Trinitarian Congregational Church

Women in Ministry

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 18:06:45 GMT

Pastor's Note: Women in Ministry

By Tom Petter

Scripture is Our Guide

The first question raised when discussing women in ministry is: what about the texts that prohibit women from public speaking, teaching and preaching? (1 Timothy 2:11-15 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. See The Gospel Coalition Commentary online for a summary of the issues). In the orthodox Protestant tradition, we view the Scripture as authoritative (our final appeal), inerrant (without error), normative (our boundaries) and sufficient to "make the man of God complete, equipped for every good work (anthropos as generic for both men and women, 2 Timothy 3:17). We are bound by conscience and the Word of God to seek the Scripture diligently to inform all our practices. We will not be swayed by the wind of cultures to fit the teachings of the Bible into current worldviews and ideologies.

"In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity"

We recognize these are difficult texts to deal with. We should always have a posture of humility when interpreting passages of Scripture that are hard to understand. The Bible is true and inerrant, but our own interpretations aren't always accurate! This is why certain topics are conversations, and we should not be legalistic and hard-headed about our conclusions. We humble ourselves and recognize we need the Holy Spirit to guide us to understand the literary, grammatical and historical contexts to determine meaning. If it's a hard text to figure out, we seek to find its meaning also with what Scripture says elsewhere.

Summary

Since this is a longer and more detailed blog, here is the gist: Can women teach? Yes, women can teach Scripture, but Paul issues a strong command against a particular teaching that was present in Ephesus, the context of 1 Timothy. This command for women not to teach men has universal implications: a woman can never teach just because she is a woman, as if she possesses special spiritual insights and powers over man. Paul goes back to the origins of the creation of man and woman (Genesis 2-3). Both Eve and Adam are "transgressors" and left to themselves have "enmity" (Genesis 3:15) against each other. But Paul reminds us that Eve was the first transgressor, not Adam. The original signature (primeval) temptation of man is to lord it over woman and others ("he will rule over you," Genesis 3:16) with violence if necessary (Cain murders Abel in Genesis 4). The primeval temptation for woman is to "desire," which is the same word used for Cain's "desire" for sin: "Sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is to have you, but you must rule over it" (Genesis 4:7). This "desire" translates into the deception Eve fell for when tempted by Satan to eat of the fruit and to become a transgressor (read Genesis 3). Adam also ate of the fruit but because he was created first, he becomes the primary "transgressor" and causes the entire human race to fall into sin. Paul makes it clear the guilt lies with Adam in Romans 5:12-14, but Eve is equally guilty, which is the point Paul makes in 1 Timothy 2. Both man's and woman's signature temptations are of course interchangeable since it boils down to wielding control over others, but biblical wisdom holds: man must control the urge to lord it over others and his desire/craving for power (including by violent means; how many wars have been started because of man's ego?). Woman must also bring her desires under God's control.

Teachers, Leaders and Writers of Scripture: Mostly Men and a Few Women

It is a fact the prophets and apostles who wrote Scriptures (see 1 Peter 1:10-12 and 2 Peter 1:21) are men and that leaders in Scripture are men (Covenant mediators Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the 12 tribes of Israel, David's kingship and his descendants, Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant, the 12 Apostles and the writers of the New Testament). Nevertheless, the Scripture also describes several women who rise up to teach, write Scripture and lead both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Examples are well known: Deborah is both prophet and judge, a dual role only Samuel shares in the early days of Israel (Judges 4:1-5; 1 Samuel 7:6, 16-17). In her call, Israel (in the Hebrew, "all the sons of Israel") go to her for "judgment," which is Bible-speak for Scripture-informed guidance (Judges 4:5). She co-authors a song of victory against the Canaanites and Sisera (with Barak, Judges 5). Huldah was a contemporary prophet to Jeremiah at the time of King Josiah of Judah (late 7th Century BC). She prophesies the demise of the kingdom of Judah, codified in writing in 2 Kings 22:14-20. Other composers of Scriptures include Hannah who writes a poem celebrating the birth of Samuel and prophesying the coming Messiah-Anointed King David. Mary's Magnificat mirrors Hannah's song (1 Samuel 2:1-10; Luke 1:46-55). Luke makes a point to emphasize women in his account of the life of Jesus. Acts 2 proclaims the outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit upon men and women. Priscilla and Aquilla teach Apollos (Acts 18:26). Paul has female "co-workers" (see the list in Romans 16).

Here is the dilemma: on the one hand, Paul's prohibition against women speaking in public cannot be cancelled or ignored from the record (1 Timothy 2:11-15), which is a routine tactic of feminist-liberal interpreters. On the other hand, we cannot cancel from the record that a few women do in fact write the Scripture, rise to prominence and play significant roles in redemptive history. Is there a way to bring these two realities together, a stern prohibition against women teaching men and the presence of women leaders in Scripture?

A Summary of the Texts Regarding the Universal Prohibition on Women Teaching (1 Corinthians 14:34-35; Timothy 2:11-15)

First Corinthians 14 is the 'easier' text to handle. The Gospel Coalition Commentary (online and free) on 1 Corinthians does a fine job explaining what it is the women were doing (prophesying indiscriminately in public worship) and why Paul silences them and their practices as a universal principle. The prohibition in 1 Timothy 2 is more complicated, and convictions are entrenched about what the text means for today's context and what Paul intended to say. What is the nature of the prohibition? What is it that Paul demands? The context of Ephesus where Timothy is ministering is helpful. In 1 Timothy 1:6-8, Paul mentions "certain persons" who are spreading false teaching. The historical context from Acts is another clue as to what was going on at the time. The goddess worship of Artemis in the temple of Ephesus attracted worldwide appeal. Artemis was "magnificent...whom all Asia and the world worship" (see Acts 19:27). Practices included profoundly immoral rituals (check out what Artemis looked like). To add to the mix, women in Ephesus dressed provocatively and flaunted their wealth, acquired through the lucrative profits gained from the temple economy (Acts 19:23-27). Paul says Christian women should behave very differently and be "respectable, with modesty and self-control" (1 Timothy 2:9).

Specific Commands to Women in 1 Timothy 2

With this context in mind, Paul gives a succession of commands to women in general: "let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness" (1 Timothy 2:11), which gives them permission to learn but with the clear expectation of an attitude of teachability without a sense of superiority nor loudness. We might say, 'don't be a know-it-all and a loudmouth.' With this premise in place, Paul delivers the central charge: "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather she is to remain quiet" (2:12). This is a categorical prohibition that leaves no loophole. A female person can learn but cannot "teach" nor have "authority" (in the sense of domineering or controlling) over a man. Paul doesn't stipulate a public or private setting though the chapter does suggest public worship. The reason for this 'no-exception' command comes next. It's enshrined in the record of Creation in Genesis 1-3. Here Paul affirms the primacy of Adam and what we call primogeniture: all the blessings and privileges given to the first born: "for Adam was formed first, not Eve" (2:13). But more to the point, it was in fact Eve who was "deceived,” not "Adam" (1 Timothy 2:13; see Genesis 3:1-6, with the emphasis on "the woman"). She became a "transgressor" (2:14; Note that Adam is not off the hook either, see Romans 5:12-21). If Eve was deceived and is a transgressor, Paul argues, then a "woman (in the singular) can't teach nor exercise authority over a man; she is to keep quiet" (2:12). The reasoning makes sense: why would you have someone who is a deceiver teach anyone? Furthermore, why would someone who came second in the lineage (Eve) receive the patrimonial blessing and authority over the firstborn (Adam)? Paul here is restoring the 'pecking order' of the beginning of creation of humankind as male and female (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:18-25). Adam is the source of Eve in their interdependent relationship. Adam is also the recipient of primordial authority and receives the blessing of the first born, not Eve.

Biblical Authority Defined

Before we continue with Paul's line of argument in 1 Timothy 2, it's important to remind ourselves that authority from a biblical perspective is never a means to lord it over others, but rather a privilege and responsibility to serve others, as Jesus corrects the disciples’ definition of authority (Mark 10:42-45). If you are craving authority and power as the disciples were, you will be in for a big surprise. Jesus's kind of authority and how we exercise it is defined for us: death to self and sacrificial service to others! More on this definition of authority below.

Redemption of Eve

The final point Paul makes in 1 Timothy 2:15 seems to confirm what he's had in mind so far. He appeals to both the archetypical "woman" who "will be saved through childbearing" and all her followers "if they (plural) continue in faith and love and holiness and self-control." So, Paul concludes where he started in his admonition to women with the idea of "self-control" (2:9). Self-control in the worship of Artemis didn't exist and this sort of reckless craving of appetites for sexual gratification, attention, affluence and gaudy appearance also translated into reckless and irresponsible teachings.

