Yesterday — the Lord’s Day at Curwensville Alliance Church was incredible. It began with a good Sunday School class taught by Matt McCracken. He’s doing a great job detailing the material in The Search for Significance. I enjoyed looking over the book and spending time being part of Matt’s class. Pray for each Sunday School class — that they will be marked by consistent attendance, personal growth, and numeric increase.

The Baptism Service is coming up at the end of the month. This week I have a couple more students who want to go through the material. I love teaching them the meaning of baptism so that their own experience of baptism is significant. Pray for those who are considering baptism — that they will understand the concept and obey.

The Morning Worship Service was a good time of looking at Jesus’ words to the Sadducees concerning their failure to know God’s word and God’s power. To my delight, when I arrived home in the evening, there was a message from someone whose husband said, “Man — Pastor Steve was talking straight to me today! I want to come to the Genesis Bible Study!” We all know it wasn’t “Pastor Steve” talking. It was God, through his Spirit, speaking in the message. It’s amazing to me that God uses this vehicle of preaching to communicate his truth. Pray that he will continue to work in the lives of those who hear God’s word proclaimed.

Many in the church family enjoyed a pleasant luncheon together and afterward, Laurel and I made a quick trip to see my mother in the rehabilitation home. Her arm looks much better, but she’s having trouble finding hope that she will get back to the room she had been in before she fell. While there, we received the prayer-line message concerning Bev being in DRMC. Laurel and I made it to DRMC just moments after Bev had been transferred to Pittsburgh, but I was able to speak to her father. He brought me up to date on Bev and promised to let her know Curwensville Alliance would be praying for her. Please remember Bev in prayer as her liver is not performing the proper function at this time.

The Outreach Committee had a good meeting, finalizing details for the Fishers of Men Tournament Trail. Dave Clark will be speaking at that event. If you can help with anything, speak to Tim Smay. Among other items discussed was the need to help A Day Awaits with the lock-in this weekend. If you can help with that, please contact Brennan Bell as soon as possible. The committee noted there were lots of empty spaces on the sign-up sheets. And please remember to pray concerning the lock-in.

Thanks for praying regarding the ministry of your church, Curwensville Alliance.

~Pastor Steve

This has been an unusual week. On Monday I prepared for the Genesis Bible Study in the morning. Then Esther and I cared for some matters concerning my mother. Mom’s doing well, but is impatient with her care, desiring to get back to her regular room. It was good for Esther to see her grandmother. They get along well since they are so similar. The Genesis Bible Study was like a breath of fresh air, lasting from 7 p.m. until after 9 p.m.

Tuesday morning, I left early to go to Greensburg where I spent two days serving the Churches by sitting on the LOCC. Since Dr. Dail had completed his term on the LOCC, there was no one to act as clerk. When asked, I accepted that position. We spent two days interviewing and testing those pursuing ministry in The Christian and Missionary Alliance. It’s exciting to meet men and women, young and older, willing to serve God here and abroad.

When I returned Wednesday evening I arrived just in time to get things ready for the Board of Ministries meeting at our church. We had a good meeting and, thankfully, Perry lead Prayer Meeting. It was nice to relax after two days of meetings — one lasting until 9:30 p.m.

Thursday I worked on some administrative tasks and research for my sermon. Esther and I hopped on the Honda and went to visit Glen. He and Myrtle were outside, enjoying the sunny day. In the evening, I visited Ted and Donna.

Friday morning, I had breakfast with an accountability partner. It was a good meeting. In the afternoon, while I was working on my sermon, Vern called and asked me to go for a boat ride with him. We had a fine time on Curwensville Lake, taking in the scenery.

Tonight, I am watching an video on Muslims with Esther. Tomorrow — Young Men’s Group and concluding my sermon. God is wonderful!

Because my son was graduating from Taylor University last week, Laurel and I took a couple of vacation days and went out for what was likely our final visit to Taylor University. We stayed in the Bed and Breakfast we’ve been staying in for the past few years and got to know some other Taylor parents and the new owners of the B&B.  While there, I received a call from the District Leadership requesting some paperwork I needed to complete for the LO&CC so, having my laptop in tow, I spent a great deal of time Thursday working on that and my sermons for Sunday. The time in the B&B was spiritually rewarding as Laurel and I were able to talk to the owner and pray with him. Please remember him and his wife in prayer as they transition into this new position in life.

Gloria Gaither was being awarded an honorary doctorate at the graduation ceremony at Taylor University and was the featured speaker, addressing the graduates and, in essence, telling them that There are certain things in this world God has for them to do — and they are just the right people to do them. I’ve attended numerous graduation events, several while serving in pastoral ministry at The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, and something I always note about the Christian ones is the call to serve God by serving others. That is distinctly lacking in non-Christian environs.

Sunday services at Curwensville Alliance went very well. Attendance was good and the atmosphere was wonderful. We took a moment to honor Myrtle for her ministry as a greeter. The morning sermon was about The Cross of Christ and the evening service was about God’s providence.

I’ve received a number of emails from my sister regarding my mother’s condition. Mom’s struggling with how she is perceiving what’s happened to her since she’s broken her pelvis and her arm. Please pray for her during this difficult time.

One of the elders, John, suggested that when I am too busy to write something on this blog I simply create a one-word post reading SWAMPED! That’s not a bad idea! But instead, let’s make this a rule…. If you see a few days in a row when there is nothing posted, pray that I will either enjoy my time off  — ’cause I won’t post while on vacation 🙂 — or pray that I will be able to catch up on the ministry responsibilities I am engaging.

Thanks for continuing to remember the ministry of Curwensville Alliance in prayer.

~Pastor Steve