May 17, 2013

The Counseling Corner — 05.17.2013

I was reading again one of the many articles I have collected concerning marriage. It is an article called “Your Mate’s Top 10 Needs,” by Ferguson and McMinn. It reminded me that God desires to provide for our needs far more than we can ask for and certainly deserve. Out of our abundance we are then able to give to someone we love. The Gospel of Luke (6:38) even says, “Give and it will be given to you.” At least that is how it is created to work.

What I have seen in couples is a habit of keeping score. When I give to you I can expect something in return. It’s as if there is a big score board with the count. The giving out of God’s giving is lost because it is all about me. I deserve and therefore I shall receive. The concept of team is forgotten and no one gets their needs met. The desire to love and receive love gets pushed aside. The “leave and cleave” of Genesis calling us to teamwork goes out the window. Negative thoughts towards each other take the place of positive words to be placed in the love bank.

God gives us marriage because we need someone in person to help meet our needs. Looking to God to provide gives us a relationship with God. Looking to our spouse where we can give and receive gives us an intimate relationship, which shows us the nature of love.

So how can you begin a giving relationship? Start by asking your spouse to list their greatest needs. I bet most of us can’t list the top needs of our spouse. Then find out how to meet the needs given. Then start giving. But do so without a scorecard. As Luke says, as you give you will receive. And you will receive more than you thought.

The article I read gives 10 needs your spouse may list. Here are the 10 listed:

Acceptance
Affection
Appreciation
Approval
Attention
Comfort
Encouragement
Respect
Security
Support

Begin your giving and see the difference!

May 17, 2013

Vacation Bible School June 10 – 13, 2013

2013 VBS Registration Form

VBS will take place on June 10 – 13 from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Children ages 3 - 4th grade are invited. The theme is SKY – Everything Is Possible With God. Children must be toilet trained. We are asking for a $10.00 donation per child to help cover costs. Please include donation with your registration form.

At VBS the children will be rotating through fun stations: games, art, story time and snacks.

To register you children, please click on the VBS Registration 2013 link above and follow the instructions on the form. You may also call the church office, 704-334-1381, with the following information:

Child’s name, Gender, Age, Grade Completed, Shirt size (XS-L), Medical Concerns, Mailing Address, Parents’ Name, Emergency Phone Number.

May 12, 2013

Sermon – Your Inner-Spiritual Sanctuary – Rev. Steve Wilson

God requires an intimacy with us greater than that of a mother/child relationship. God creates in us his presence at our creation. Our inner-spiritual sanctuary is prayer. God is waiting for you with a tender love to come to him where you are in life – baggage and all. God burns with a desire to be with you. Does your heart burn with desire to be with Christ? Go to a place where you can shut out the world and be with God. Matthew 6:6, Hebrews 11:6, Luke 24:30-32

www.littlechurchonthelane.com/audio/2013.05.12.mp3

May 10, 2013

Church Family Retreat

Your Board invites you to a church family retreat at the Laurel Ridge Camp, Conference and Retreat Center of the Moravian Church on the weekend of August 2-4. This retreat is for adults & kids. There will be programs for adults, youth & children, plus plenty of free time. Nursery staff will be there to care for kids of all ages during program time. For those who cannot spend the weekend, we invite you to bring a picnic lunch and join us for Worship. Lunch on Sunday will be on the campgrounds.

Come be part of the church family for a weekend or at least a day!

RESERVATIONS with a non-refundable deposit of $100 are needed by Wednesday, May 22, so we can reserve rooms. Balance will be due at a later date.

Call the church office (704.334.1381) to make your reservation and provide the following information by May 22 or complete this form which will be in the Sunday bulletin:

Name ________________________________________________

# Adults Attending _____________________________________

# Children Attending and ages ___________________________

Week-end Accommodations (rates are per person) & (Includes 2 nights, linens and all meals)

Accommodation choices:

Plan A: Single Occupancy w/private bath $200.00

Plan B: Double/Triple/Quad Occupancy w/private bath $150.00

Plan C: Single Occupancy w/semi-private bath $180

Plan D: Double/Triple Occupancy w/semi-private bath $130

Plan E: Children ages 5-18 in room w/parent $35

Children under 5—No charge

NOTE: No family will have to pay over $300.00. Little Church will pay the difference with families using Plan C and staying in the Bishop’s Wing with a semi-private bath so they can use 2 rooms at a reasonable cost.