The Nature of the Prohibition

As with every difficult text in Scripture, we need to tread with caution, hold our interpretation humbly and be open to having our minds changed. It is the Bible that is authoritative and inerrant, not our interpretation of it. Let's begin with what we can say without question: the prohibition stands across time and cultures about a woman teaching a man and is very real. But what is less clear is the nature of the prohibition that applies to all times and cultures. Paul seems to confront and debunk a universally held false belief that women in general were more spiritually enlightened than men. They bragged about it and openly taught this heresy in public, flaunting their special spiritual knowledge over man, just because of their womanhood. Paul shuts the door on this false teaching. Instead, Paul commands women can in fact grow in Christ and learn but it must be done in a posture of humility and discretion, “let a woman learn quietly in all submissiveness" (1 Timothy 2:11). In other words, just as you shouldn't flaunt your wealth and draw attention to yourself (2:9), do not parade your knowledge as if you were superior. Be humble and learn in submissive attitude and put on display a "respectable" appearance "with modesty" and, in a highly sexualized culture, "self-control." Paul here echoes Proverbs 31 ("a woman of worth, who can find?") where he defines authentic feminine beauty as "godliness" and "good works" over undue fascination about outward appearance (1 Timothy 2:9; Proverbs 31:10).

Restoring the Record of Creation

The command for "a woman not to teach or exercise authority over a man" (1 Timothy 2:12) is directly tied to the order of Creation ("for Adam was formed first, not Eve," 2:13). By appealing to the Creation account of man and woman (Adam and Eve in Genesis 1-2), Paul tears down the entire goddess worship system that puts a female first in the order of Creation as the source and authority. At the center of Paul's prohibition is the false teaching that "the woman" as the archetype somehow has authority over men based on Eve's special insights (and after her every woman, including, presumably the goddess Artemis). Acts 19:34 offers a window into the fanaticism of Artemis's worshipers when a huge crowd gathered in Ephesus's theatre and “for about two hours they all cried with one voice ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.’” This distorted view of Eve and the resulting perception of women is the corrective that universally stands for all times and cultures. Women do not de facto carry any special powers over men. In fact, in primeval terms, it was the exact opposite: Eve was deceived! What is construed as special spiritual insight is pure deception! This is why women who believe in the primacy of woman over man can't ever teach man under any circumstances; they are teaching demonic lies (Satan says to Eve: if you eat of the tree, you will "know good and evil," Genesis 3:4-5). Paul will have none of that in Ephesus or anywhere else for that matter.

From Eve to Mary

Nevertheless, the archetypical woman represented by Eve is redeemed from her deception and "she (singular) will be saved through childbearing." Women (plural) are "to continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control" (2:15). Here interpretations can easily go off the rails and infer that salvation for women will come if they bear children. This is decidedly not the case, since salvation is apart from any works, including raising children (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, Paul seems to create a connection between Eve who was the archetype of deception and Mary ("she") who was the bearer of the Savior, by the Holy Spirit. This is a difficult text to interpret so we should hold our opinion lightly. Nevertheless, what remains clear is the prohibition Paul puts before all generations: we don't put a goddess on the throne. Instead, we worship God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Women in Ephesus and through all times can't ever claim the mantle of primogeniture and its inferred source and authority. This belongs to the first man Adam, not the first woman. Mary brings the Savior into the world born of the Spirit, but it is the Second Adam Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of the patrimonial blessing, that saves us, not Eve or Mary or any other goddess (Romans 5:17 ;1 Corinthians 15:45-49). To replace the worship of the preeminence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit with female categories is the heresy Paul has in mind.

Our Patrimonial Blessing from the Father in Christ, the Son of God

This heretical worship produces no inheritance (which is at the heart of the patrimonial blessing). By faith in Jesus, we, both man and woman, receive the full blessing and the glorious inheritance of the first-born (Ephesians 1:18). Galatians 3:26-29 states clearly: "For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith...there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus...heirs according to promise." In Christ alone we are the full beneficiary of the patrimonial blessing of the inheritance of a first-born son (which is the precise meaning of primogeniture). This inheritance is glorious, "imperishable... and kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). To be sure the redeemer came "born of woman" (Galatians 4:4), but we have received our inheritance as "sons" by adoption and thereby have been given the right to call God "father" (Galatians 4:4-7). Christ alone has earned on our behalf the full patrimonial blessing of righteousness, holiness and glory in our place when He died and was raised from the dead (Romans 3:22; 4:25; 1 Corinthians 1:30, and so on). God the Father says, "This is my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11). In the Son of God, our Father is Heaven is pleased with us, male and female, and we receive the Holy Spirit with whom we are sealed for the Day of Redemption (Ephesians 4:30).

However, before we rush to concluding that God is male only (swinging the heretical pendulum the other way), humankind as male and female are bearers of the image of God in the creation account (Genesis 1:27). God is Spirit (John 4:24) and reveals Himself in the richness of biblical imagery as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He also cares for us as a mother nurtures her children (Deuteronomy 32:18; Isaiah 42:14; 66:13; Matthew 23:37, and so on). We can't cancel God's feminine attributes any more than we can cancel his masculine attributes.

Both a Contextual and Universal Application

Thus, it seems we need to take into consideration the context of the prohibition of false teaching in Ephesus, but without dismissing the universal force of the command. Proponents of the context of goddess worship and the primacy of Artemis in Ephesus have Acts on their sides. There are also considerable extra-biblical documentary sources and cultural background material on goddess worship in Ephesus and elsewhere in the Greco-Roman world. However, the contextual arguments lose their persuasive appeal when the universal dimension of the prohibition is not taken seriously. The primacy of Adam stands forever. We can't go back to the Genesis account and rewrite it to make the text say something that it doesn't say. In other words, it's not enough to say, 'Oh, it's part of the First-Century heresy and nothing really applies today.' This would be true if Paul didn't appeal to the archetypal woman "Eve." But he does! Clearly there is something harking back to creation that Paul wants us to preserve, a commandment that applies beyond the historical context of Ephesus. The proposal here offers a sort of via media and argues that women who are anchored in the teachings of Creation-Redemption through the primacy of the First-Born of God – the Second Adam, Jesus Christ – can in fact teach men (if they have the spiritual gift of teaching). But if women promote the teaching that they somehow possess innate special spiritual powers over men with unique insights that men can never have, then the application of the text stands for all times.

The Heresy of the Primacy of Women in History and Today
To be clear, there are far more heresies spread by men than by women both in the Bible and through church history. Man's primeval sin of control and unchecked power over woman is reflected in brutal stories of patriarchal abuses of power, violence and cruelty following the fall of Adam and the resulting curse ("he shall rule over you" Genesis 3:16). If you can stomach it, read Judges 19 as a horrendous account of men's depravity. This sort of behavior is roundly condemned in biblical law which views women as a protected class. Nevertheless, a primeval temptation for women also exists. In the First Century, goddess worship was Artemis, Diana for the Romans, and Isis and Hathor in Egypt. These all derive from the fertility goddesses Asherah in ancient Israel, Ishtar in Mesopotamia and their antecedents in the earliest recorded history (look up the "Munhata Lady" of Neolithic times and you will understand). This false perception of human identity morphs according to culture and keeps appearing through history: today's gender confusion is one example, as is secular ideologies that promotes autonomy rather than the blessings of biblical interdependency between male and female (1 Corinthians 11:11). The rejection of the primacy (source and authority) of man is also a typical expression of the same temptation. It may be outright (organized religions that favor women in roles of authority) or perhaps more subtle through manipulation. The undue elevation of Mary in some Christian worship is also a manifestation of the same problem. We pray to the Father in Jesus's name and to no-one else. We don't need a female mediator to pray to our Father. As Paul says in the same context of Christian worship in 1 Timothy 2:5, "for there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ" (and we could add the interpretation: 'and it's not a female mediator').

True Authority

As a final thought, for anyone who misconstrue spiritual power, authority, and brags about special spiritual insights, Jesus offers a brutal reality check: your primeval "authority" is for you to lead the way Jesus went to the cross (Mark 10:45). There is no earthly glory and ranking in that posture! Philippians 2:3-8 defines this authority: humility, self-emptying and sacrificial service, even unto death if need be. This is the mindset we should all have, men and women. In 1 Timothy 2, women are targeted. In Ephesians 5:25 men are targeted. Paul essentially shuts down the primeval temptation of men to lord it over their wives in marriage or, by implication in any circumstances.

Biblical Models of Governance

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:54:07 GMT

Biblical Models of Governance

by Tom Petter

Our Final Appeal for Governance: Jesus Christ and His Word

Church governance can be a complicated matter. Many churches over the centuries have split over matters of governance. As we celebrate Reformation Day (October 31), Martin Luther famously broke away from the idea of the primacy of the Bishop of Rome. King Henry VIII, perhaps for less noble reasons, also severed ties from Rome to form the Church of England. Protestants have myriads of sub-groups who differ over minor points but also at times major points of doctrine. Within our congregational tradition harking back to the Puritan era (1600s), our final appeal is the authority of Jesus Christ, as revealed in His Word.

