Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday, April 11, 2020

40 of 40 Lenten Journey

Today's readings: Acts 10 and page 82

in Terry Teykl's book: Acts 29

www.larryjameson.blogspot.com

Here is the link

to hear my recorded message

www.bit.ly/3b28Oig

Dear Prospect, Trinity, 

and Asbury Church family,

Good morning dear ones!

It is Holy Saturday.

This is the last day of Lent.

Tomorrow we celebrate

the resurrection of Jesus.

When we started our Lenten Journey

on Ash Wednesday, February 26,

we had no idea that a pandemic

would reach our community.

We had no idea that all of us

would be sheltering in place,

church services would be cancelled, 

and that social distancing,

hand washing, and face masks 

would become our new reality.

So much has happened during Lent!

Hear the good news.

Just as God raised Jesus

from the dead on Easter Sunday,

he will raise us up!

No matter how difficult 

the pandemic has been,

it will pass.  

It is not over yet,

but it will pass.

In the mean time, be faithful 

and do all the good you can 

with what you have.

I have not preached

in the pulpit for four Sundays.

But tomorrow, Lord willing,

I will have the honor of 

preaching on a hay wagon.

That will be different!

At 11am tomorrow, Easter Sunday,

Prospect, Trinity, and Asbury

Churches will hold a joint

Drive-in Worship Service

at the Knutsen family farm

located at 

292 Prospect Church Road

Harrington, DE 19952.

It's 2.2 miles from Venon Road.

No one is supposed to get

out of their vehicle.

No one can sit in a 

truck bed.  You have to be

inside your vehicle.

Tune your FM radio to 90.1

to listen to the service.

New government rules require

vehicles to be 15 feet apart.

Instead of an offering plate

there will be a milk can 

as you drive in.

So get your envelope ready

and put the name of your church

on your envelope.

Whew! That's a lot of rules!

But we are GRATEFUL FOR THE RULES,

because our Governor is letting

us gather while also preventing 

the spread of Coronavirus.

So let's take this amazing

opportunity with an attitude

of gratitude. Make it more fun

by putting a sign on your car

that says something clever or

inspiring. This is a unique

opportunity.  Pray for the

people that God will send us

who are ready to accept Christ.

Let your light shine.

Be a witness of grace.

Have fun.  Be careful.

Be ready to be encouraged.

Prayer by Larry Jameson

Dear Lord Jesus,

let your resurrection power

set many people free tomorrow.

Let those who testify

speak to the needs of 

everyone who is 

heartbroken and hurting.

Let the songs we sing,

the Scripture that is read,

and the sermon 

share a common theme of 

deliverance, liberty, and joy.

In your name we pray. Amen.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Acts 10  (NIV)

10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Peter at Cornelius’s House

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.