7 “Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.
8 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull from your stall
or of goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
14 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
Psalm 50:7-15 (NIV)
A week ago, we did not know where the thousands of dollars still needed for the IDES food pack on February 3&4 would come from. We say that we trust God to provide. But it can be easier to say that than to actually believe that it will happen. I am excited to share that God has provided over and above what was still needed for the IDES food pack! Like the psalmist of Psalm 50 states: God does not need anything from us. The world is His, and everything in it. He doesn’t need us, but He does invite us to participate in what He does. God has indeed incorporated many people’s generosity into His work of blessing others. He has exceeded what we thought might be near impossible. God has provided for the IDES food pack to happen, and more – with leftovers that can be seed money for another food pack down the road. In the gospels, when Jesus’ disciples didn’t catch fish all night, Jesus didn’t just provide exactly what they needed. He provided more. While it can be tempting to doubt God’s provision, we have a record of God showing up for what we need, and sometimes with more than what we need. May God give us wisdom to steward this gift well and be a blessing to hungry and needy people around the world through the ministry of IDES. Praise God! Praise God! Praise God!
Below you will find other CCC updates and resources.
See you Sunday if not before then!
Jordan Byrd
Read and begin reflecting on Luke 3:21-38 before the sermon on Sunday
We will continue in reframing/refocusing on the life, ministry, and mission of Jesus as the standard for our own lives. Specifically, we will listen for the good news that God has for us to hear and the step of obedience that He has for us to take as we reflect on the baptism and Lucan version of the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3.
IDES.org Food Pack, February 3&4
This year’s foodpack through IDES will happen: Saturday, February 3rd — 9am-noon; and Sunday, February 4th — Worship: 10am, Food Pack: 11:00am-2:30pm.
This event is a great opportunity to invite your family or friends to join you in being a blessing — to be the hands and feet of Jesus — to people in need around the world. You can invite and encourage people to participate via the information linked here.
The food packing process will happen at ten stations. Each station involves at least ten people. Would you consider being a table leader for one of these ten stations? All this role involves is receiving some further instruction from the IDES food pack coordinator, and being a point-person for your packing station to help relay any needs or questions to the IDES food pack coordinator. You can sign-up to be a table leader via the information linked here.
Merge Youth Group on Sunday, January 7th (6:30pm-7:30pm)
Games. Continue looking at the fruits of the Spirit. Come Sunday night to fellowship, learn, and connect with other students and caring adults! A youth retreat at the Southern Tier Church of Christ in Elmyra is also coming in February. Message Mitch Knight with any questions.
I found this podcast episode intriguing. The conversation in the podcast focuses on how insights from neuroscience can inform how we best connect with God, or have awareness of what hinders our connection with God. One of the takeaways from the episode is how routinely offering gratitude is one of the best spiritual habits we can have to help connect and keep us connected to God amidst the messiness and brokenness of life. Watch or listen and engage the fuller conversation.
A significant upgrade took place in the church building this week, with the installation of a new screen and projector. The extreme generosity of those who have passed on before us played a crucial role in making this upgrade a reality. We're grateful for their relationship with God, which inspired them to be generous in leaving a lasting legacy. May we steward this upgraded resource well, using it to remind and proclaim the good news of Jesus week in and week out.