I can’t attend for the full weekend, but will come up on Sunday.

Name: ______________________________________________

# Attending only Sunday: Adults________ Children _________

(Contact the Church office or a Board member if you have questions.)

Special Requirements (diet or physical) __________________________________

May 7, 2013

The Counseling Corner 05-03-2013

By Steve Wilson

In today’s world love is described in many ways especially in relationships. There is “love at first sight.” There is “falling in love.” There is also “love is blind.” They are easily said and often used. Unfortunately these phrases do not describe anything about love.

Love is a verb which requires thought, heart, and action. The phrases I used come from initial responses driven by natural drugs of the brain called endorphins. They happen and then disappear though they can last for a long time. When these “tingles” are gone, the eyes open wide. If the love desired is not built on a foundation of thought, heart, and actions, the true love will not appear.

As I work with couples who are preparing for marriage, I see the reactions when they realize that love is a verb. We talk about giving just for the sake of giving. Love is found in how couples disagree so that each person comes away with a sense of value and wholeness. Love is found as each person takes responsibility for their own suitcase of habits and struggles. Love is seen when each person is patient and refuses to point the finger of blame at the other. This takes real love for the other to take this action.

The author of love is God and He gives us the knowledge and strength to share love. All we have to do is realize this and use His love and not our own. He has already shown us His love and He wants us to share it with each other. Thus we hear that “love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast.” (1 Corinthians 13) This is love as a verb which God has given to us and we can give to our loved ones in relationships.

May 3, 2013

Gospel Lesson — 05.05.2013

²³Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

²⁵“All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

²⁸“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.

— John 14:23-29

May 3, 2013

Epistle Lesson — 05.05.2013

¹⁰And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

²²I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. ²⁴The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ²⁵On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. ²⁶The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. ²⁷Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

(continuing)

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ²down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

— Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5

May 3, 2013

Time of Silence — 05.05.2013

My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
²for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.

— Proverbs 3:1-2

May 3, 2013

Silent Meditation — 05.05.2013

A believer longs after God—to come into His presence—to feel His love—to feel near to Him in secret—to feel in the crowd that He is nearer than all the creatures. Ah! Dear brethren, have you ever tasted this blessedness? There is greater rest and solace to be found in the presence of God for one hour, than in an eternity of the presence of man.

— Robert Murray M’Cheyne

May 3, 2013

Watchword for the Week — 05.05.2013

Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”

— John 14:27

April 29, 2013

Alaska Ministry Needs Your Help

Believe it or not, summer is just around the corner. As the pollen and temperature rises hearts turn to Alaska. The Bible seminary in Bethel, AK, run by the Moravian Church, is in need of siding and insulating. By using an insulated siding we think it will take less work and will save a lot of money and energy in the coming years. There are three things you can help with, which I ask you to seriously consider.

First and most important is prayer. Pray for safety, for people to help and for financial support. Second is workers – think about whether you might be one of those people being called to go. If you can not go, please consider helping someone else who would go if they could afford it. Third is financial support – funds are needed to purchase insulated siding plus 6 tables and 30 chairs for the seminary. Think about donating a chair @$30/chair or a table @$100/table. Contributions can be made to the Little Church on the Lane and designated for Alaska ministry. Mail to Little Church On The Lane, 522 Moravian Ln, Charlotte, NC 28207.

Thank you for your continued prayerful support of our brothers and sisters in Alaska.
Contact Helen Gulledge, 907-252-1174, or helengulledge1090@gmail.com for additional information.

April 29, 2013

Weekday School News – Graduation May 16

Thank you for inviting the Weekday School families to the special children’s service in April. A good crowd came ready to worship, sing and enjoy good fellowship. Our little ones had fun performing a few of their Chapel songs for the congregation. Our hope is that this becomes an annual event!
The school year is quickly coming to a close. We will have a graduation ceremony on May 16 at 10:30am. There are 39 children moving on to “big” school this fall. We wish them many blessings for a successful kindergarten year.
The weekday school has a few openings for children ages 1 – 5. Anyone interested in registering should call Wendy Bezek (704-377-8453). The program runs September-May.
Our school also has positions available for teacher assistants in the fall. Please call Wendy Bezek, if you or someone you know is interested.
As usual, we are so thankful that the church allows us to spread God’s love to children
throughout the year! Happy Summer!!

