Bethlehem: The place where God’s love broke in

Where love breaks in

This is what happens when God’s power breaks in: darkness is cast out. The power of evil spirits is broken and driven away. The Holy Spirit creates a pure atmosphere, one of unity and of peace.

The little stable in Bethlehem was a place where God’s love broke in. While on earth, Jesus expected God’s kingdom to break in. His expectation was that light must break in upon this darkened earth. He saw that death had heaped up a barrier so that light could not come into life on earth. Therefore he sacrificed his life so that in the area of death an opening might be made; so that there might be a rift in the layer of gloomy fog around the earth – an opening through which the light of God could come in. If a house has even only one window where the sun shines in, it can no longer be dark inside the house.

If Jesus opens a breach in death then God’s kingdom comes down to this earth. This was the faith that the early Christian church had when they waited for the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They were determined to wait until the flame of the Spirit, like the star over Bethlehem, should come down at this one place. And this did happen; it came.

From the place where a stream enters, it pours out into the entire world. Where love breaks in, all other forces yield. Jesus was victorious on the cross, not by a greater force, but by a greater power – the power of love – in comparison with which all force is nothing. No human force is able to achieve anything in comparison to the power of love.

The birth of Jesus is the in-breaking of the power of love.

Eberhard Arnold

A birthday blessing -- thank you all!

Thank you, Amber! You blessed me so much with your special card... and I love the faith remembrance! I now have one on my office desk and at home, thanks to you! :-)

And, a very special thank you to each one of you who made the huge surprise party a success. You could have knocked me over w. a feather! You pulled it off... and Joyce with the veggie cake! Oh my goodness: who would've thunk it? And the cake w. my picture on it... a work of art! I never would have imagined such works of art, and each card and gift were simply perfect. THANK YOU, all!

I love you all, and bless you! :-)

It's time for Sunday Evening Fellowship!

A spiritual study whose time has time! 7:15 p.m.

See you here, Lord willing!

Note: This awesome flyer was created by Luke Enfinger. Stop in at Superior Water Works and tell him thanks... thanks, Luke!

A prayer for Okeechobee

Here's the front page of our local newspaper from a week ago. It really captures well the dynamic of Okeechobee: the wildlife and nature aspect, the human story and need, and the wealth of people, the heart and smiling faces.

I knew Bobbie, the lady slain over the TV. She had a heart to help people, and ended up a victim of evil persons asking for "help." Also, I attended the services yesterday for three local boys killed in the truck crash, Joshua Creasman, Carson Williams, and Devon Venables. It's tough. Many heartbreaking things. Our great little city needs prayer.

God bless you all.

p.s. second page here for those interested in reading the stories from the front page.

Sunday evening open fellowship

STARTING AUGUST 9th, 7:15 p.m.

This will be an interactive study format, open to all persons interested in growing in faith. It will be informal and low-key, high on content and fellowship, dynamic and free flowing. Discussion and questions encouraged! Come and be a part! :-)

Leadership meeting

OPC Leadership Meeting

• Time: 9:00 a.m.
• Date: June 13
  
• Place: Les & Mary's place
• What: Elders and Deacons

Let us open our hearts for the touch of God, receiving His direction and guidance!

God bless each one of you leaders, and see you there!

Pentecost Sunday worship

Special Pentecost worship service this Sunday, May 31st

We will be commemorating the first Christian Pentecost this Sunday, looking back to when the Holy Spirit descended on the believers in the Upper Room, and they proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ -- all the gathered nations hearing the message in their own language and dialect!

Looking back to that time, we will read Acts 2:1-12 in various languages... listening for the wind of the Spirit, hearing the love of God for every tongue, tribe and nation.

Come and be touched by God's Spirit, receiving the life-saving gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Alleluia!

May 31st -- 5th Sunday Community Service

Okeechobee Presbyterian Church will be hosting the 5th Sunday Community Worship Service

Where: 312 N. Parrott Ave. [across from Five Guys restaurant, look for the steeple sign!]
When: Sunday evening May 31st
Time: 6:00 p.m.

• The Community Choir will be singing, led by Sandy Perry, Director.
• Pastor Carey McKee from More 2 Life Ministries will be giving the sermon
• Various pastors from the community will be leading in worship

Come and receive a blessing!

Emily Ritter Graduation Reception

A graduation reception honoring Emily Ritter will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the Okeechobee Presbyterian Church on May 24, beginning at 11:30.

Emily will be graduating from Mount Dora High School on May 29, 2009.

She was a student at Grace Christian and Okeechobee Middle and High Schools before moving to Mount Dora in 2008.

Emily plans to pursue a career in ministry. She is the daughter of Paul and Sherri Ritter.