Defining Board, Deacons and Ministers at TCC

TCC is blessed to have a strong foundation for leadership stability with the current by-laws drafted in 2010. We are a board-led church who is composed of members elected by the congregation for a term of 3 years (renewable after one year off). The board consists of men and women (with no particular ratio of representation) who display evident characteristics of spiritual wisdom and managerial gifts. The Senior Minister is a member of the board. Per by-laws, "the Senior Minister shall lead the Church to accomplish its mission and shall be the spiritual and administrative leader of the Church, reporting to the Board." Deacons comprise an even number of men and women with no less 10 members. Our ordained pastoral staff are "ministers." Where do these categories fit within the testimony of Scripture?

Elders and Overseers

The New Testament has particular designations for church leaders: "overseers" (episkopos in Greek) and "elders" (presbyteros) are used interchangeably in Scripture (1 Timothy 3:1; Titus 1:5-7). In the two lists of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, elders/overseers are to be spiritually wise leaders, hospitable, well versed in matters of doctrine and of impeccable character. Specifically, they are to be family men faithful to their wife. Paul essentially shuts the door to the Old Testament (illicit) practice of polygamy and harks back to Genesis 2:24 where the ideal of marriage is defined as union of man and one woman (see Ephesians 5:31). Paul confirms Jesus's teaching on sexual ethics, which itself upholds the Old Testament teachings on sexual practices (Matthew 19:1-12). An elder (and his wife, see Proverbs 1:8) must make every effort to raise obedient children in the Lord (Titus 1:6). Many denominations take these guidelines and apply them to what constitute qualifications to be elders in a church: only men can be elders, though governing church structures do not restrict the role to married men with children. At TCC the qualifications for board membership are derived from the lists of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. We also draw from other characteristics of spiritual leadership and gifting listed elsewhere in the Scripture. This comprehensive approach to scriptural qualifications allows for the inclusion of both men and women on our board (see next sections).

Ministers, Deacons and Servants

Ministers, deacons, and servants are variably translated from one word, diakonos: In Colossians 1:25, Paul is a "diakonos/minister." In 1 Timothy 3:8, Paul speaks of the office of "diakonos/deacon." Phoebe is a diakonos/servant in Romans 16:1. Jesus's mission is to "diakoneo/serve" in Mark 10:45, which directly connects to the substitutionary sacrifice of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. In the same context, He calls His followers not to lord over others like the Gentiles do but to be diakonos/servants (10:42-43). In 1 Timothy 3, the deacons must exhibit the same characteristics as elders/overseers. Finally, to be a "servant/minister" is a title every Christ-follower holds since we follow in the footsteps of the Lord every day of our lives (Mark 8:34).

Pastors, Shepherds, Teachers and Apostles

In Ephesians, Paul takes another angle and characterizes church leadership around the five spiritual gifts sovereignly distributed to certain "men" in the sense of gender inclusive "humankind/anthropos" rather than male-specific "man/andros" (Ephesians 4:7-8). As such, the list of "apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors/shepherds and teachers" are all in the masculine in Greek which can also be taken as a generic masculine. This approach seems to be confirmed with Priscilla who is clearly a teacher of the Gospel (along with her husband Aquilla; Romans 16:3; Acts 18:25-26). Phillip has "four unmarried daughters who prophesied" (Acts 21:9). Less certain is "Junia...well known to the apostles" (ESV of Romans 16:7). The NIV leaves the door open to the interpretation that she belonged to the guild ("outstanding among the apostles"). In Ephesians 4:8, "pastors and teachers" are linked together in Paul's list, but he doesn't seem to single out the office of pastor above the other spiritual gifts.

In the modern church, we have elevated the role of "pastor" as the leader of the flock from the perspective of a spiritual "shepherd." The metaphorical imagery from the Scriptures is rich ("the Lord is my shepherd," "I am the good shepherd"). The leadership of Israel are called shepherds, for better or, more often than not, for worse (see Ezekiel 34). So it's perfectly fine to call church leaders “pastors” as long as we understand that any sense of authority (in the way Jesus defines authority as serving others) never comes from ourselves but from the Word of God and the spiritual gifts God has given us. All of us have spiritual gifts (see the lists in Romans 12:3-8; also 1 Corinthians 12-14) and we should never view one gift as superior to the other, as Paul corrects the foolish Corinthians who were so enamored with their celebrity preachers and quite taken by their own veneer of spirituality (1 Corinthians 1-3). On the contrary, our ultimate authority (and boasting!) rests upon the Word of God and Jesus Christ (John 1:1-2). The Church is built upon both the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets (those with the authority to write down the Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16) and the "cornerstone," Jesus Christ, upon whom all authority has been given (Ephesians 2:20).

In sum, the big picture of the available biblical models of governance allow for some variables in how these specific texts are applied to our church leadership structure. In our elected and appointed board and deacons, we have men married with children, we have women who are gifted leaders, teachers, managers (Romans 12:8), we have single men and women, from various backgrounds and cultures. On the pastoral team, we have "ministers"who are set apart for service to the Lord in full time or part time roles. The common qualifications are people who are above reproach, humble and broken by their weakness but strong in the grace of God, with a servant heart, knowledge of the Lord and the Word (they go together, always!), and wisdom to apply truth in love with one another (see Ephesians 4 for a masterful description of the "truth and love" principle). At the membership level and regular attendants at TCC and in every areas of our community life, we have people with the gift of compassion and mercy in serving others in practical ways, intercession, evangelism, and so on. What brings us together is that we are all servants of the Lord and ministers of the Gospel.

Final Thought: Do We Have Apostles and Prophets Today?

Apostolic authority lies with those who saw Christ (so the 12 and Matthias in Acts 1). It also includes, crucially, Paul himself, to whom Christ revealed Himself (1 Corinthians 15; Galatians 1; Acts 9, 22, 24). Paul had to defend his apostolic authority fiercely in Galatians and also in 2 Corinthians. The foundation of the apostles and prophets in Ephesians 2:20 has now been closed since the Scripture has been written and no new texts can be added since the end of the first Century AD. We do not have apostles who can write the Scripture after this first generation who saw Christ. In fact, anyone who claim that mantle are false teachers and prophets in Scripture (2 Peter and Jude). There are, however, prophets in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 12 and 14; Agabus in Acts 11:17-20) who are still able to see events in the future, but not to the extent that their revelations become Scripture. This is why Paul says if someone prophesies today, we are to test these prophecies (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). False prophets would be Joseph Smith and his "book of Mormon," and in the early Medieval period, Mohammed who claimed to have received the final revelation of God in the Quran. Modern day equivalents include those who claim to know when Christ will return, a knowledge that Christ didn't even possess while on earth in His incarnation!

In our next Pastor's note, we will discuss the matter of women in ministry and ordination. Stay tuned....

Guiding Principles 2025-2026 and Vision Casting 2026-2036

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:15:36 GMT

GUIDING PRINCIPLES 2025-2026 and Vision Casting 2026-2036
Resilient Witness: Spreading the Gospel in the Power of the Holy Spirit

Key verse: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

The spread of the Gospel from Acts 2 to Acts 28 takes about 30 years (ca. AD 33 to ca. AD 65). It takes time for these events to unfold but in the narrative, things happen very fast, one after another. We will use Acts as our "resilient witness" theme for the year. In spite (or perhaps because) of opposition, the Word of the Gospel spreads throughout the Roman empire and to "the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). In Acts we see the fruit, but this fruit is against the backdrop of three decades and a lot of hardships and opposition. The goal is that TCC would grab hold of the call of God and the commission that is upon all of us. We are all ministers of the Gospel as members of the Body; that we would be emboldened to bear witness by the power of the Holy Spirit here in Metrowest ("Jerusalem"), in our country ("Judea and Samaria") and throughout the world ("the ends of the earth"). The hope is that we too will be able to testify that "the Word of God grew and multiplied" (Acts 12:24) in and through us this coming year.

VISION CASTING: BUILDING UP THE BODY (2026-2036)

Looking beyond next year

One of the themes in the book of Acts is community. How did the early Church interact with one another and with the world? What can we apply and learn from them? How can we fulfill our mission to “Be and Make Disciples of Jesus Christ” in the years to come?

Building up the Body Through Growth Groups: Being Disciples, Becoming Disciplers

This year and in the years to come, we are building upon the foundations of last year's launch of our program for discipleship and outreach. Growth Groups focus on transformation, intentional community and outreach in line with the church's mission "to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ." By God's grace, Growth Groups will accomplish several things this coming year:

To welcome new believers into the faith in close community semester by semester. This fall we have six growth groups scheduled.
To strengthen our walk with the Lord for those of us who are already established in the faith. The curriculum for fall 2025 will be Mateus de Campos's lessons in discipleship from the Gospel of Mark.
To pursue outreach initiatives in our community with the goal of conversion and discipleship. The Book of Acts exemplifies what outreach to the community is: bold proclamation of the Gospel to others. It is simply not enough to provide community services to our neighbors if the Gospel is not at the center of the outreach. Community is also grounded in our unity in Christ, in caring for one another and in growing in love for one another as fellow believers. In the early Church unto this day, this love and unity becomes a powerful witness to the world around us (and conversely, factions and divisions projects a poor witness, as in the case at Corinth! See 1 Corinthians 1-4).

