Midweek: Wednesday, June 1st, 2022

 

Midweek 6/1/22

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Welcome Pasor Je!
• Life on the Edge: Place of Discouragement or Courage?

“. . . that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Romans 1:12

Welcome, Pastor Je Lee, to our church home! May the Lord guide you in all your ways, fill you with His reviving Spirit all your days, encourage your heart right from the start, and bless and comfort you in all you do.

Speaking of “home”, if anyone has a room they could share with Pastor Je, or knows of anyone who has one available, please contact Gretel in the office by phone (765)482-5959 or over email Gretel@lebanonfpc.org. Pastor Je is in transition right now in terms of lodging. Please let the church  now if there is a way you can help make his immediate stay here more comfortable. Thank you!

Music: There is rehearsal this Thursday the 2nd!

Preparation for June 5th (Pastor Je's 1st Sunday), as well as Pentecost: Sanctuary, 7pm on:

• Thursday, June 2nd

Preparation for Worship in the Park, with CCC, on Sunday, June 26th (time TBD): 7pm on:

• Thursday, June 9th and
• Thursday, June 16th
• possibly at CCC on Wednesday, June 22nd time TBA.

Choir will then be on hiatus until at least Labor Day & until Pastor Je has had more opportunities to worship with us, meet with the Worship Team, and determine what his needs and wishes are for the choir.

PPM is on semester break until June 6th. Teachers will be in the classrooms this week cleaning. There is also carpet removal and flooring installation going on. Much activity here for PPM, despite the absence of the children!

Greeter Word Puzzle: See if you can figure out the missing word for the following sentences:

Our Greeter list is surprisingly ________. (Rhymes with “tin”.)
Please stop by the board and fill your name ____. (Rhymes with “win.”)
We love to see your smiling _____. (Rhymes with “grace”.)
Come be a greeter and let your love for the church fill this _____. (Rhymes with “pace”.)

Graduates: Do you have someone graduating this year from high school, college, or beyond? Please share with us the following information, so we can celebrate together this wonderful accomplishment. Please email: jenniewoods1966@gmail.com. Information needed:

• Full name of graduate & Post-Graduate plans
• Where they are graduating from and what with (i.e.name of school and degree/focus of study)

Have you ever felt like you’re living on the edge? Like you are not quite sure where your place is, or if you fit in? That can be a lonely place to be; lonely, as well as discouraging, frustrating, confusing, draining, and disheartening. It can also be motivational. We have a wonderful example in scripture of how living on the edge can be life-changing. This takes courage and strength, exactly two of the areas God is well able to supply our need. “Be strong and of a good courage,” God told Joshua. “Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9). A few chapters later in the book of Joshua, we meet Rahab and, in her, an example of strength and courage.

    Rahab lived life literally on the edge. She lived in Jericho on the wall and is identified as a prostitute. (Joshua 2:1). We know she was a trusted source of information, for after introducing her in the first verse of chapter two, the very next verse says the king of Jericho sought her out to learn information about spies from Israel whom he had heard were travelling through the country. We see from the account of Rabab’s encounter with the Israelite spies that she functioned in the role of caretaker for her family, a role typically reserved for men. (Joshua 2:13). Rahab risked her life by hiding the Israelite spies from those in Jericho who were looking for them and by volunteering to help the Israelites both then and later when they came back to Jericho to conquer it. It would have taken courage and strength to make the choices she made and the actions she took.

    You might say, yes, but was she a believer in God? Did she make those decisions and take those actions based on faith? Her story comes after the account of the Israelites wandering journey in the desert for 40 years, a journey necessitated because of their lack of faith. The Israelites were God’s chosen people; He had led them out of Egypt by a series of miracles and preserved them through another set of miracles. However, continually, they doubted and complained. Yet Rahab, a gentile, living in the city of Jericho in Canaan, a hostile territory, displayed faith in her first encounter with the Israelites. She could have given away their location to the king, and perhaps earned for herself favour with the king or even monetary reward. She did not. Instead, she readily admitted, “I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us . . . For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you . . .” (Joshua 2:9). She confessed, “As soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” (Joshua 2:11). If there remained no more courage in any man, how did she show such courage? I believe Rahab exercised faith in the Lord God and I think this gave her courage and strength. Therefore, if Rahab, in such dramatic circumstances, can display faith and courage, and find strength in the Lord, can’t we? Living life on the edge can mean living in the centre of God’s will.

“Happy Birthday to you! We celebrate with you! Please know that we love you, and God loves you too!” Elizabeth Clem, 6/1; Marty Willard, 6/3. Happy Anniversary to: Dr. Phil and Cyndy Gibbs 6/6 & Margi and Al McConnaha: 6/6.

Interested in joining the prayer chain? Contact Phyllis Duff at (765)482-1485/ raduff2@att.net. The following prayer is taken from the hymn “Day by Day” by Karolina Sandell-Berg”. Prayer taken from Psalm 121.

Dear Heavenly Father, We lift up our eyes to the hills, from whence comes our help. Our help comes You, the Lord, whom made heaven and earth. You who keep Israel will neither slumber nor sleep, so we know Your help is available 24/7. The Lord is our Keeper and the shade on our right hand. You will preserve us from all evil, preserve our soul, and preserve our going out and coming in. We praise You and we honour You. In Jesus’s name, Amen.