Tenebrae video for Maundy Thursday

A video that took a lot of work to put together -- my first foray into creating multi-media for use on worship. Of course, Patrick was the technical brain behind this! He worked so hard to make the Tenebrae service nice: thanks, Patrick! This is way above the call of duty -- heavenly.

So, friends, enjoy this prayer song and video.

Make sure to click the full screen version, second button from the right.

God bless you this Easter season!

Loy
p.s. Translation of Acuerdate oh Señor

Acuerdate oh Señor

Acuerdate oh Señor
De las naciones de la tierra acuerdate
Que tu favor y tu amor
Sean derramados sobre el mundo oh Señor
En tu bondad acuerdate
En tu bondad acuerdate

Remember, oh Sir!

Remember, oh Sir!
For the nations of the earth remember
That your favor and your love
Are spilled out on the world, oh Sir!
In your kindness remember…
In your kindness remember …

Tenebrae service on Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service @ 7:00 p.m.

• This will be a powerful service of remembrance of our Lord, His suffering and death on a cross, His bearing of our sins in His own body on the tree.
• It will not a a lengthy service, but powerful and evocative in the early Tenebrae form: readings, light and darkness, walking with Christ to the cross, giving thanks for His sacrifice for us.

Come and take part!

God bless you this Holy Week.

Selah

A service of witness to the resurrection -- David Ashley

Memorial service for David E. Ashley

• Saturday, March 28th @ 10:30 a.m.
• Followed by refreshments in the Fellowship Hall and a time of remembering his life.

What a man of faith and love!

We give thanks for this wonderful man and celebrate his life in Christ.

Selah.

Egypt: Land of Ancient Monuments and Christian Community

Egypt: Land of Ancient Monuments and Christian Community

Dr. Clarence Menninga will be hosting an informative lecture at Okeechobee Presbtyerian Church, entited, "Egypt: Land of Ancient Monuments and Christian Community."

• Date: March 15
• Time: 6:00 p.m.

All are welcome!

The talk will be followed by a time for questions and answers, and then a light refreshment in the Fellowship Hall. Admission is free. So everyone can afford to come!

Dr. Menninga is a Professor Emeritus from Calvin College, well-learned and warmhearted. His talks are always well appreciated by those who take the time to hear. So come and be blessed!

Turning from self

Blessed are...

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6

Turning from Self

The criticism is sometimes leveled against Christianity that it is, fundamentally, a selfish faith. You can see where the idea comes from. Many of the most popular hymns and songs seem to have an unhealthy preoccupation with the self. For example, “And Can It Be?” is a stirring affirmation of the saving work of Christ, but it does concentrate upon the first person singular. “My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.” Without further explanation, personal piety can easily come across as being selfish. It’s as though the world does not exist. All that seems to matter is my relationship to Christ. And so I sing about my forlorn condition, apart from grace; I mourn my sinful state; then, I rejoice to learn the story of salvation. Christ dies for me – I shall live forever. It does sound like it’s all about me!

Of course this is a caricature of true Christianity. I must deal with my sin as an individual for the very good reason that it is my sin that I must confess. And I must come to my Savior as an individual, since the punishment that He bore was mine. However, if my faith remains focused upon myself then it cannot bear fruit. As I grow in Christ, I learn to think less and less of myself and more and more of my Savior. At the same time, I am to become more aware of those who share my condition, and to reach out to them with the blessings of the Gospel. Following the example of Christ, I am to turn from self and pour out my life in the service of others. So it is that, in the fourth Beatitude, Jesus begins to move from the blessedness that arises from poverty of spirit, personal loss, and humility, to a blessing that requires community. If I am really to hunger and thirst for righteousness, then I cannot do so alone.

Prayer

Lord God,
Release me from the introspection
that cares only for my own desires.
Teach me the liberty of service,
the joy of finding and of doing Your will.
Make me secure in the righteousness that is Your gift,
then help me to share it with others.
For Your love’s sake.
Amen.

Selah.

From Blessed Are..., a Lenten devotional by Alan Trafford.

Memorial service for Doug Williams

A service of witness to the resurrection

Tuesday, February 25 @ Okeechobee Presbyterian Church

• A viewing from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
• Worship service @ 7:00 p.m.

The combined community choir and OPC choir will be singing

Sandwiches and light refreshment will be served afterward in the Fellowship Hall.

Ash Wednesday service

Join us as we begin our journey of Lent on Ash Wednesday, walking with Jesus toward the cross. Our journey will emphasize penitence and confession, in dust and ashes we discover the key of glory.

Service: 7:30 p.m. on February 25th

We will join in this service with More2Life Ministries -- together we will humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, that He might lift us up. May this real expression of unity bring the favor and smile of our Lord, hope for our land.

You are welcome, too!

Note: source of graphic here.