Building Up the Body: Pastor-Planting (2026-)

The Book of Acts commissions all of us to be missionaries (the word in Acts is "witnesses") to our neighbors, and to the world. Some of us have and will physically relocate because of the leading of the Holy Spirit, while most of us will stay here in the Wayland area and continue to bear witness in our daily lives and various callings. Whether sent out locally or regionally or internationally, TCC is a sending church empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20).

This coming year, we are excited to build upon the successful pilot residency program that launched Aaron Verbosky into a senior minister role at South Peabody Congregational Church in 2024. This past year, we have had an internal candidate for the Residency program in the person of Jen Calverley to prepare her for the role of Minister of Community Life.

In 2026, the goal is to launch a new initiative to form and send out pastors who will fill pulpits in our region. By partnering with Made to Flourish Pastoral Residency Program, TCC will bring in one pastoral resident in the fall of 2026 for a duration of two years. During this residency period (much like a medical residency), the candidate will learn and grow in the skills needed for a successful and long-term tenure as a senior minister in a local church. The short-term goal is to launch the program next fall. The long-term goal is to send out pastors in New England to fill the many vacant pulpits to bear witness to the Gospel in this post-Christian generation. Instead of church planting, this is a pastor planting vision to train future pastors in preaching, leadership and pastoral care in existing churches in our area. Other churches nation-wide have joined in this movement (about 80 of them) and we are excited to be able to partner with Made to Flourish in this coming year. God willing, Made to Flourish will provide some of the funding for the next five years to help us launch this program to compensate our residents.

Building up the Body: Long-term Maintenance of Our Facilities (2026-36)

TCC has inherited a wonderful physical space for the worship of the Lord. Thanks to the "Higher Ground" initiative of the 2000's, we have first-rate facilities for our many ministries (completed in 2009). One area that remains in need of 'higher ground' is the sanctuary which has not been updated since the early 1970's. In a rapidly changing world, the technology in the sanctuary needs updating and the space needs a refresh to a more energy efficient space. In addition, the long-term upkeep of our buildings requires setting monies aside for future expenses such as the roof and the AC systems in the main building (installed in 2009). For the next 10-12 years, we will need to spend considerable amounts of money to upgrade these systems.

In 2026, the goal is to implement a plan of action that prepares us to address these long-term needs so that we can 'hand off' our facilities in better shape than we found them to the next generation of worshipers at TCC. The space we have inherited was designed to be poised for numerical growth. The Book of Acts teaches us that it is God who "adds to the numbers" of His people (Acts 2:47). For our mission at TCC, the number of 'people in the pews' can never be confused with spiritual growth. One can fill large sanctuaries with large crowds, but are they disciples in the way the Book of Acts describes? The models of church ministry of the past such as stadium outreach in the 1950's-80's or "seeker" sensitive church services of the 90's-2010's simply cannot be re-applied to our post-Christian and post-modern context today.

Numerical growth at TCC will not come by clever marketing schemes or programs or buildings or personalities. God is the One who will bring the growth as Scripture tells us (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). Our responsibility is to grow in Christ and bear witness to this growth with our public display of the fruit of the Spirit. In these spiritual realities, we are trusting in the Lord for 'Route 20 Revival' which means we need to prepare ourselves and our physical space for the next wave of Awakening in New England (after the First Awakening in the 18th century, the Second Awakening in the 19th century, and the Third Awakening in the mid-20th Century in our area). God has done it before, and He can do it again! We need our physical space to be ready for what the Lord is doing.

By-Laws Boundaries and Accountability Principles

The Board, committees, Senior Minister, Pastoral and support staff, and the congregation as a whole come under the accountability structures established in the TCC By-Laws of 2010. We are all accountable to the Lordship of Christ and His Word. In Christ, the Judgment of the Last Day has already come to us as “righteous” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Also, we will all

have to give an account on that Day as to what we did in the body in our justified state (2 Corinthians 5:10), whether we were zealous for good works or not (Titus 2:11-14).

Guiding Principles for 2024-2025

tdpetter@gmail.com (Tom Petter) — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 18:12:21 GMT

Trinitarian Congregational Church Guiding Principles for the Ministry Year 2024-2025

Ministry Theme: Return and Rest

Theme Song: "Another In The Fire" by Hillsong UNITED (video below)

Key verse: “Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

This ministry year we embark on a journey into the depths of the Gospel according to the Book of Isaiah. Some people have called Isaiah “the fifth gospel” because of its profound impact on the gospels (“the suffering servant” of Isaiah 53) and the rest of the New Testament. Isaiah’s call to rest in the Lord in the challenges of life, whether existential, physical or emotional (or all of the above) rings so true today! In an election year and a world in turmoil, the prophet, empowered by the Spirit of Christ (1 Peter 1:11; 2 Peter 1:21) asks us: Who do you trust? Your “chariots and horses” (Isaiah-speak for our own resourcefulness), “Egypt” (=political parties, elected officials, ideologies)? To know who you trust will inevitably be tested in these troubling times but here is the promise:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire

you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

For I am the LORD your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-2).

The goal and the prayer for TCC this year is that Isaiah’s call (“Here I am! Send me.”) will spark our own call to “dream big” (“they shall declare my glory to the nations” 66:19). World evangelization and preaching the gospel to our neighbors are impossible tasks, but we serve a God that is far greater than we can ever imagine, for whom nothing is impossible.

As to the how this can be done, Isaiah is convinced that the power of God’s Word draws people in, not marketing strategies or fancy programming (is this what the American church trusts today? Isaiah would be sure to ask us!). Instead, it’s the Word alone that serves as the attractional pull and He (the Word is Jesus Himself) never returns empty (Isaiah 2:1-4; 40:8; 55:1). This year we commit ourselves to returning and resting in Him and His Word. In an age where the proclamation and application of Scripture is increasingly deemed irrelevant, if not viewed downright offensive, we instead put the Spirit and the Word at the center of everything we do. Such a commitment to the sufficiency of the Word of God will inevitably demand we cut back on certain things and add others. We are committing ourselves to resetting priorities to bring the good news to our neighbors (“for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” 11:9). We are the hands and feet of Jesus; so these “boots [or feet] are made for walkin'…” (“How beautiful are the feet of him/her who brings good news…who declares ‘our God reigns” 55:7)!

Growth Groups

This year we are launching a brand-new program of discipleship and outreach. To fulfill our mission for intentional biblical witness and discipleship at TCC, we are implementing a

semester-based small-group format that runs in the fall and spring (with option for groups during the summer as well). Groups focus on transformation, intentional community and outreach which create a social space where we learn God’s character and live in openness and brokenness with one another. In the fall, Growth Groups will all read and discuss the book Empowering Missional Disciples. In the spring, one of the options will be integration of Isaiah’s themes such as repentance, the fear of the Lord, how to hear God’s voice, intercessory prayer, biblical meditation will be the topics of weekly discussion. Facilitators with the support of the pastoral staff will choose topics and themes.

An integral dimension of our Growth Groups is outreach: together we will participate in outreach events such as sharing our faith with others in our communities and works of service. For TCC to fulfill her destiny in this generation and for her to lay firm foundations for the next generation, we need to recover, in the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer what “religionless Christianity” is all about (as opposed to rote church attendance as a religious ritual without any noticeable transformation in our lives); we need to recapture the vision for community and “life together;” we need to reconsider what the true “cost of discipleship” means as followers of Jesus Christ in the 21st Century.

Sanctuary Renovations

“I will beautify my beautiful house” (Isaiah 60:7).

Our beautiful facilities at TCC are instruments for worship. Once in a while, we must tune them and make sure they function properly. Funded from bequest funds, we are thankful for this provision though we do anticipate the inevitable additional costs (included in the proposed budget for 2025 as part of our stewardship campaign). Scheduled for February of March 2025 (if everything goes well), the much-needed sanctuary renovations will include a newly reconfigured stage, lighting, sound, along with other aesthetic and structural improvements. The project timeline is two or three months during which time our worship service will take place in the Gym.

Growth Groups

tdpetter@gmail.com (Tom Petter) — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 14:27:28 GMT

To carry out our mission “to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ,” regular (weekly/biweekly) church attendance is not enough. Ongoing small groups consisting of the same people over periods extending years can foster a strong social bond and spiritual support among trusted brothers and sisters.

However, from feedback received, with life at a pace that requires changes and adaptation, Life Groups (LG) at TCC have experienced uneven attendance with the resulting lack of effectiveness to foster growth in discipleship. In addition, the open-ended commitment that LGs require (some have met for decades) can be daunting and lead to leader and participant burnout, with few options to explore other social spaces. For our newcomers, it can be difficult to find the “right group” with many competing schedules.

To fulfil our mission for intentional biblical discipleship at TCC, we are implementing a semester-based discipleship program (10 weeks) utilizing a small group format (see description below) that runs in the fall and spring (with options for groups during the summer, as well). We are calling them “Growth Groups.” There is a real need and cry for new models of small groups as a way to meet new people and grow together. Growth Groups focus on transformation, intentional community and outreach which create a social space where we learn God’s character and live in openness and brokenness with one another. Topics such as repentance, the fear of the Lord, how to hear God’s voice, intercessory prayer, biblical meditation and more and are all part of the variables of the curriculum. The format of 10 weeks allows the facilitator to coordinate and lead the group, with the assistance of an apprentice, with a definite purpose and goals to accomplish within a set time period. Facilitators can opt to roll off and pass on the mantle to the apprentice or stay on for one more semester, alleviating the burnout we often see in Life Groups.

