Midweek: Wednesday, May 4th, 2022

 

Midweek 5/4/22

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Calling all potential Greeters!
• Brave Women, Big God
• Birthdays Greetings

“. . . that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Romans 1:11

Music: no music rehearsals this week

PPM: Did you get a chance to watch the PPM Spring Program? It is so much fun! I’ve included the link below for another week, to make sure you all have a chance to enjoy it. https://youtu.be/HPeD6Mg9NPQ

Softball Info! I have some more information about softball. The league will run for 8 weeks. Teams can submit rosters of up to 20 players. . . . Ahem, we do not have that many so far. We need to submit info by June 1st. There’s still time, folks! Please contact Gretel in the office if you would like to be a part of the Co-Ed Softball League the Lebanon Parks Department is arranging for the summer season.

Graduates: Do you have someone in your family graduating this year from high school, college, or beyond? Please share with us the following information, so we can celebrate together this wonderful accomplishment. Finishing anything is significant, but finishing an academic career is extraordinary – we want to be sure you and your family know we are proud of you/them and your/their achievements. Please email: jenniewoods1966@gmailcom. Information needed:

• Full name of graduate
• Where they are graduating from (i.e.name of school)
• What they are graduating with (i.e. what degree – bachelors, masters, doctorate, etc. & focus of study – optional)
• Post-Graduate plans (i.e. college, graduate work, job, missions, etc.)

Calling all Greeters! Calling all Greeters! We need help! Not enough Greeters listed for this Sunday! Who will step up to help this month? Who can offer a smile and a “Welcome!”? Contact Gretel in the office and she will put your name on the list: Gretel@lebanonfpc.org or (765)482-5959

“Who will run away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” (Mark 16:3) I continue to ponder this verse, and as I considered it recently, what spoke to me was the bravery of these women. A trio of women approach Jesus’ tomb. It is the third day. There will be a stench. There is a huge stone in front of the tomb, far too heavy for them to move without assistance. None of this deters them. Jesus was sent to the cross by the religious leaders of the day who felt threatened by Jesus’ teaching and growing popularity. He was crucified on a Roman cross as a threat to political rule. To align one’s self with Jesus, even after His death, was risky at best. And yet . . . none of this kept the women away. Stone or no stone, stench or no stench, danger or no danger – they had a love for Jesus that surpassed every obstacle. Do we?

    Another example of a brave woman is Rahab. Rahab conversed with, housed, protected, and aided Israelite spies to Jericho. (See Joshua chapters 2 & 6) Though a woman literally on the edge of society, regularly confronted with disrespect and lack of acceptance due to her profession, she was nonetheless not only the head of her household – a rare thing for a woman to do in that day, but also someone whom the king knew to turn to for information. When the Israelite spies came to Jericho to sniff out the lay of the land, she could have, at the very least, ignored them or reported them. She did not. Because of her brave willingness to support the cause of the Israelite spies, their mission was accomplished. Would God have prevailed even without her assistance? Certainly, but thanks to her, Rahab and her entire family were spared in the destruction of Jericho and became a permanent part of the Israelite family. Rahab saw a need and bravely chose to step into the gap, trusting God. Do we?

    Whether we are confronting a tomb or an army, the answer is the same. God goes before us, beside us, and behind us. Who will move the stone? Who will do the heavy lifting? Who will fight for us? Who will protect us? Who will stand with us? The power of God moves mountains. Will we let it move us? The women in these stories chose to be brave, regardless of outcome, of their own fears, of the attitudes or prejudices of those around them, or any obstacles in their way. But . . . how do we actually do that?! Rahab clarified to the Israelite spies, “I know that the Lord has given you the land . . .” (Jos.2:9) She then went on to lay out for them the might and power of God. “The Lord your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below.” (Jos.2:11). How did Rahab act with bravery? She responded out of faith. Do we have that kind of faith? What she knew of God, she had “heard”, not seen, and yet believed. Can we believe, based on what we have heard? As for the women at the tomb, as soon as they asked the question of who would roll away the stone, the text says, “When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.” (Mark 16:4) How marvellous! And how like God – before we have even finished asking the question, the answer is already in action. In fact, before we even know to ask the question, He is already working on the answer. Perhaps these women did not realise what they did was a brave act. Perhaps they were just going forward together to do what needed to be done. Maybe bravery is sometimes simply about going forward together to do what needs to be done. I pray God will instill us with the bravery we need to go forward in faith. Amen.

“Happy Birthday to you! We celebrate with you! We love you, and we know God loves you too!” Penelope Morrison, 5/4. Dan Erwin, 5/8. Elizabeth Messenger, 5/10. Lynna Shaw, 5/10.

Interested in joining the prayer chain? Contact Phyllis Duff at (765)482-1485/ raduff2@att.net. Prayer based on Hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” by Martin Luther.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are a mighty fortress. You are bulwark never failing. You are our helper amid the flood, when mortal ills prevail. Our ancient foe is nothing compared to you. We cannot confide in our own strength. Striving in our own strength, we fail. The right man is on our side, the man of Your own choosing – Christ Jesus, Lord Sabaoth. From age to age He is the same, and He will win the battle. This world is filled with devils, and it threatens to undo us. But we choose not to fear, rather to believe that You have willed Your truth to triumph through us. The Prince of Darkness may be grim, but we do not need to tremble for him. We can endure his rage, for we know his doom is sure. You will triumph. Jesus will reign forever and ever. No matter what, Your truth abides still. May we continue to abide in You, our Mighty Fortress. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.