Sunday, March 29 – via Zoom Video

Sunday School

I listened and watched on my laptop. Cerwin watched my laptop while listening through his cell phone’s Bluetooth.

Opening Songs: Beautiful recorded music

Opening Comments: Matt Patches (Sunday School Superintendent)

We are all getting used to change. Today is our first Sunday using Zoom. The only none-change in our lives is God – because He never changes.

Sunday School Teacher: Steve Hershey (my youngest brother)

He told a Bible story in a method in which he excels.

The lesson was from the book of Malachi. However, he introduced us to Malachi by starting with the capture of Daniel.

Steve even had Brenda (his wife) bring him food to depict the time when Daniel refused to eat the king’s meat and asked that he and his friends have only vegetables.

The story eventually led us to Ezekiel, Belshazzar, Haggai, Esther, Nehemiah and then Malachi.

It was a powerful way of bringing these people and stories to life and how they obeyed or disobeyed God, and how that affected their life and the life of Israel and the Israelites.

Opening: Announcements and Prayer Requests – Dave Wenger – our Elder-in-Charge.

Opening Devotions: Dustin Martin

The stories by Steve – of ordinary people – remind us to look for opportunities in our ordinary life. Kind and generous things we can do for those around us.

Sermon: Mark Bucher – a visiting minister from Maine.

He was supposed to be holding revival services at our church this week. However, he is giving a series of sermons, devotions, and children’s stories from his and Deb’s home in Lisbon Falls.

The Children’s Story – He displayed several empty, dented bottles and cans that may be considered trash. However, he reminded us that these articles can be redeemed for cash.

This is how Satan see us – trash.

However, Jesus came to redeem us and make us of value.

God sees worth in each one of us.

The Message – He opened with four words. Words he rewrote on his calendar each time he changed the page to a new month. He did this for two years to help keep his focus on God.

Extravagant Love – Extreme Devotion

This is worship.

We were made to worship.

When we take time to worship and reflect, it changes our outlook.

If we don’t understand sin, we cannot understand God’s mercy and grace.

Pondering God’s grace may make us lift our hands toward God or it may make us fall on our face or on our knees.

Our worship is guided and enhanced by His Spirit.

We can only see outward appearances, but God sees inward attitudes. He knows when we are worshiping in truth or if we are just looking good to others.

Three Areas of Worship – Gathering, Giving, Living

Worship in our Gathering

Gathering is setting aside a time to worship – a set apart time or day.

We can also worship with set aside songs.

Setting our lives apart for worship does not involve only one day a week. We should be set apart from this world every day of the week.

Set apart to gather and worship is an extreme privilege. Ponder that.

Worship in our Giving

God loves a cheerful giver. He delights in blessing us and He delights when we delight to give.

Take God at His word.

God loves when we “get it” – when we understand His principles.

Blessings for faithful giving may not happen today (sometimes they do) – but God’s blessings to those who practice His principles – happen during a lifetime.

Worship in our Living

God’s purpose for us means that He has set us apart for a specific purpose.

For example: He talked about two containers in their kitchen. One a container that can only be used for their compost pile. Nothing else can go in that container. The other container is a mixing bowl that is used for a variety of foods that the family eats. Nobody puts compost things in the mixing bowl – nor does anyone use the compost container for edible food.

In the same way, God wants us to be set apart. Our bodies should not be used for Satan’s garbage.

Godly living is an act of worship.

Closing Comments – Glendon Zook

Revival is restoring our relationship with our Father.

The other day his daughter was asked to take mail to the mailbox, but there was thunder rumbling in the area, so she asked Glendon to walk with her. (She felt safer with her father.)

Remember that God loves you and wants to walk with you – and nothing – not even the coronavirus can separate you from God’s love.

Dave Wenger closed by saying. I miss seeing your faces, but am grateful that we can wisely worship with this technology during the virus.