An integral dimension of our Growth Groups is outreach: together we will participate in outreach events such as sharing our faith with others in our communities, works of service, and even fun days! Jesus concludes his teaching on the mountain in Matthew 5-7 with the contrasting image of the house built on sand and the house built on rock. The latter’s firm foundation is for the disciples who not only hear the Word (through teachings, preaching, biblical meditation, podcasts, devotionals, Bible reading plans, etc.) but also apply it. Someone once wisely observed that the early Church in the book of Acts was a missionary-sending, outreach-focused Body. There were no churches consisting of non-missionaries. For TCC to fulfill her destiny in this generation and for her to lay firm foundations for the next generation, we need to recover, in the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer what “religionless Christianity” is all about (as opposed to rote church attendance as a religious ritual without any noticeable transformation in our lives); we need to recapture the vision for community and “life together”; we need to reconsider what the true “cost of discipleship” means as followers of Jesus Christ in the 21 ^st Century.

Implementation of Growth Groups will happen in fall, 2024. Existing Life Groups that wish to remain together may continue meeting as they have been, or they may choose to alter their structure to fit the Growth Group model. The Growth Group model is based on the structure outlined in Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups.

More information about Growth Groups will be coming soon.

Sign-ups will take place in September and groups will begin on

Monday, September 30.

Pastor's Note: Revised Service Structure 2024

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 14:26:45 GMT

Happy New Year, TCC!

As we prepare for all that God has for TCC this year, we are excited for where and how God is leading us! We, the pastoral team, have been praying and seeking the Lord’s direction for this new year. It seemed good to us and to the Holy Spirit to hold fast to the directions he gave us in the fall which were (1) to continue to implement truly inter-generational worship as a united body, (2) to set out a theme of preparedness for the coming of the Lord (Matthew 24:44-47), (3) and to put attention and effort behind the TCC mission statement, “to be and make disciples.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

After a strong summer coming out of Camp TCC, we were excited about the momentum and the theme of readiness. We were eager to implement the Biblical Discipleship Hour (BDH), age-appropriate, biblical education and discipleship. Kids’ hour accommodated 0-5 ^th grade, Youth BDH, 6 ^th – 12 ^th grade, and Adult BDH, college students to pensioners. During the 9:30 service hour, the hope was that families would be able to come to BDH and Kids’ hour to be discipled in the word of God then transition together to the 11:00 service to worship as a family.

The momentum was strong at the beginning of the fall, but as time went on, we had fewer and fewer attend the Biblical Discipleship hour. As we evaluated how the fall services had gone, we recognized this loss of momentum. We felt that part of the problem was the competition between the 9:30 service and BDH. Asking families to come an hour and a half early for worship to participate in the education hour was a stretch even for the most stalwart especially with school, sports, and other weekly activities also making demands.

In answer, beginning in February, we are going to implement a one-service model at 10:00 with a fellowship / coffee time from 11:00-11:30, followed by Biblical Discipleship Hour from 11:30-12:15. We hope this will facilitate a few different things. (1) A return to the summer worship schedule will reunite all of us into a single worshipping body; a better reflection of our unity in Christ (Ephesians 4:3). (2) Competition between a 9:30 service and BDH will be eliminated; it is more palatable deciding simply to stay after the service than expend the effort required to come early. (3) The worship team will have an extra half hour of prep and could also participate in BDH if they choose. (4) Pastor Tom, having to preach only once, will be free to participate, teach, and be more actively involved in the discipleship element on Sunday morning as well.

The one downside is for the staff and volunteers regularly serving our kids in LTA (coinciding with worship). If things continue as they are, they would be unable to participate in the worship service. To facilitate their participation, we will need a rotation of volunteers who are willing to serve our kids one or perhaps two Sundays per month. Would you be willing to regularly serve on a rotation?

We pray that this structure will better serve the vision the Lord has given us. If you have any questions or concerns, please email, call, text, or visit me on site during office hours. May God our Father bless us richly through the unity of the Holy Spirit as members of his only Son, Jesus Christ!

Jeridan Dyck

Pastor of Family Ministries and Outreach

jeridan@tccwayland.org

(406)849-0675

Pastor's Note: "Are You Ready?"

tdpetter@gmail.com (Tom Petter) — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 18:14:31 GMT

Guiding Principles for the Ministry Year 2023-24

Trinitarian Congregational Church

Ministry Theme: “Are You Ready?”

This probing question is based on the Gospel of Matthew, which we will cover in our Sunday morning services both in the Fall and Spring terms. Jesus challenges us to move from a ‘spectator’ role (self-satisfied and ‘comfortable’) to an active ‘participant’ role in the discipleship experience. ‘Un-discipled’ disciples (Pastor Pete James’ phrase) fail to persevere, disengage with the Word and therefore mute the witness of Christ to our neighbors. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus challenges our priorities and calls us to new levels of readiness. Readiness both in the now (“come unto me”) and readiness for the future. Matthew 24:44 captures the theme well: “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Our goal for this ministry theme (reached upon as a team at our summer staff retreat at Toah Nipi Camp) is that TCC Life Groups would commit to the study of Matthew at some point during this ministry year to apply the urgency to be ready: the urgency to witness to our neighbors both in sharing the good news of forgiveness of sins and through acts of compassion. The prayerful outcome, by God’s power, is to see the multiplication of new believers during this ministry year at TCC. “This Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations, then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

Growth through Biblical Discipleship Hour at 9:30am on Sundays

To foster family-rooted discipleship, we are implementing new Biblical Discipleship Hour programs at 9:30am on Sundays for middle school and high school students, as well as for adults.

Following is a description of the new program:

Last words are important! Jesus’s last words to his eleven disciples in Matthew are this, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). In keeping with the Great Commission, our Mission Statement, “To Be and Make Disciples” is critical.

Accordingly, we are implementing an important teaching/training hour on Sunday mornings, 9:30am to 10:30am, for disciples of all ages and stages. We will hold two separate sessions during the hour upstairs in the main church building. Jeridan and Erin Dyck will supervise one session geared for our younger disciples. Donna Petter will supervise one session geared for older disciples. On certain occasions we will offer combined classes! Teachers and mentors from our own community will contribute weekly to the program.

As we journey with Jesus, we must “learn” what walking with him entails. Our focus will be fourfold: defining discipleship, the demands of a disciple, the decisions of a disciple, and developing disciples. These overlapping categories will allow us to address important topics from a biblical worldview. These broad categories also permit us to have combined teaching sessions (at times) with younger disciples in our midst.

Growth through Outreach

Our identity as a sending church means we are committed to evangelism (proclaiming that Jesus is Lord and Savior) to our neighbors across the street. In addition to existing opportunities (Bridge House in Framingham), 2023-24 is the year to create new outreach programs under the pastoral guidance of our new Pastor of Family Ministries and Outreach, Jeridan Dyck. The Send mobilization conference (September 16 at BU’s Agganis Arena) officially launches our efforts to participate in evangelistic outreach in MetroWest. Collaboration among local churches is a critical dimension of The Send's vision and TCC is actively participating in this movement.

Growth through Worship

The 2023-24 ministry year marks the launch of our new permanent worship team with the recent hiring of Mia Hustad as Worship Leader. Alex Kouris serves as worship coordinator, Karen Johnson as seasonal choir director, and Charlie Orr as our organist. Mia is forming a core team of volunteers with the goal of a weekly practice in addition to Sunday morning practice. Mia and Alex’s vision calls for an anointed family worship hour representing the highest quality of Christian worship from the standpoint of performance and the adoration and praise of the Living God. Our goal for the year is to see new families join the church as our experience of God through worship grows both in Word and Spirit.

Growth through Men’s Discipleship Programming

This fall we are re-launching our men’s ministry program with a new name: Don’t Walk Alone. We will gather September 17 for a hike, bonfire, some grilling and some much-needed fellowship among the men at TCC. The goal is to foster an atmosphere of openness and transparency in sharing the struggles common to men so that we feel supported in our disconnected and isolated culture.

Boundary and Accountability Principles

The Board, committees, Senior Pastor, Pastoral and support staff, and the congregation as a whole come under the accountability structures established in the TCC By-Laws of 2010. We are all accountable to the Lordship of Christ and His Word. In Christ, the Judgment of the Last Day has already come to us as “righteous” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Also, we will all have to give an account on that Day as to what we did in the body in our justified state (2 Corinthians 5:10), whether we were zealous for good works or not (Titus 2:11-14).

