One of the values at Curwensville Alliance reads:
We pray about everything. We recognize that it is the Holy Spirit who enables us to live meaningful and satisfying lives.
The Thursday Night Men’s Group is using Zoom to spend an hour or so praying together.
Guys, if you want to join us, contact me – Pastor Steve
In his book, Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer has a rather lengthy chapter titled, The Day with Others.
As he unfolds his thinking, it’s evident that he is teaching his readers how to be the Church – in whatever environment find themselves.
When I say, “how to be the church,” I am referring to experiencing God’s presence together — as friends, as a family, as a couple. It’s what we do Sundays, on Susquehanna Avenue, when we can.
Bonhoeffer is pretty straight forward in this area. He speaks of several practices that believers should enact together — as believers.
Some of those practices are…
This video speaks about some of those practices.
Had you given any thought as to how you might begin to do these things in your home during this unusual season of human history?
God might enable you to do things you’d otherwise never considered.
And such things might come with an unexpected blessing.
Last night, my phone was pretty busy. OK – it’s been busy lots lately. Yours is probably busy too.
That’s good — we want to know how people are doing, to help one another, to pray with one another, to be socially close while physically distant.
Included among all that incoming communication was a heart-warming text.
He wants to serve God.
He wants to make a difference.
That’s what we are here.
That’s who we are.
This is church.
What do you see when you look in the mirror?
Some time ago, I noted that Facebook gave me the option of seeing what my information looked like to a friend or a stranger. Since everything I post on Facebook is public, by my choice, there was virtually no difference.
However, the exercise got me to thinking about what I looked like to anyone who saw me on social media. How did others see me?
As I scrolled through my posts, imagining how a stranger would react to what I put there, I realized that what was there wasn’t what I wanted to be there. There were cynical statements, uncaring comments, and some (just a little, because I have a brain) political rhetoric thrown in.
It wasn’t who I wanted people to see me as.
So I deleted a bunch of it.
And then my social media presentation of myself was more to my liking.
But, if you’re still reading, you’re probably thinking:
Well, Steve, it seems that all you did
was to cover up who you really are
by deleting what you didn’t want others
to know about your heart.
Yeah. That’s what I did….. At first.
But then I got to thinking.
The look into the mirror that my social media accounts provided allowed me to look into my heart. And after the simple process of deleting online posts and comments, I turned my attention to the deeper process of correcting some inner attitudes — by taking them to the cross and surrendering them to the Holy Spirit.
Reflection — it’s an exercise that serves us well, if we really want to grow.
This Advent, Curwensville Alliance is going to talk about Reflections beginning this Sunday (12/2/2018).
Not reflections, as in looking at the past, but reflections as in looking in the mirror.
We’ll look at how this holiday season influences us and see what kinds of mindset we’ve allowed it to create. And then, by God’s grace, we’ll look to the Spirit of God to transition us from who the reflection says we are to who God wants us to be.
Join us.
Sundays…
At 8:00 am – Traditional Worship Service
At 10:45 am – Today’s Worship Service.
Read any good books lately?
Several years ago — maybe 2005 — I invited some men to join me in growing our faith. At first, we met very early in the morning. If memory serves, some men of strong commitment met at 5:30 a.m. in the nearby truck stop. We moved from there to a few more local places. Currently, we meet at The Dutch Pantry.
Each week, the guys read a chapter of a pre-chosen book in advance, highlighting things that stand out and jotting down any thoughts or questions they might have about the content.
The group has varied in size from as many as 18 to as few as 3. It probably averages 8-10.
The agenda of our gatherings is simple.
As we began, many guys were reluctant to join.
“Pastor Steve, I like breakfast,
but I’ve not read a book
since I finished high school.
And back then, I hated it.”
I encouraged them to give it a try, and to their credit they did.
So, here, well over a decade later, a list of books we’ve read include.
have read this one twice.)For a group of guys, many of whom said they don’t like reading, I think they are doing well.
What have you read lately?
You’re welcome to join us. Interest has grown so much that there are now two groups meeting. One Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. and one Tuesdays at 7 p.m. See me or Tim Smay for information.
-Pastor Steve