21 of 40 Lenten Journey
Today's readings: Acts 4 and page 58
in Terry Teykl's book: Acts 29
larryjameson.blogspot.com
Dear Prospect, Trinity,
and Asbury Church family,
Good morning on this lovely day!
Dear ones, if you are tired
of being separated, isolated,
blasted by the media with bad news,
restricted from normal life,
and worried about your finances
and the economy,
welcome to March 2020!
We are in the midst of
a historic pandemic.
It could be a LOT worse,
and indeed it may very well
become more dire than it is.
Just live dear ones.
Comply with the social distancing
that our government
and medical leaders have required.
Do your very best
to get your family and friends
through this crisis.
This is a test of faith.
God will help you pass this test!
I met last night with
a dozen key leaders from
Prospect, Trinity, and Asbury
churches. We met on ZOOM
which is a video conferencing
service that works great.
We talked about being
systematic about checking in
on every single person in our
church families. The way we
will do that is by using what
I call the Neighbors Network.
There are two coordinators
in each church.
Those coordinators are:
Prospect UMC 5183 Vernon Rd
Harrington DE 19952
Lorraine Keller stubby1995@yahoo.com
Jeanne Camper jeannecamper@aol.com
Trinity UMC 63 Commerce Street
Harrington DE 19952
Caryl Warren cwarren528@aol.com
Jim Callaway cabboc@msn.com
Asbury UMC 200 Weiner Av
Harrington DE 19952
Franklin Hendricks fhendricks@comcast.net
Brenda Wyatt bln_256@hotmail.com
The coordinators will depend upon
Small Group Leaders
to do the actual calling,
texting, emailing, or whatever
method of communication that works
to check in on our people.
What is a Small Group?
A Small Group is typically made up
of seven or so households.
Groups larger than seven households
require a lot more work from their
leaders. That's why it is smart
to make small groups, so the system
works and does not break down.
Every Small Group needs two
Small Group Co-Leaders.
Those are the people who
check in with
the small group members.
Why am I repeating this information?
Well, I found out last night
during my meeting with key leaders
that my instructions about
the Neighbors Network
have not been generally accepted
by our church members.
So I will repeat. I'm OK with that.
We need to
DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO REACH AND LOVE
OUR PEOPLE.
We should also be checking in
on our neighbors.
We should include non-members
in our Small Groups.
We should recruit and train
non-members to be
Small Group Leaders
& Coordinators.
We should embrace people who
are not Christians,
not believers,
people who are different,
people in our community.
Why? Because that is what
Jesus did. We are not better
than anyone else.
God has given us the power
of his Holy Spirit
to cultivate relationships
of integrity with secular people.
We need our neighbors
and our neighbors need us.
Perhaps we should see this
health emergency as a call
to become better citizens of
the United States of America.
In Italy, where the virus
has been most damaging,
they are playing their
National Athem over
loudspeakers in public places.
We need to hear that same
clarion call before our
communities see thousands of
deaths like Italy is having.
This emergency will
bring out the best in us.
I for one am proud to be
with you as we go through
these days together.
I believe that our religion
is going to make us better
citizens and better people.
Dear ones, I encourage
every one of you to
DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN
TO REACH AND LOVE
YOUR PEOPLE.
In Hebrews 13:16
the Bible says,
"Do not forget to do good
and to share with others,
for with such sacrifices
God is pleased."
Please share these daily
messages with your friends
and family. Forward this
email to a friend
and encourage them to get
involved in the Neighbors
Network we are forming.
Prayer by Larry Jameson
Thank you dear God
for every neighbor who lives
around us. Help us to love
them in practical ways
with the integrity of your
grace and power.
In the name of Jesus Christ
we pray. Amen.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Acts 4 (NIV)
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
The Believers Pray
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.’
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
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