Theme Song for 2023-24 – “New Wine” by Hillsong Worship

In the crushing

In the pressing

You are making new wine

In the soil

I now surrender

You are breaking new ground

So I yield to You into Your careful hand

When I trust You I don't need to understand

Make me Your vessel

Make me an offering

Make me whatever You want me to be

I came here with nothing

But all You have given me

Jesus bring new wine out of me

In the crushing

In the pressing

You are making new wine

In the soil

I now surrender

You are breaking new ground

So, make me Your vessel

Make me an offering

Make me whatever

You want me to be

I came here with nothing

But all You have given me

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

'Cause where there is new wine

There is new power

There is new freedom

And the Kingdom is here

I lay down my old flames

To carry Your new fire today

'Cause where there is new wine

There is new power

There is new freedom

And the Kingdom is here

I lay down my old flames

To carry Your new fire today

So, make me Your vessel

Make me an offering

Make me whatever You want me to be

God, I came here with nothing

But all You have given me

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Make me Your vessel

Make me an offering

Make me whatever You want me to be

I came here with nothing

But all You have given me

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Sing that again, like me

Make me Your vessel

Make me an offering

Make me whatever You want me to be

God, I came here with nothing

But all You have given me

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Oh, Jesus, bring new wine out of me, oh Jesus

Jesus, bring new wine out of me (it means we're getting back on the altar)

We're saying we surrender everything, Lord

Bring new wine out of me, Jesus

Jesus, bring new wine (keep going) out of me (Jesus)

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

'Cause where there is new wine

There is new power

There is new freedom

And the Kingdom is here

I lay down my old flames

To carry Your new fire today

Where there is new wine

'Cause where there is new wine

There is new power

There is new freedom

And the Kingdom is here

I lay down my old flames

To carry Your new fire today

So, I say make me Your vessel

Make me an offering

Make me whatever You want me to be

I came here with nothing

But all You have given me

Jesus, bring new wine out of me, Jesus

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Brooke Gabrielle Fraser

New Wine lyrics © Hillsong Publishing, Hillsong Music Publishing Australia

Biblical Discipleship Hour

frontdesk@tccwayland.org (Jen Calverley) — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 17:05:38 GMT

Introducing: Biblical Discipleship Hour

Last words are important! Jesus’s last words to his eleven disciples in Matthew are this: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). In keeping with the Great Commission our Mission Statement, “To Be and Make Disciples” is critical.

As we journey with Jesus we must “learn” what walking with him entails. Our focus will be fourfold: defining discipleship, the demands of a disciple, the decisions of a disciple, and developing disciples. These overlapping categories will allow us to address important topics from a biblical worldview. These broad categories also permit us to have combined teaching sessions (at times) with younger disciples in our midst.

P.S. Please identify yourself as a potential teacher or mentor for the program! Take a step of faith and communicate with me if you feel tugged in this direction. I would love to help you discern.

Warmly,

Donna Petter

donna@tccwayland.org

TCC's Upcoming Residency Program

tdpetter@gmail.com (Tom Petter) — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 17:51:47 GMT

With the support of the Board, Finance Committee, and staff, we are thrilled to announce that coming September 2023, TCC will launch a pilot residency program to train pastors for New England churches. The program (see description attached) will run from September 2023 to the end of June 2024 which will allow the candidate to be placed in a church as a senior pastor by Fall 2024. By God's grace, we already have a wonderful candidate for this very exciting venture! Fall 2023 also coincides with my retirement at the seminary, which frees me up to mentor the candidate (along with Donna and others, as well).

Part of this vision is the reality that current seminary education doesn't adequately prepare students for the realities of pulpit ministry in a senior pastor role. In a real sense, it's a return to a model that harks back to the earliest times of the Christian Church and also during the Reformation, where future pastors were mentored both academically and spiritually within a local church (Calvin's Academy in Geneva being the model). Additionally, New England churches tend to be small without the budget for full-time youth and associate pastors, which are the typical funnels for senior pastor roles in larger churches. So there is a real need to prepare these Residents well for this task with a view that their ministry is measured in decades rather than a few years as is often the case now.

This vision for a Residency program is shared by other churches in the area, including Faith Community in Acton, led by Dr. Ryan Fields. Dr. Rick Lints, who is no stranger to TCC, is an active leader in The Presbyterian Church in America churches in New England. Rick also holds a senior leadership role with Tim Keller's Redeemer City-to-City Residency program in NYC. Together, we share the vision of a future Residency program where multiple churches from different denominations participate together in forming the next generation of pastors in our area. We view this collaborative work as an essential part of the vision for this Residency program to flourish. The hope is to run yearly cohorts of 10-15 pastoral candidates in individual churches, with the future creation of a 501(c)(3). So this pilot at TCC is just the beginning of the venture. We are planting seeds for the future.

As a pilot program we have already received some funding, but we are looking at raising $5K per month from September 2023 to June 2024 (a total of $50K). In a very real sense, this is a local outreach effort as we seek to train a new generation of workers into the harvest right here in New England. Tax Deductible donations can be made via a Restricted fund at TCC. Mary Ayotte, our contributions officer, can be contacted at contributions@tccwayland.org .

In His service together,

Pastor Tom

Pastor's Note: Encounters with Jesus

frontdesk@tccwayland.org (Jen Calverley) — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 15:53:19 GMT

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Late Spring/Early Summer Preaching Series

Encounters with Jesus

Encounters with Jesus are life-changing experiences, whether they happen in "one moment" or over a succession of extraordinary or mundane circumstances. We encounter Jesus in our deepest despair, and we encounter him in our greatest joys.

In Hannah's encounters with the Lord through her prayers of desperation, she eventually comes to a place of surrender: that which she longs for the most (a son out of years of barrenness and the resulting emotional abuse by her "rival" Peninnah) is that which she is willing to let go (1 Sam 1). The prayer of 1 Samuel 2 becomes a forerunner to David's psalms and the inspiration for Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55. [watch the sermon here]

We also encounter Jesus in our sufferings. The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 1 reassures us that even our most painful sufferings, persecutions, trials and pains will be more than matched by God's comfort, the "Father of mercies." In turn, the comfort we ourselves receive becomes the comfort with which we comfort others. [watch the sermon here]

On Pentecost Sunday last week, we remember that an encounter with Jesus is an encounter with the Holy Spirit: He fills us with His Spirit (aka "wind," "breath") which in turns gives us the power to proclaim with boldness the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sin (Acts 2). As Max Lucado so powerfully illustrates in his book Help is Here (Zondervan, 2022), life in the Spirit is akin to sailing, whereas life powered by our own effort is akin to rowing a boat. [watch the sermon here]

In the weeks to come we will encounter Jesus as the One in whom every promise of God is "yes." To Encounter Him is to walk a Triumphant Procession (2 Cor 2:6), where He, and not us, is the sole recipient of Praise and Glory. If there is any boasting on our part, it's in our weaknesses (2 Cor 11)! To encounter Jesus is to have that "direct access" to His glory, in a sort of powerful crescendo of experiences of His glory (2 Cor 3). However, we also accept that some will not encounter Jesus and will reject us as some rejected Him (2 Cor 4). In the End, everyone will encounter Him in judgement, either unto eternal salvation or unto eternal judgment (2 Cor 5), which is why we are called to share our own encounters with Jesus with others, regardless of the cost.

Mitali Perkins: Steeped in Stories

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 18:02:35 GMT

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As part of our Rise Program, we invite you to come to TCC on Tuesday, May 9th at 6:30 pm for an author visit with Mitali Perkins. An acclaimed writer of books for children, young adults, and adults alike, Ms. Perkins will be speaking about reading, writing, culture, and faith for an audience of all ages.

Born In Kolkata, India, Ms. Perkins grew up in a Hindu home and became a follower of Jesus while a student at Stanford University. Some of her most important literary influences as a child were authors such as C. S. Lewis, L. M. Montgomery, J. R. R. Tolkien, Louisa May Alcott, and Johanna Spyri, whose own writings exhibit a deeply Christian influence. We hope you can join us for this event!

2023 Alpha Youth @ Midweek!

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 17:42:53 GMT

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We are running Alpha Youth at Midweek!

Alpha Youth is a series of talks and discussions that makes room for students to ask questions about the Christian faith. Middl e Schoolers are encouraged to invite their friends as we draw closer to Jesus with our questions. This series will take place during Middle School Midweek on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in Bradford Hall through May 17.

Pastor's Note: Letter from Family Ministries Pastor

frontdesk@tccwayland.org (Jen Calverley) — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:17:41 GMT

Dear TCC,

What a privilege it was to spend this last weekend at Camp Berea with the students! The theme for the weekend was “Shatter.” It was a time to identify sin or good things in the wrong places that were hindering us from deeper relationship with Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). After the sessions, we as leaders were able to go deeper, asking what was impressed on them during that time. What a joy to hear how God was speaking to each of their hearts! Their thoughtful reflection and insights told me these young people have incredibly soft hearts toward the Lord! There was also a lot of time for fun; everything from paintball to scrabble! A few brave souls even jumped into a frozen lake for our amusement! The weekend whirled by, but it was precious time for me to get to know them better! Relationships can only be made by spending time together.

