All posts by ScottJPHD

Change is hard. It’s hard to take a challenging situation in your life and make it better, like losing weight. It’s hard when something good changes without your permission or before you’re ready. An example could be a child who suddenly moves out of town for a different job or your doctor sharing a new health concern with you. Change is hard. Today, we’ll talk about how to handle it when Jesus changes things. Jesus’ changes can be challenging, but we can trust that all will be well when we are Living the Resurrection. 

Click here for video

We’ll be live on Facebook on Sunday at 11:00, or you can watch any time on Facebook or YouTube. 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• Our opening prayer is interactive. Respond, “We abide in Christ because Christ abides in us.” This prayer is a moment for us to affirm our faith collectively.
• The songs are “To God Be The Glory” and “Amazing Grace.” You can look up the words online and sing along.
•  The Bible reading is Luke 15:1-10 and Acts 9:1-9
• Share a prayer request in the comments. It can be praise for God doing something good in your life or a challenge where you hope to see God move in a particular way. Please let us know how God is moving in your life. 
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s Day, everyone!

It’s hard to make sense of the world. We see things happening that confuse and frustrate us. Dealing with this can send us in different directions. We can get increasingly pessimistic or we can hold onto hope. Which way do you think you’re headed at the moment? Two followers of Jesus were in a similar place, trying to make sense of what had happened in their world. It took a visit from Jesus to help them understand what was happening. If you’re feeling that frustration and pessimism taking over your spirit, let today’s word renew and refresh your soul with hope as we discover how living the Resurrection changes our perspective. Click Here for the video.

We’ll be live on Facebook on Sunday at 11:00, or you can watch any time on Facebook or YouTube. 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “Open our eyes, so we see the signs of your presence around us.”
• The songs are “Open My Eyes That I May See” and “Oh How I Love Jesus.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The Bible reading is Luke 24:13-32
• Share a prayer request in the comments. It can be praise for God doing something good in your life or a challenge where you hope to see God move in a particular way. Please let us know how God is moving in your life. 
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s Day, everyone!

Hear a message of help and hope: click here for video

Do you think you have a strong faith? There are things that Jesus did and taught that are hard to accept. In other words, we doubt. The church has not been good about doubt. We’ve made people feel guilty or wrong for asking hard questions. Today, we’ll explore how to wrestle with doubt honestly, faithfully, and lovingly. We will draw inspiration from the story of Thomas, who missed Jesus’ visit to the disciples after his Resurrection. We’ll see how the Risen Christ works to help us face our doubts and overcome them.

We’ll be live on Facebook on Sunday at 11:00, or you can watch any time on Facebook or YouTube. 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “The joy of Easter still sings in our hearts.”
• The songs are “He Lives” and “The Day of Resurrection.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The Bible reading is John 20:19-31.
• Share a prayer request in the comments. It can be praise for God doing something good in your life or a challenge where you hope to see God move in a particular way. Please let us know how God is moving in your life. 
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s Day, everyone!

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! This Sunday, we’ll continue our journey in our series called Living the Resurrection. In our culture, we are used to the idea of “three strikes and you’re out.” But, what if three strikes weren’t the end? Today’s story shows how Jesus was very intentional about helping one of his most devoted followers and closest friends understand that he wasn’t actually “out.” If you’re currently feeling that you’ve fallen too far away for Jesus to help you, listen to what Jesus does for Peter. Let it give you hope. 

We’ll be live on Facebook on Sunday at 11:00, or you can watch any time on Facebook or YouTube. 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “With joy, we come to see the Lord.”
• The songs are “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “He Leadeth Me.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The Bible reading is John 21″1-19.
• Share a prayer request in the comments. It can be praise for God doing something good in your life or a challenge where you hope to see God move in a particular way. Please let us know how God is moving in your life. 
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s Day, everyone!

HAPPY EASTER!
Praise the Lord with us!

“Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” This is the story we celebrate today, the ultimate victory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who, through His life, death, and resurrection, has transformed the world. We are loved, forgiven, and freed by His grace, and as we gather here today, we come to share and celebrate our story. We are witnesses to what God has done, and we invite the world to join us in this joy and love that we have found in Him. Join us this morning for “Resurrection People.” Happy Easter! Click here for video

We’ll be live on Facebook Sunday at 11:00, or you can watch any time on Facebook or YouTube. 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “Christ is risen, indeed!”
• The songs are “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” and “Because He Lives.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The Bible reading is John 20:1-18.
• Share a prayer request in the comments. It can be praise for God doing something good in your life or a challenge where you hope to see God move in a particular way. Please let us know how God is moving in your life. 
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s Day, everyone!

