Mid-Week Update, April 17, 2024

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Welcome to the Mid-Week Update.   Struggling with faith?  We all do it at some point in our lives.  Some struggle with the uneasiness of obeying God, but they obey anyway and obtain or grow in faith.  Some struggle with the uncertainties of life and the injustices they’ve endured, but they trust God’s word and know that ultimately God’s truth will be vindicated.  Some struggle to accept God’s word as truth and find themselves at a crossroad.  Which way should I go?  Can’t I just find a safe space to hold on to my struggles? 

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         Consider these saints of old and the struggles they endured.  Abraham struggled while obeying.  God asked him to do so much, and he obeyed to the end.  He was vindicated and passed on a precious faith.  He is now called the father of our faith.  Jesus struggled in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking for the “cup” to be taken away from him, before he won a great victory in His crucifixion and resurrection.  Today he is called Savior.  Peter struggled to believe in Jesus.  Then Jesus pressed him further with the question, “Do you love me?”  Peter became a new man with a precious faith and wrote two books in the Bible.  Paul struggled when Jesus knocked him down and then blinded him for a few days. Nevertheless, Paul stopped opposing the LORD, and became a new creation in Christ Jesus.  Then he was fit to teach others.

 

         These examples imply that struggles about faith are common.  They will come, and when they come, we must overcome.     

 

                                                                                  Hebrews 10:37-39

                                37 For yet “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will

                                   not delay; 38 but my righteous one will live by faith. My   soul takes no 

                                 pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” 39 But we are not among those who

                                shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.

 

         Now that we have celebrated Christ’s resurrection, let’s press on with genuine faith, holding on to God’s Word.  Let’s embrace the tests of faith that are sure to come, holding on to God’s Word.  Let’s overcome doubts and fears, holding on to God’s Word.  Let’s let our lights shine in the darkness.  Let’s let our love for each other be evident for all to see. 

 

God bless all of you,

Pastor Kris

 

Call to Worship: Leader:  Judy Hills

WL:  We gather to worship our Lord on Sunday.  We have the privilege to pray every day. 

P:     The Bible tells us to “always pray and never give up.”

WL:  Doesn’t God already know what we need?

P:     Yes, and the Bible says, “pray without ceasing.”

WL:  How do we know that our prayers are worthwhile?

P:     “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”

WL:  Aren’t we rude if we ask God for the same thing twice?

All:  “Always persevere in supplication for all the saints.” Amen.

 

Bible Reading: Luke 18:1-8

1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a

certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was

a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 4 For a while he

refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because

this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually

coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to

his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will

quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

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Greeters this week: Ralph & Terri Boudreau        

Coffee Servers this week: Margo Tetley

Ushers this week: Randy & Eileen Brewer

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Flowers Under the Cross are for Diane Bushman from

the Pastor Search Committee

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Education Committee will be hosting a Brunch/Lunch after Sunday Service on April 21st.  Donations will go to VBS

 

Pastoral candidate, Rev. Dan Gonder, will preach on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday April 28.  An informal ‘meet and greet’ will be provided immediately after worship in the Gathering Space.  Please enjoy a refreshment & snack, and bring any questions you have for Rev. Dan regarding his candidacy for the position of pastor at the Tawas Methodist Church.

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Wednesday Evening Book Study at 7:00 PM.  We are looking at 1 Corinthians 2 this evening.

 

Ladies 11am Monday Bible Study will be starting a new part of the Bible; it will be the Book of Esther. 

 

Membership class – interest is emerging, so please call the office and let us know if you would like to investigate the possibility of church membership. We need five in order to have a class. 

 

Ladies Lunch Bunch will meet at Big Boys on Wednesday, April 24th at noon

 

Leona Deering’s Memorial Service will be held here, April 27th.  Visitation at 10am, service at 11am. 

      

Versiti Blood will be coming to Tawas Methodist Thursday, April 18th

 1-5:30pm. Please consider donating to this group.  If you are interested in

 making a donation, please contact the office  989-362-4288.

 

Save the Date, the Methodist Women will be hosting a Celebration of Women Dinner on Thursday, May 23rd at 6pm.  More info to come.

 

JoAnn Lamb would like to thank everyone for all the cards, well wishes, support and prayers during her last medical issue.

 

The Layette Ministry is looking for some Onesies (0–3-month clothing only),

PJ’s 0-3 month, Hats, and Booties.  There is a tote outside the office for your donations.

 

 Coffee after Service: Snacks are provided on Sunday after Service. We are always looking for volunteers to bring some snacks. There              is a sign-up list on the refreshment table.  Please help out and sign up.  Thanks.  

 

 Thursday, April 18th

          1-5:30pm Versiti Blood Drive

          2pm Classy Crafters

                  

Saturday, April 20th         

          8:30am MMPG

          4pm Saturday Service

 

Sunday, April 21st

           9amAdult Sunday School

           9am Children’s Sunday School      

           10 am Sunday Service

           Brunch after Service hosted by the Education Committee

 

Monday, April 22nd

          11am Ladies Bible Study

          6pm Bell Practice

    

Tuesday, April 23rd

         5pm Prayer Ministry       

        

Wednesday, April 24th

          Noon- Ladies Lunch Bunch at Big Boy

          5:45pm Choir Practice

         7pm Pastor’s Book

 

Financials from April 14th, 2024

General Fund……. $2,213

Debt Retirement........$245

Loose Plate………....$220

Totals…….….…....$2,678

 

Please Pray for:

Richard Frederick

Arthur Lamb

JoAnn Lamb

Gary Lynch

Kristy Hart (Gwen Burt’s son’s finance’)

Joyce Lake

Dianne Knight

Sam Dutton

Stephanie Davis

Peg Hoerner

Jane Burdett

Ashley Boudreau

Elite & Nancy Shellenbarger

 

Birthdays or Anniversaries

If you do not see your Birthday or Anniversary date listed here, it may not

have been placed in our Church Data Base. We strive to honor your special days,

so just give the office a call with your information. Thank you so much! 989-362-4288

 

No Anniversaries this month

 

Birthdays

4/18   JoAnn Lamb

4/22   Jessica Sanker

4/23   Sandee Simmons

 

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Tawas Methodist Church

20 E. M 55

Tawas City, MI 48763

989-362-4288

www.tawasmc.org

office@tawasumc.org