It is with great joy that I am taking this position as Family Ministries and Outreach Pastor! As many of you already know, I came back from my latest trip to Ukraine on February 15th. The purpose of the trip was to close the contract for our house, sell our appliances and car, donate the furniture and household goods, and pack up our personal possessions to be shipped here to Massachusetts. I was also able to spend some quality time with our friends and encourage them in the work God has called them to perform. The close of that chapter of life and ministry was sad, but there was also joy in being able to fully reorient ourselves toward life and ministry at TCC. Erin and Elsa are also excited for the future with TCC! Erin is an excellent leader and teacher, and she is especially excited to walk alongside the young women.

After getting to know many of the students last weekend, compassion for them and the struggles that they are going through, confirms to me that the Lord has indeed called us here to serve the families of TCC. I am so pleased with the efforts of the staff and volunteers who have been faithfully serving in the interim! From planning and coordinating Deep Freeze, to Gospel Project, to Alpha, to Bible Overview, excellent groundwork is already being done to launch the programming for the Fall!

As we, the Student Ministries team, move forward, we recognize the hostile environment we find ourselves in, hostile to meaningful faith in Jesus and biblical truth. We have heard you, the parents, and understand how critical a responsibility it is to educate our youth in Christian faith. Paul writes to Timothy, “…so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, a pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Teaching sound doctrine, being that pillar of truth, is a core stewardship God has given his church. We are excited to add an educational hour on Sunday mornings starting this fall for students and adults at 9:30am. We will continue to have family worship together at 11:00am as well as the regular 9:30 am service. In this way, we uphold both of our values for intergenerational worship and for Christian education together.

It is my desire as Family Ministries and Outreach Pastor, to come alongside parents, to partner together in discipling students; teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded us, to stand firm in the face of opposition, and to confidently go out into the harvest as laborers for the kingdom of God. Through prayer, collaboration, and relationship I want to carefully build on the foundation of Christ that has been laid before me. I am inviting you to send me your input and ideas. You can email me, or text me at any time. After we move here, come see me in person. I look forward to serving with you!

In Christ,

Jeridan Dyck

Email: jeridan@tccwayland.org

Phone: 406-849-0675

2023 Holy Week Services

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 19:41:56 GMT

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Our theme for Lent and Easter this year is "The Humble King." Join us on Sundays and during our special services listed below!

Palm Sunday, April 2 at 9:30am & 11am

On Palm Sunday we celebrate the entrance of Jesus, the humble king, into his final entrance into Jerusalem before his death.

Maundy Thursday, April 6 at 7pm

Maundy Thursday is the day we remember and reflect on the last supper Jesus spent with his disciples. During this service, you will have the option to participate in foot washing.

Good Friday, April 7 at 7pm

At our Good Friday Service, we remember and reflect on Jesus's death on the cross. We will confess and write our sins on a piece of paper and nail them to the cross.

Easter Sunday, April 9 at 9:30am & 11am

He is Risen Indeed! On Easter Sunday, we celebrate Jesus' defeat of death through his resurrection.

Pastor's Note: Family Discipleship Week

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 15:17:06 GMT

Dear Friends,

This week has been an exciting time focused on family discipleship with the visit of Jeridan, Erin and Elsa Dyck. Jeridan is our incoming Pastor of Family Ministries and Outreach and Erin our Student Ministries Assistant. In their get together with parents on Tuesday night, they emphasized the critical roles of parents in the discipleship of our children and how, as parents, we all lean on the Holy Spirit for insights! If you didn't have the opportunity to meet them, Jeridan will be back for Berea's "Deep Freeze" and a couple of more times in the spring until they relocate to the area sometime in June. Please do pray for Jeridan as he returns to Ukraine in early February to finalize the closing of their house, the selling of their car and to ship their belongings back to the States.

For Wednesday night Rise! (our adult education program), we welcomed Chelsea Erickson who spoke on the values of family discipleship and intergenerational worship. Chelsea has over 12 years of youth ministry experience (most recently at First Congregational Church of Hamilton, MA) and now serves at Rooted as Director of Publications, among other responsibilities. You won't want to miss her keen insights and wisdom. You can have access to her presentation via our YouTube channel.

On the heels of our annual meeting, clearly the Lord is at work in our midst and there is a great sense of renewal and anticipation for what He is doing. We want to be quick to give Him all the praise and glory for His provision, protection and guidance this past year and for His sustaining power for 2023.

In His service together,

Tom

Pastors' Note: A Note of Thanksgiving

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 17:21:58 GMT

“Give thanks to the Lord for His love endures forever!”

Donna and I would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, filled with His joy and Presence as you gather with f amily and friends. A consistent word rings through the Scripture that we should give thanks in all circumstances, even the trying ones: “I will bless the Lord at all times” David says in Psalm 34:1. James exhorts us to “count it all joy” when we face trials of many kinds (James 1:2). Gratitude becomes muscle memory we need to exercise every day of our lives.

Thanksgiving is one of these rare occasions during the secular calendar year where we are “mandated” to give thanks! Hospitality lies at the center of the feast, without much expectation or obligation to return the favor (except to bring your famous casserole). At Thanksgiving, we gather to enjoy each other’s company and cherish the good gifts the Lord has poured out upon us. Thanksgiving also translates into a wonderful opportunity to open our hearts to others less fortunate, as we contemplate the many ways the Lord has blessed us.

One family tradition we cultivate with our guests is to go around the dinner table and each person shares specifically what and/or who we are thankful for. It’s always a very moving moment (almost on par with eating that broccoli casserole). Tears are shed as we give thanks to the Lord together.

Our prayer for you is that this year, we would pause and give thanks in all our circumstances; May His Spirit touch our hearts and fill us with gratitude. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

In His Love,

Tom and Donna

Pastor's Note: Stewardship 2023

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 18:52:24 GMT

"The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of Hosts" (Haggai 2:8)

Haggai, through four punchy mini “sermons,” urges God’s people who have returned from exile to rebuild the house of the Lord. Haggai basically says, “ now is the time!” (Haggai 1:4). When confronted with this forthright message, and by the work of the Spirit (Zechariah 4:6), the heart of the leaders and the community were stirred to action and they started to rebuild the house of the Lord in 520 B.C. (Haggai 1:14).

In 2022, we too have gone through the “exile” of COVID-19 and have now “returned” to the house of the Lord (still with online access for those who cannot come in). We are building the house of the Lord with new and growing programs to fulfill our mission to be and make disciples. We have welcomed our students into worship on Sunday morning and thus resumed a long-standing tradition at TCC for students to worship with their parents. In the tradition of Pilgrim Fellowship of a past generation, students now gather for Revive!, a time of fellowship together on Sunday night and on Wednesday night. We have begun Rise!, a new educational hour to equip people to share their faith in our culture on Wednesday night. Women’s ministries are growing with Women’s Bible Study and the new program Woman to Woman . In the new year, we will launch another discipleship program and, by God’s grace, in 2023, we will fill the positions of Pastor of Family Ministries and Outreach and of Director of Worship. Our commitment to proper maintenance and long-term upkeep of our properties continues unabated and we look forward to renovating the sanctuary during the summer of 2023.

Clearly, much like the time of Haggai, we are in a rebuilding phase. God has been faithful to TCC for almost 200 years and His people have most certainly NOT neglected the house of the Lord. However, it would be very easy for all of us to fall into complacency and discouragement as we look to the challenges of 2023. God wants to bless us (“from this day on I will bless you,” Haggai 2:19) and renew His work in our midst by pouring out His Spirit in MetroWest. We long to see more people turn to Christ and be discipled and sent out as witnesses here in our homes, neighborhoods, schools and workplaces. We are committed to the unfinished task of world evangelization and the preaching of the Gospel to those who have never heard and those who have no access to the Scripture in their own language. As Jesus says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

During this season of financial giving, we pray God Himself will “stir our hearts” (Haggai 1:14) to contribute, knowing full well that the “silver is mine and the gold is mine declares the Lord of hosts.”

Please prayerfully consider the 2023 budget and how each one of us at TCC can financially give to the worship of the Living God and to the proclamation of the Gospel in 2023.

In His Love,

Pastor Tom

Pastor's Note: Christ for a Change - A Study of 1 Corinthians

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 14:58:36 GMT

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Corinth of the 1 ^st Century is very much like Boston in the 21 ^st century. Corinth is a culture disconnected from any sense of biblically-based ethics. The moral compass of this affluent, cultural, intellectual and athletic hub is firmly set on knowledge, achievement, power and fulfilment (especially sexual). The Gospel, the “word of the Cross” as Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 1:18 made as little sense then as it does today: Why tune in to a narrative of weakness and self-denial in a culture that loves winners and selfies ?

