The View from the Pulpit:

Dear People of God, Gathered at Resurrection,

As we begin our faith-journey through the Holy Season of Lent, I would like to share thought-provoking story that hopefully will remind us all of our privilege and responsibility of living and sharing the Good News of our Savior – news that is brought into clear focus during the Lenten, Holy Week and Easter Seasons:

The  Life  Saving  Station

Once upon a time there was a region on the northeast coast that was very dangerous for ships because of many hidden shoals and rocks and sudden, unexpected storms.  Ships were being sunk, lives were being lost, families broken apart, and many sailors injured for life because of shipwrecks in the area.  One day a concerned individual came along with an idea: why not build a life-saving station in the area!  He shared his idea with a few friends and neighbors, and before long they had built a life-saving station, bought boats and buoys and even built a lighthouse.  It was such a good idea that many people joined in.  Many lives were saved, many families held together and many injuries avoided.  For years people were proud of the good that the life-saving station did.

Over a period of time the life-saving station became a central part of their lives.  They held fellowship suppers, social events and special meetings at the building.  Then one day some of the members of the life-saving station decided that the old building needed repair, the worn and uncomfortable furniture and seats replaced.  So the people decided to build a new life-saving station.  When it was completed, they had the largest, most beautiful, most functional life-saving facility around.  They increased the number of activities in the building.  They held all kinds of social events.  More and more people became a part of their life-saving fellowship.

But a strange thing happened.  Fewer and fewer people were willing to go out and warn the ships, and even fewer were willing to go out in a storm to rescue sailors from a wrecked ship.  The activities at the life-saving station took all their time.  They just didn’t have time to save lives.  So they decided to hire others – professional life-savers – to do the job for them.  They could support the life-saving station without becoming directly involved in the difficult, unpleasant job of saving lives.  Several years later the members of the life-saving station decided that the life-saving activities were taking too much of their money.  It was costing more and more to support their life-saving station and its activities in the manner to which they were accustomed.  They needed the funds to support their life-saving station socials, so they stopped paying the professional life-savers.  Many years later a member of the life-saving station asked what was their purpose.  “Why, ”answered a member, “to provide a nice place for us and our families to fellowship, to have our community and social events.  Why do you ask?”

Let me tell you another story:  Once upon a time there was a society where people lived in the midst of immorality and didn’t know Jesus Christ as their Savior from sin, death and hell.  Knowing that one of the by-products of a society under-girded by Christian values, some Christians decided to build a church . . .

(reprinted from an article by Donald Wildmon in the AFA Journal, January, 2001) 

I pray that this story makes us stop and think – what about Resurrection?

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Join with your congregational family TONIGHT for the ASH WEDNESDAY COMMUNION SERVICE with ASHES – 7:00 PM,

as we begin the following Sermon Series:

THE GOSPEL IN SEVEN WORDS is the Lenten Midweek Sermon Series Theme as we gather each Wednesday in the Lenten Season:

Imagine a friend or family member who is unfamiliar with the Christian faith asks you to summarize the Gospel.  He/she isn’t looking for a laundry list of doctrines, and they do not have an interest in hearing you recite the Apostles’ Creed.  What is the heart of the matter: “In seven words or less, tell me what you believe as a Christian.”  What would you say – how would you put it?  Are you prepared to confess your faith in Jesus?

To be a Christian is to “believe with your heart” and “confess with your mouth” the Good News of God’s love for us in Christ [Romans 10:9-10].  Peter calls us to be prepared to give a reason for the HOPE we have as Christians [1 Peter 3:15].  Christians have the best news in the world to share – but are we prepared to share it?

During this season of Lent, we’re going to prepare to celebrate Holy Week by sharing WHY Holy Week is so important.  The sermons in our Lent Midweek services will resemble work-shops as we work together to formulate faithful Christian confessions.

COME PREPARED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONVERSATION!

And join with your congregational family on the Sundays of Lent,

as another sermon series will begin:

As we gather on the Sundays of Lent (February 18 – March 25), we will have the opportunity to journey with our Savior, Jesus, as He sets His face to go to Jerusalem, and there to fulfill His calling to be the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  What tremendous love for all, and Jesus pays for our sins on the Cross of Calvary!  This is a “Good News” that we are challenged to share and to live in all that we think, do and say.  And as part of that call to “Go … make disciples … baptizing …. and teaching them,” the Sunday morning sermon series theme is “NO Silent Saints!”, as we examine the important role we all have in our congregational Mission Statement to LOVE and obey the Savior, Jesus – to EQUIP believers for ministry – and to SHARE the Good News of the Gospel, as we LIVE in GOD’S GRACE!  Indeed, in God’s Kingdom there should be NO Silent Saints!

Invite a relative, friend, neighbor and/or co-worker –

Introduce them to Jesus the Savior!

Pastor Hank Hollar