Pastor Joel

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October, 16, 2022   Pastor Joel shared the book We Believe in You.  The kids were delighted to hear that the animals believe in them.
Do you believe that dreams come true?
We believe it.
Absolutely!
Just like we believe in you.

February 27, 2022, we had an evening worship at 6 PM in the Living Room.
We had a great fellowship time with snacks.
Kathy Fallon was our speaker and shared a message about the transfiguration.
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January 30th was the first 5th Sunday of 2022. We had a discussion on community unity. Kathy Fallon shared that the term 'Christian' was first coined in Antioch probably some 10-15 years after Jesus' death and resurrection, but was a term of contempt.  There were no church buildings in the first century only communities that centered around a person or persons who had been present with Jesus.  Eventually those communities became church congregations. 
True community requires transparency, authenticity, and confession.
We had breakout groups and discussed the following questions:
Question #1  Why is community important to Christians?
Question #2   Why is community important to God?
Question #3   What can be done to improve Christian community?

Ten benefits of community
-Community challenges you to be more like Jesus.
-Community meets practical needs.
-Community carries you emotionally. 
-Community reveals your gifts and talents.
-Community opens your eyes to the needs of others.
-Community empowers your relationship with God. 
-Community meets our needs for love.
-Community teaches you to work through conflicts.
-Community movies you the chance to forgive.

Sunday, January 02, 2022. We had a very nice worship service and a great way to start the new year with communion. Karen Chestnut from Buffalo, NY. congregation shared the message, Gladness for Sorrow today.
Sunday, December 26, We had a beautiful praise and worship service! Kathy Fallon shared the message "Listen to the Christ Child"
Kathy Fallon played In the Bleak Mid Winter for the prelude. Joel's trombone was a great addition to the Carols, and Kathy Ross's postlude piano arrangement of Carol of the Bells was fantastic! ​
​Saturday, October 30th we had a Halloween Party at the home of Joel and Kathy Ross.  some folks came dressed in costumes and others just wanted to enjoy each others company.  Great food and games!
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Today, October 3rd, was our first online and in-person meeting together.
Ryan Pitt and his mother Cindy were our Zoom hosts.
The theme was Speak With Integrity Job 1:1;2:1-10
​Do humans worship God only to receive?
We had a discussion time and the 3 following questions were posed to us:
1. Who in your community, family, or neighborhood has suffered unjustly? Some responses were: People with disabilities, refugees ie:Nepalese and folks from Buton. People of color.
2. What would the world be like if the righteous always were rewarded and sinners always were punished? How would Jesus’ story be different?
Jesus' story is different!  He accepts the righteous and the sinner.
3. As you grow in your relationship with God, what do you see as the hard questions that need to be answered regarding the nature of God?
God's nature is love. God loves unconditionally.  We were made in the image of God and need to be like God and love unconditionally. We sang a couple more hymns and closed with prayer.

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