Wednesday, March 27 at 6:00 – Community Dinner and Holy Week Remembrance: We’re having a free spaghetti dinner with our neighbors. Everything is free, and all are welcome. Communion and prayer will also be available during the dinner. Bible study will follow at 7:00.

Friday, March 29 at noon – Community Ecumenical Good Friday Service: Our brothers and sisters at St. Johns Grace Episcopal Church are hosting the community service from 12:00 to 3:00. Pastor Scott will be preaching at 1:00. The event is also available via livestream.

Find out more here: https://www.stjohnsgrace.org/

Friday, March 29 at 6:00 PM – First Church Good Friday Service: First Church will be hosting a worship service as we remember and honor Jesus’ death on the cross for all of us.

Sunday, March 31 at 11:00 AM – Easter Sunday Service:  Celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the ultimate victory with us on Sunday morning. Join our church family as we give God the glory for what Christ has done!

This Sunday marks the beginning of the holiest week of the year for followers of Jesus. During this week, we remember his suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection. The week begins with Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, where people greet Him as a hero and the fulfillment of prophecy. However, things change quickly, leading to his death on Friday and Resurrection on Sunday. We can learn powerful lessons from this journey, and we invite you to join us as we discuss “The Unexpected Jesus.” We also hope you’ll join us for our Holy Week services as we pay tribute to what Jesus has done for us. 

We’ll be live on Facebook Sunday at 11:00, or you can watch any time on Facebook or YouTube. 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “You are not the savior we expect, but save us, please!”
• The songs are “Hosanna” and “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The Bible readings are Mark 11:1-11.
• Share a prayer request in the comments. It can be praise for God doing something good in your life or a challenge where you hope to see God move in a particular way. Please let us know how God is moving in your life. 
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s Day, everyone!

Do you want to make a difference? It seems that everywhere we turn, there are challenges. Everyone has a part to play in God’s plan. The challenging part is to determine what that role is. The key to finding it is to listen to God’s call. This morning we’re going to be talking about understanding the call of God. It rarely looks like we expect, and it always demands that we step out of our comfort zone. However, following God is always worth it. Join us this morning for “Called.”

We’ll be live on Facebook Sunday at 11:00, or you can watch any time on Facebook or YouTube. 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “Be with us, Lord, as we commit our lives to you.”
• The songs are “He Has Made Me Glad” and “Here I Am Lord” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The Bible readings are John 12:22-30.
• Share a prayer request in the comments. It can be praise for God doing something good in your life or a challenge where you hope to see God move in a particular way. Please let us know how God is moving in your life. 
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s Day, everyone!

There are times we know we need something without knowing what we need. It’s hard to find something you can’t name. Today, we encounter someone in that situation. Nicodemus comes to Jesus looking for something. He’s not sure what it is, but Jesus does. Have you tried coming to Jesus for that need in your life? He won’t fail you because He loves you more than you know. Join us this morning as we explore “For God So Loved the World.”

We’ll be live on Facebook Sunday at 11:00, or you can watch any time on Facebook or YouTube. 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “Let us bring our praise to God!”
• The songs are “Lift High the Cross” and “What Wondrous Love Is This” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The Bible readings are Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14-21.
• Share a prayer request in the comments. It can be praise for God doing something good in your life or a challenge where you hope to see God move in a particular way. Please let us know how God is moving in your life. 
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s Day, everyone!

Are you good at managing your anger? Some people constantly lose their temper, causing emotional and physical harm to others. Fortunately, Jesus manages His anger well. That’s why the story of Him driving out the money changers in the temple is so powerful. What are they doing that made Jesus so angry? Once you understand the problem, you can work to make sure it doesn’t happen in your walk with Him. Join us this morning for Turning the Tables.

We’ll be live on Facebook Sunday at 11:00, or you can watch any time on Facebook or YouTube. 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “There are lots of tables that need overturning in our lives.”
• The songs are “To God Be the Glory” and “Are Ye Able?” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The Bible readings are Isaiah 56:3-8 and John 2:13-22.
• Share a prayer request in the comments. It can be praise for God doing something good in your life or a challenge where you hope to see God move in a particular way. Please let us know how God is moving in your life. 
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s Day, everyone!