April 29, 2013

Stewardship and Proverbs – Care of Body and Soul

As you read the beginning of Proverbs and its purpose, there is a blueprint for soul and body care. There are words like wisdom, instruction and understanding, and words to help in decision making such as shrewdness, discretion and guidance. Christians are continually challenged to be good stewards of all of God’s provision. Perhaps, the most difficult stewardship is to care for our own bodies and souls in ways that honor God’s gift of life—physical and spiritual.
Understanding through God’s revelation, the comings and goings of men and women, allows good judgment in the business of the day among all people. God teaches through Solomon’s words, the character of man. Couple Solomon’s word of wisdom with the love
of Christ and stewardship becomes much easier. It is an opportunity for us as Christians to love others and ourselves through God’s wisdom rather than our own.
Read Proverbs every day. It is truly a blueprint for soul and body care.

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
For gaining wisdom and being instructed:
For understanding insightful sayings;
for receiving wise instruction
(in) righteousness, justice and integrity;
For teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced,
knowledge and discretion to a young man.
Proverbs 1:1-4

April 29, 2013

Thoughts and Reflections from Pastor Steve – May 2013

What a great way to worship our Lord as we gathered for the Children’s lovefeast on Sunday. The kids from the school and our kids were part of the service. Our kids and youth were dieners as they served all of us. What a great sight it was!
To me this was part of the church in action. I saw only part of the church in that there were many who helped plan, participate and cheer on the church family. Many helped present this gift to God. It was the best kind of gift because so many were part of the gift. And that is what has been happening at church for many months. There are many more who are part of the ministries of Little Church than ever before.
One of the blessings that comes from a shared ministry is that the Holy Spirit becomes the glue and the energy. Too often the Holy Spirit gets put aside when individuals or small groups of individuals want to be the focus or take control. Yes, there needs to be some planning and coordinating certain details. However, when the goals of individuals become too important and the fruit of the Spirit is lost, there is no gift given to God. He does not
receive the joy of something which presents His love. God has given gifts to a church to be used by His children for His glory. His joy comes when the people come together as one directed by the Holy Spirit.
I believe Little Church is discovering more of the gifts and realizing more of the joy God desires. This will continue to grow as more of us learn to join in the way God sees the church.
Come be part of His plan!
Pastor Steve

April 28, 2013

Sermon – Going To Worship – Rev. Steve Wilson

Worship our Lord and Savior in spirit and in truth. Present your total self to God in worship. Be in His presence. Bring your spirit and give it to God. Jesus wants us to be filled by Him and worship with Him. Are you allowing God to flow through you in worship? Are you making yourself available in worship to see what the Holy Spirit has for you?
John 4:21-24, Romans 12:1

www.littlechurchonthelane.com/audio/2013.04.28.mp3

April 21, 2013

Sermon – Seeking Faith Like A Child – Chaz Snider

Today’s service was led by our children from Little Church on the Lane and the Weekday School. Through songs, dance, reading scripture, and serving a Lovefeast they shared their faith. Chaz Snider delivered the message, challenging us to live into the wonder of God’s love. Matthew 19:13-15 and Romans 8:15-17.

www.littlechurchonthelane.com/audio/2013.04.21.mp3

April 21, 2013

The Counseling Corner 04-21-2013

By Steve Wilson

When I married many years ago, I came to the altar with a few expectations. I was young and had little experience with dating relationships. However, consciously and subconsciously I had a few ideas of the way a marriage would look. Certainly my bride, who gave me the tingles, would meet my expectations. I thought we would continue our joyful, exciting relationship from this point forward.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that I had been telling myself a lie. “Where had all the flowers gone?” It was easy to point the finger at my wife. Why weren’t things going the way I had imagined? It wasn’t until I encountered a situation where I was able to see myself as a husband instead of a son to my parents that I realized I needed to own my disappointment—even though it has taken many years to uncover my silly thinking.

