We also missed Jeannette who was out ill today but we still sung her a belated Happy Birthday song (and get well wishes Jeannette!).
We then sang "This is My Father's World" proceeded our Scripture Reading of Matthew 22:34-40...
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love our neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Then while our Music team lead us in "Give Thanks", we prepared for the morning's sermon on "A Return to the First Love".
Pastor Stanley's message touched on these themes:
- To think of the thrill of something new - whether it is new toys for a child at Christmas time or the excitment of a new job or new house or a new journey unfolding.
- Our hearts are stirred and our hopes are high but many times, after just a bit, the drudgery can begin to set in and we can see that the spark is now gone.
- He shared with us Rev. 2:1-3... “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary".
- And then he shared verses 4 and 5... “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
- The good questions we can ask of ourselves. Have we lost that excitement that we first had as new Christians, just starting our faith journey? Are we still excited or just moving along?
All good things to ponder as we grow in faith.
We closed the service by singing "Have Thine Own Way Lord".