time to prepare for the Easter rituals. Moses and the other Hebews stayed 40 years in the wilderness, Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness before starting His public ministry.
You get the picture!
3. Let's keep the Roman Catholic Church in prayer as they choose a new Pope.
4. Getting back to kindness as a Lenten (if not all year long) exercise, here are some quips and quotes to start your thinking about the matter.
- Seek always to do something good, somewhere. Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes the ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.
(Albert Schweitzer)
- The person who sows seeds of kindness enjoys a perpetual feast. (Author Unknown)
THE LAST LAUGH
Here is something silly to leave you smiling.
Did you hear about the big fight at the local post office?
The Postmaster was licking some stamps!
1. Lent Season Fast Facts:
- While the early Church celebrated fasting and other preparations for Easter on a regional basis , it was not until the 4th century that all the Church agreed to celebrate a Lenten Season.
- Since the 4th century, a six week Lent (not including Sundays) gave time for fasting, gaining new members, baptisms at Easter, and ritual preparations for Easter.
- Lent is not mentioned in the Bible.
- In modern times, Lent's major foci are preparation for Easter and discipleship for life.
- Really nice ways of celebrating Lent today are sharing Bible studies about the life of Jesus with friends, doing acts of kindness, decorating the sanctuary for Easter, walking the stations of the cross at church, and other creative ideas shared with loved ones.
2. Did you know the the number forty (40) is a sacred number in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It is a large enough time to prepare for the Easter rituals. Moses and the other Hebews stayed 40 years in the wilderness, Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness before starting His public ministry.
You get the picture!
3. Let's keep the Roman Catholic Church in prayer as they choose a new Pope.
4. Getting back to kindness as a Lenten (if not all year long) exercise, here are some quips and quotes to start your thinking about the matter.
- Seek always to do something good, somewhere. Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes the ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.
(Albert Schweitzer)
- The person who sows seeds of kindness enjoys a perpetual feast. (Author Unknown)
THE LAST LAUGH
Here is something silly to leave you smiling.
Did you hear about the big fight at the local post office?
The Postmaster was licking some stamps!
(Pastor Mike catches a big bubble in photo at church camp)
Thank you for visiting Wednesday Church on the Internet.
Please visit next Wednesday when new material is posted.
If you liked Wednesday Church, tell a friend.
Pastor Mike Fonfara, D.Min.
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