Our expectations and the way we handle the disappointments come from lifelong wounds and desires. They are old brain and old-self beliefs, which can confuse and cause pain. They are lies, which are hard to realize until we see them in full view. Then we can recognize them as failing us. I had to see that my anger didn’t solve anything. My anger kept inside with no sharing solved nothing. It was all learned from a family history and was very powerful just waiting to come out. The lies and healing was ready to happen upon realizing that the problem was mine. It is the same situation Paul talks about in Romans 12:2. He says, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” So they knew about this two thousand years ago!

Every one of us has old brain memories and habits. They take care of wounds and hurts when we least expect it. Unfortunately, we keep them and believe them to work until faced with the truth. The healthy couples learn this and decide to help each other change. The unhealthy couples keep them going until they divorce. Many keep them going into many more marriages.

There is no reason to remain loyal to the old brain ways. Be transformed by claiming the old and learning about how to begin in a new way. It can be done.

April 19, 2013

The Counseling Corner — 04.19.2013

By Steve Wilson

Little Church on the Lane has been in existence for many years. In the early years the founding pastor wrote an article for the paper called The Everyday Counselor. These articles dealt with all aspects of marriage, family and life. There is a book formed by these articles by the Rev. Herbert Spaugh (which is still in existence).

In light of this history, I am attempting to reclaim this history and start again. As a pastor and licensed marriage and family therapist, I have decided to write some articles dealing with the same subject matter. Rumor has it that Rev. Spaugh wrote from his private caboose in that he loved trains. Perhaps I can write from my favorite golf hole in that I love golf. As a grandfather of five, I could write as I sit in a playhouse sipping pretend juice. Regardless of where I write, I will give it a try.

Relationships and families are so important to us yet we don’t take much time to understand how they work. Most just want “it” to happen wonderfully without the fuss and effort. This is tough to do when families see, speak, hear, and act out of different languages and viewpoints. How can this be when we are out of the same gene pool or have committed to love one another forever? Why not when there are different sexes, birth order, personality styles, life stages, roles, expectations, likes, dislikes, pulls from outside, old habits evident and not evident from the past.

I will try to explore these areas in hopes of giving hope to the blessing of family. Thank God there is God to help us love and forgive as we stumble along! For family is His creation and He has given us the tools to enjoy His gift. Perhaps we can be still long enough to learn from Him and see the blessing. I’m willing. How about you?

May 17, 2013

Gospel Lesson — 05.19.2013

³⁵Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

— Matthew 9:35-38

May 17, 2013

Epistle Lesson — 05.19.2013

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

⁵Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. ⁷Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹²Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

¹³Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

¹⁴Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

¹⁷“‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
¹⁸Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
¹⁹I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
²⁰The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
²¹And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

— Acts 2:1-21

May 17, 2013

Old Testament Reading — 05.19.2013

³¹“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
³²It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,”
declares the Lord.
³³“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
³⁴No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”

— Jeremiah 31:31-34

May 17, 2013

Silent Meditation — 05.19.2013

Spirit filled souls are ablaze for God. They love with a love that glows. They serve with a faith that kindles. They serve with a devotion that consumes. They hate sin with fierceness that burns. They rejoice with a joy that radiates. Love is perfected in the fire of God.

— Samuel Chadwick

May 17, 2013

Watchword for the Week — 05.19.2013

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

— Romans 8:14

May 15, 2013

Singstude

Gus Farmer led a Singstude on Sunday, May 5. Old favorites as well as some less familiar hymns were sung by the audience. Gus played the organ with command and led the singing from behind the organ. A joyful noise was made by all. Afterwards, a delicious meal was served for the singers. Great fellowship was enjoyed. Thanks Gus!

May 10, 2013

Gospel Lesson — 05.12.2013

²⁰“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

²⁴“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

²⁵“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

— John 17:20-26

May 10, 2013

Epistle Lesson — 05.12.2013

¹²“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. ¹³I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

¹⁴“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

¹⁶“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

¹⁷The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

²⁰He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

²¹The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

— Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

May 10, 2013

Psalm of Praise — 05.12.2013

¹Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
²Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
³Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

⁴For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
⁵For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
⁶Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

⁷Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
⁸Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
⁹Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
¹⁰Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.

¹¹Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
¹²Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
¹³Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his faithfulness.

