Little Church On The Lane

Lent — 02.22.2012

Patti Smith — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:36:15 +0000

In light of our focus on growing as a disciple, Lent can be a time of preparation for Easter and a searching of God’s presence in our lives. Ash Wednesday is a great place to begin 40 days of experiencing time with God. Each Sunday we will continue with the 7 Areas of Growth as a Disciple. The Passion Week, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter, there will be readings of Jesus’ life found in scripture. To do this allows Easter to be more than just another worship service. It can truly be a celebration which you have given preparation towards. He deserves your sacrifice to know His word in preparing for His Son’s greatest gift to us. A nursery is provided so that all can come!

Today is Ash Wednesday — 02.22.2012

Patti Smith — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:33:53 +0000

Ash Wednesday begins the time of searching our hearts and lives to understand the sacrifice God has made for us in giving His son. This is the essence of Lent which leads to Palm Sunday then into the Passion Week and then into the celebration of Easter. Ash Wednesday is a special day to recognize that we are mere dust and it is God who gives life. Ash Wednesday begins the 40 days of Lent, not counting Sundays, which ends with the Saturday before Easter. Easter is our celebration of all that is given to us through Jesus.

Our Ash Wednesday worship will take place on February 22. There will be a service at noon of prayer, and reflection concluding with Holy Communion. There will also be a service at 7:00 p.m. Both services will take place in the Chapel. There will be a nursery for the 7:00 service.

Exploring God’s Word — 02.22.2012

Patti Smith — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:30:59 +0000

Exploring God’s Word

Some of our members have been reading about God’s covenant to His people, the Jews. God keeps His promises and has a heart for Israel and the people of Israel. As God’s children, we too can have a heart for Israel and its people. Jean Whipple has provided some questions and scripture for each of us to consider. Please let her or Pastor Steve know of your response.

1. What does God’s word tell us about His covenant with His chosen people? A few scriptures
to read are:
Genesis 17:7 (NIV)
Deuteronomy 7:6, 8-10 (NIV)
Deuteronomy 30:2-5 (NIV)

2. What does God’s word tell us about His restoration of the Jewish people to the Promised Land?
A few scriptures to read are:
Isaiah 11:11-12 (NIV)
Jermiah 16:14-15 (NIV)
Ezekiel 39:27-28 (NIV)

3. What is our responsibility as Christians, at this time, toward our Jewish brothers and sisters?
A few scriptures to read are:
Psalm 122:6-9 (NIV)
Isaiah 40:1-2 (NIV)
Romans 11 (The Message–especially verse 22–we are called to be kind, loving and caring.)

4. Are we being faithful to fulfill that responsibility?

Stewardship — 02.22.2012

Patti Smith — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:27:34 +0000

Bless the LORD, on my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty.
Psalm 104:1
The word that comes to mind is intentional. Giving to God deserves attention to detail, not a passing thought that ends with a dollar being tossed in the plate. Tithing our gifts deserves careful consideration through prayer and discussion. Taking the time to make a plan helps the process. God often opens our minds and hearts to possibilities when we prayerfully ask for his help. God understands our fear and our need to have control of what we think makes us secure.
Intentional giving is the key to the path of honoring God with our finances. Determine with God’s help when and how to give. Decide on the amount prayerfully. Ask for God’s direction and blessings while preparing your plan. God does answer prayer faithfully in fantastic ways.
Finally, execute your plan. Make your means of giving work for you and your family. Choose a method where you can be consistent. Use your tithes and gifts to God as worship of God and His goodness. Make worshiping God your true intent through tithes and offerings.

Sermon – Rev. Mohamed Braima

Barbara Garwood — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:08:06 +0000

Rev. Mohamed Braima leads Worship this morning. Rev. Braima was ordained as a Deacon of the Moravian Church and is serving as a missionary in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

www.littlechurchonthelane.com/audio/2012.02.19.mp3

A Quality Needed to Grow as a Disciple of Jesus — Fellowship —02.12.2012

Patti Smith — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:10:51 +0000

A Quality Needed to Grow as a Disciple of Jesus —
Fellowship

Fellowship is a vital part of God’s plan for His church. In Acts 2:42 it is shown as one of the essentials. It is described in some ways as breaking bread and sharing sincere hearts. When believers get together in fellowship we do more than eat. We share lives and open ourselves to God’s spirit moving within us. We become blessed by experiencing God’s presence. We also become a blessing to others as God’s spirit provides the qualities of caring for each other.

It may be awkward or even scary to allow ourselves to share our sincere hearts with one another. God helps us to have different personalities and yet care for one another. It happens as we rely on the Holy Spirit. The task for us is to make ourselves available to God’s spirit and each other. Each of us is called to fellowship with one another. If not, we are unable to be blessed by God or become a blessing to others.

Genesis 12:1-2

John 7:38

John 14:12

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

1 John 4:11

1 John 4:15-16

Galatians 5:22-23

1 Peter 1:22

Ephesians 4:2-3

Acts 2:46-47

Choose one of these verses or one of your own.

Then read it over and over and memorize it to keep with you

My verse is: _________________________________________

Gospel Lesson — 02.19.2012

Patti Smith — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:04:06 +0000

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

⁷ Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

— Mark 9:2-9

Epistle Lesson — 02.19.2012

Patti Smith — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:02:12 +0000

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

— 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Psalms of Worship — 02.19.2012

Patti Smith — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:48:35 +0000

¹Praise the LORD.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.

² Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
³ Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
⁴ For the LORD takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.
⁵ Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor
and sing for joy on their beds.

⁶ May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
⁷ to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
⁸ to bind their kings with fetters,
their nobles with shackles of iron,
⁹ to carry out the sentence written against them—
this is the glory of all his faithful people.

Praise the LORD.

— Psalm 149

¹Praise the LORD.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
² Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
⁴ praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD.

— Psalm 150

Time of Silence — 02.19.2012

Patti Smith — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:45:17 +0000

I love you, LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

— Psalm 18:1-2