WEDNESDAY CHURCH
on the Internet
with Pastor Mike Fonfara, D.Min.
(This is your mid-week Christian power surge!)
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Fifth Week of Lent
Welcome, friends!
Today is the first day of spring. Hope abounds for newness in every realm of our lives. God gifts us with revitalizing opportunities every day through Jesus. Lest we forget John 10:10, Jesus said that He came bringing us abundant life. If ever there was a springtime invitation to grab the promised life abundance, this is it. Let's praise God for the invitation to enjoy a full life through Jesus Christ.
Let's celebrate the new season together. I appreciate your company on the journey. Thanks for worshipping with me!
Pastor Mike
WEDNESDAY WORSHIP
Opening Prayer
Lord of the springtime, Father of flower, field, and fruit, smile on us in these earnest days when the work is heavy and the toil wearisome; lift up our hearts, O God, to the things worthwhile - sunshine and night, the dripping rain, the song of the birds, books and music, the voices of our friends. Lift up our hearts to these this night and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
(W. E. B. DuBois)
Call to Gather
Your Holy Spirit beckons us, O God.
We cannot resist the chance to praise You.
Receive our praise as we gather for Wednesday Church.
Invocation Prayer with Confession of Sin
[Almighty God:]
"May all I say and all I think
be in harmony with thee,
God within me, God beyond me,
Maker of the trees."
[Amen.]
- Chinook Psalter
Lord God, join us in this brief mid-week worship and forgive our sins in the name of Jesus.
We Are Forgiven
God's love for us is strong. God's willingness to forgive us is generous. Please know our sins are forgiven in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen!
Scripture Psalm 8:1 (NIV)
Message "Look Upon Our Land"
By God's wisdom, we have been created with many senses, such as hearing, sight, taste, touch, and smell, to enjoy life. Are we like most people who forget to use all of their senses daily and thus fail to enjoy life to the fullest? If so, we should accept the new season's invitation to enjoy the effects of the Vernal Equinox.
How?
We can go outside and walk around our properties using all of our senses to notice Mother Nature's signs of winter's end and spring's arrival. We can be surprised by what we hear, see, smell, and touch. Nature is God's greatest show on earth.
Commitment Prayer
Almighty God: You have seen all generations come and go. You have searched the hearts of countless faithful people. Search into our hearts and see our resolve to honor You in every way possible. Thank You for the gifts of nature! Amen.
Benediction
"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"
Message "Look Upon Our Land"
By God's wisdom, we have been created with many senses, such as hearing, sight, taste, touch, and smell, to enjoy life. Are we like most people who forget to use all of their senses daily and thus fail to enjoy life to the fullest? If so, we should accept the new season's invitation to enjoy the effects of the Vernal Equinox.
How?
We can go outside and walk around our properties using all of our senses to notice Mother Nature's signs of winter's end and spring's arrival. We can be surprised by what we hear, see, smell, and touch. Nature is God's greatest show on earth.
Commitment Prayer
Almighty God: You have seen all generations come and go. You have searched the hearts of countless faithful people. Search into our hearts and see our resolve to honor You in every way possible. Thank You for the gifts of nature! Amen.
Benediction
May our gracious God bless us and give us abundant life today and forever!
May we always be willing to serve the Savior every minute of the day!
May the Holy Spirit befriend us for God's glory!
Amen.
SACRED MISCELLANY
1. The first day of spring, March 20 or 21st, is called the Vernal Equinox. These Latin words mean "spring" and "equal night" in their order. Day is about twelve hours long and the night is the same or close to it.
2. Spring is the season many people use for renewal, rejuvenation, and cleaning. Do you have any plans made for these objectives?
3. The day and night warmer temperatures, ample water, and increasing daylight cause the flora to green as well as flower and the fauna to be actively feeding, mating, and roaming. Are not springtime flowers, fruit tree blossoms, sweet smells, green grass, plump robins, running deer, nests with chicks, and other natural features of the season marvelous?
4. The Chinook Indian Nation in the Columbia River Gorge area have beautful thoughts in their Psalter about a Christian spring. Enjoy!
5. Spiritually, Christians and their churches get busy in local missions during Eastertide to continue the work of Jesus Christ in the world. Do you have any ideas for your personal spring mission plans? How about visiting a nursing home and writing letters for residents with severe arthritis? You could make cupcakes for your neighbors. Is there a kindness that you could do for someone in your church? Well, you get the idea. Spring, the church season of Eastertide, is for letting your loved ones experience the victory of Jesus through your kindness.
6. Spring Fever Joke
Four college boys suffered one day from acute spring fever. So, they skipped class in the morning and ended up at the local beach having a great time.
When they returned to the college, they told the professor that the car had a flat tire. He seemed to accept that explaination. Unfortunately, he informed them that they missed a test. The professor asked the four lads to take out paper and pen in order to complete the test right then.
1. The first day of spring, March 20 or 21st, is called the Vernal Equinox. These Latin words mean "spring" and "equal night" in their order. Day is about twelve hours long and the night is the same or close to it.
2. Spring is the season many people use for renewal, rejuvenation, and cleaning. Do you have any plans made for these objectives?
3. The day and night warmer temperatures, ample water, and increasing daylight cause the flora to green as well as flower and the fauna to be actively feeding, mating, and roaming. Are not springtime flowers, fruit tree blossoms, sweet smells, green grass, plump robins, running deer, nests with chicks, and other natural features of the season marvelous?
4. The Chinook Indian Nation in the Columbia River Gorge area have beautful thoughts in their Psalter about a Christian spring. Enjoy!
"May we forge a new friendship with the natural world and discover a new affinity with beauty, with life, and with the Cosmic Christ in which all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities ... for all things were created through him and for him."
5. Spiritually, Christians and their churches get busy in local missions during Eastertide to continue the work of Jesus Christ in the world. Do you have any ideas for your personal spring mission plans? How about visiting a nursing home and writing letters for residents with severe arthritis? You could make cupcakes for your neighbors. Is there a kindness that you could do for someone in your church? Well, you get the idea. Spring, the church season of Eastertide, is for letting your loved ones experience the victory of Jesus through your kindness.
6. Spring Fever Joke
Four college boys suffered one day from acute spring fever. So, they skipped class in the morning and ended up at the local beach having a great time.
When they returned to the college, they told the professor that the car had a flat tire. He seemed to accept that explaination. Unfortunately, he informed them that they missed a test. The professor asked the four lads to take out paper and pen in order to complete the test right then.
With great sincerity, the professor asked the students the first question, "Which tire was flat?"
[Busted!]
I pray you enjoyed your visit to Wednesday Church on the Internet. Your sharing of this blog is greatly appreciated! There will be a fresh mid-week posting next Wednesday, March 27, 2013. Please visit again. If you would, please tell a friend about Wednesday Church. Let's share the mid-week Christian power surge with as many people as possible. Walk in peace!
Pastor Mike Fonfara, D.Min.
mefonfara@gmail.com
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