— Psalm 96

May 10, 2013

Time of Silence — 05.12.2013

¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

— Matthew 28:18-20

May 10, 2013

Silent Meditation — 05.12.2013

Whatever you do, wherever you live, if you belong to Jesus Christ, the call from heaven has come to you to the highest honor a human being can experience. The Son of God is spreading His love, His lifestyle, and His life-saving message across this planet and you know what? He has summoned you to join Him in glorious Administration. Don’t settle for anything less.

— Ron Hutchcraft

May 10, 2013

Watchword for the Week — 05.12.2013

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

— Psalm 97:12

April 26, 2013

Gospel Lesson — 04.28.2013

³¹When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. ³²If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

³³“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

³⁴“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

— John 13:31-35

April 26, 2013

Epistle Lesson — 04.28.2013

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ²I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

⁵He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

⁶He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.

— Revelation 21:1-6

April 26, 2013

Psalm of Praise — 04.28.2013

¹Praise the Lord, my soul.

Lord my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

²The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
³ and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
⁴He makes winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.

⁵He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.
⁶You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
⁷But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
⁸they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
⁹You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.

¹⁰He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
¹¹They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
¹²The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
¹³He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
¹⁴He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
¹⁵wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.
¹⁶The trees of the Lord are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
¹⁷There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the junipers.
¹⁸The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.

¹⁹He made the moon to mark the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.
²⁰You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
²¹The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
²²The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.
²³Then people go out to their work,
to their labor until evening.

²⁴How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
²⁵There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
²⁶There the ships go to and fro,
and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.

²⁷All creatures look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
²⁸When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
²⁹When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
³⁰When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.

³¹May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works—
³²he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

³³I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
³⁴May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the Lord.
³⁵But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

Praise the Lord.

— Psalm 104

April 26, 2013

Time of Silence — 04.28.2013

After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:

“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God…

— Revelation 19:1

April 26, 2013

Silent Meditation — 04.28.2013

There is power in praise. When we focus on the greatness, love, mercy, care, presence, and power of God, we are lifted above our limitations. Our minds are directed to a source of strength beyond ourselves. We gain perspective for our own time and circumstances. Problems are seen in a different light, perplexities untangle, confusion often vanishes.

— Maxie Dunnam

April 26, 2013

Watchword for the Week — 04.28.2013

Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.”

— Revelation 21:6

April 21, 2013

Gospel Lesson — 04.21.2013

¹³When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). ¹⁴It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.

“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.

¹⁵But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.

— John 19:13-15

April 19, 2013

Epistle Lesson — 04.21.2013

¹²I am writing to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
¹³I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.

¹⁴I write to you, dear children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.

— 1John 2:12-14

April 19, 2013

Psalm of Praise — 04.21.2013

¹Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
in the heavens.
²Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
³When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
⁴what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?

⁵You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
⁶You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
⁷all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
⁸the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

⁹Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

— Psalm 8

April 19, 2013

Silent Meditation — 04.21.2013

Be free—simple, a child. But be a sturdy child, who fears nothing, who speaks out frankly, who lets himself be led, who is carried in the arms; in a word, one who knows nothing, can do nothing, can anticipate and change nothing, but who has a freedom and a strength forbidden to the great. This childhood baffles the wise, and God Himself speaks by the mouth of such children.

— Francois Fenelon

April 19, 2013

Watchword for the Week — 04.21.2013

Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!

— Revelation 7:10

April 14, 2013

Children’s Service April 21, 2013

The children at Little Church on the Lane will express their faith by sharing songs, Bible stories, and even continue a Moravian tradition of a children’s Lovefeast on April 21st during the 11:00am worship service.

We will recognize God’s love for children and their value to His service in the church. Our guests will be children and parents of the Weekday School with the children singing during the service.

It will be a joyful time for everyone as we celebrate God’s love for us and our children. We look forward to having the kids and adults worship together!

We are called to be like children with joy and trust. Come worship in this special way and bring a friend.

April 12, 2013

Gospel Lesson — 04.14.2013

21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: ²Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

¹⁵When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

¹⁷The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

April 12, 2013

Epistle Lesson — 04.14.2013

¹¹Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ¹²In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

¹³Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”

¹⁴The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

— Revelation 5:11-14

April 12, 2013

Time of Silence — 04.14.2013

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

— Colossians 2:6-7

April 12, 2013

Silent Meditation — 04.14.2013

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

— Matthew 11:28