Yet, the Gospel takes root and transforms lives in Corinth/Boston! The Gospel is not weak, it is the power of God to conquer death; the Gospel is not intellectually untenable, it is the wisdom of God that confounds the smartest person in the room. The Gospel is not immoral and unloving, it is the very definition of true LOVE. The Gospel is not about following political/religious leaders and parties, but about worshiping the One true God, our “Lord Jesus Christ.” In the long list of Corinthian dysfunctions (what the Bible calls sin) Paul claims with absolute confidence (based on his own transformation) “… you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

The Mission Statement of TCC is “to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ:” “to be” means we are all on this journey to be changed and transformed by the presence of Christ in our lives; “to make” means we share this transformational experience of Christ with others. In Paul’s first letter to Corinth, the Apostle Paul writes in practical terms about the transforming wisdom and power of God and how to share the Gospel with others. This won’t be done by human ingenuity, marketing techniques or any wisdom you and I might have. Christ for a (much needed) change will only come from the wisdom of God and power of God as revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Pastor's Note: Called, Restored, Equipped

adam@tccwayland.org (Adam Kurihara) — Thu, 26 May 2022 19:44:39 GMT

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Pastor's Note: Called, Restored, Equipped

May 26, 2022

Adam Kurihara

A pastor’s hope for any sermon is that it would be not only a good word for Sunday, but would inspire deeper love of Jesus and curiosity about his word throughout the rest of the week.

Before we continue with the pastor’s note this week, I invite you to read the text on your own once or twice very carefully. What do you notice? While I drew out some parts of the text that were meaningful to me, my hope and prayer is that this would just be the beginning of your time fishing with Jesus or feasting with him on the beach. Perhaps he is saying something different entirely to you. So I invite you to read John 21:1-14 again, carefully.

“After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.”

I was talking with a friend about the sermon on Monday and learned another fact about fishing that would have made a great illustration. Apparently, Atlantic Cod have been adapting to fit through holes in the fishermen’s nets. “Researchers report that because the largest and fastest-growing fish were harvested, cod have evolved to grow slowly--an adaptation that haunts them to this day” ( source ).

And isn’t that true of people today? While any metaphor will surely break down when contemplated for too long, I certainly see some application to our fisher-of-men metaphor and evangelistic life. People today have indeed adapted to avoid the church and slip through the holes in our nets. In 2022, the church in America has an urgent need to re-imagine the way we think about evangelism, missions, and discipleship to be able to speak into the modern secular world. I am excited for TCC to be a part of this in our desire for adaptive change and innovation in evangelism and discipleship.

And let’s be clear, what we are drawing people into is both a gift and a cost. This is where our metaphor breaks down. We’re not catching people to kill them and eat them! Our death is already coming. We’re catching them with the promised hope of resurrection. We will all one day die, those in Christ will rise into eternal life.

If you have been Christian for a while you know that following Jesus with your life is not always easy, not always fun, and often comes with sacrifice. Dying to sin, and the flesh, and all the devil’s works does not always feel like the best thing, but we know that it is the only way to fullness of life. As you draw people to Jesus, know that you are drawing them into a feast: a meal with Jesus that nourishes our bodies, our hearts, our minds, and our souls.

Peter knew that life with Jesus was the only way. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68).

Questions for Reflection:

There is so much in this text we can reflect on. Here are a handful of questions to consider this week:

· How are you waiting for Jesus? How is Jesus meeting you in the mundane tasks of life?

· Are you being called to cast your net again?

· How do you run to Jesus?

· How are you restored by Jesus after failure or in shame?

· How do you add your work to Jesus’ work?

· Do you trust the gospel / church as God’s good news for the world?

· Do you trust his promise that he will draw all people to himself?

Resilient Witness: Building Strength for the tests and trials of Life

tdpetter@gmail.com (Tom Petter) — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 18:53:35 GMT

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Sermon Series: Resilient Witness

With external and internal pressures that tempt us to give up on God or doubt his presence and activity, Hebrews offers a strong tonic: look up to Jesus, change your spiritual diet (from meager nourishment, "milk" to solid spiritual food "meat," 5:12-14) and "lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees" (Hebrews 12:12). Hebrews is written for those who are seriously contemplating quitting on Jesus. The cure to this temptation to waver (a phenomenon felt by many during the pandemic) is summed up in Hebrews 10:22-25: Come back to Jesus, draw near to Him again by faith (not based on circumstances but on the reality of Jesus' supremacy: "he carries everything by the word of His power," Hebrews 1:3); hang on to hope as if your life depends on it (because it does!); and, last but not least, stir each other to love and good works .

So, faith, hope and love are the big themes but the source of all of it is a return to the presence of Jesus in our lives. Maybe you feel Jesus to be a distant idea. Maybe you are sensing you are a displeasure to God, never quite able to measure to your own or others' expectations. Or maybe you feel just plain indifferent toward God and all matters related to faith, the Church, Christians and things spiritual. This winter, the invitation is to come back to church; to invite your neighbors to come in, especially those who feel estranged from the faith; give yourself another chance to encounter Jesus; hit "refresh" and start anew in your walk with the Lord. Wherever we are on this journey, it's time to lay aside all the distractions and fix our eyes on Jesus, "the author and finisher of our faith."

TCC Family Camp 2022

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 17:50:16 GMT

TCC Family Camp 2022

We're excited to announce that we've booked Camp Toah Nipi in New Hampshire for our first TCC Family Camp this coming Summer 2022. The dates of the camp are from August 3rd to August 6th. This camp is for everyone, whether it be family or friends; the more the merrier! If you're interested in attending or have any questions be sure to send an email to Alexander Kouris .

Advent Devotionals

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 03:59:32 GMT

Advent is a lovely season to reflect on the impending holiday of Christmas. Advent itself comes from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming". As we approach Christmas, it's a blessing to have many congregants writing devotionals and sharing them with other members of TCC via email and we've collected them here for continued perusal.

Pastor's Note: Nine Insights into "Deep Community"

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 17:05:36 GMT

This year our community has embraced the theme “Deeper Still.” In Ephesians, and in so many other New Testament passages, we can glean the profound truths of God’s vision for the Church. What does “deep community” look like? What were the principles and practices of the early church? Here are nine passages and brief insights:

1. WE HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON.

So often our discussions about Christianity quickly become debates about our differences. But we could (and perhaps should) spend hours about the mind-blowing unity we have in Jesus, through the Gospel.

Ephesians 4:3-6 – “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

2. THE TRINITY TEACHES US.

Need a model for unity? Look no further than God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Read about the way each relates to the other, and follow that example!

John 17:22-23 – “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

3. CARRY ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS.

Deep community always involves prayer-filled ownership of the struggles of other brothers and sisters in Christ.

Galatians 6:2 – “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

4. PUT UP WITH PERSONALITY QUIRKS.

Be honest with yourself: there are probably people at TCC you struggle to tolerate. That’s okay! In fact, it’s what makes Christian community so richly distinct. We grow through every avenue of sanctification, including the challenge to love those we don’t like. Ask God for strength and patience, and love your brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those who irk you.

Ephesians 4:2 – “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

5. FORGIVENESS FORGES COMMUNITY.

Peter thought forgiving someone seven times would be a holy response, but Jesus had a radically different perspective. Our hope of reconciliation is so precious in a world entrenched in conflict. As it says in Ephesians 4:29, “...forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”

Matthew 18:21-35 – “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

6. IF YOU WANT TO GROW DEEPER, YOU GOT TO CONNECT DAILY.

Seven days is a long, long, long time between spiritually sharpening conversations. The habit of meeting together to eat, study and pray should be a daily one, or at least more than once a week!

Acts 2:42-47 – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

7. DON’T DISMEMBER THE BODY.

God designed us to function as one body. Every member is as essential as a leg, a hand or an ear. We are challenged to own that mentality.

1 Corinthians 12:14-27 – “The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”… But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

8. KEEP YOUR EYES ON OTHERS

Jesus modeled an attitude of radical selflessness, and it’s a sharp challenge to western individualism. How might you value someone else more than yourself today? It will probably involve interrupting your schedule. It will probably be more energy-consuming than you predict. It will always involve sacrifice.

Philippians 2:1-5 – “then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”

9. MEET OR MERGE

The early Christian converts from Judaism were under so much pressure to abandon faith in Jesus and return to their heritage. The charge in Hebrews is to not stop meeting together. The consequence of giving up on community is that we merge back into our old lifestyle, priorities and values. We can’t deny the true and personal impact of the Gospel, and that means, we also can’t abandon regular, corporate worship.

Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Pastor's Note: The End of "Us vs. Them"

tdpetter@gmail.com (Tom Petter) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 13:37:11 GMT

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The Problem: A Dividing Wall of Enmity and Hatred

In Ephesians 2:11-22 , Paul famously uses the image of walls to describe the enmity and hatred for the "other" humankind has faced from the very beginning (see Genesis 3:15 and Ephesians 2:1-3). Even a glance at history across the ages and cultures comes back to "us vs. them," with many times terrifyingly destructive consequences.

The Solution: The Death of Christ on a Roman Cross

"But now in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:13) marks the end of the "us vs. them." How is peace and reconciliation possible between people who are far apart on just about every issue? Through the sacrificial death of Jesus. Three times Paul repeats it (Ephesians 2: 13, 14, 16):

1. "You [the gentiles/nations] who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. "

2. "He himself is our peace who has made us both one and broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (enmity/hatred)."

3. "...and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross , thereby killing the hostility."

This last part, "killing the hostility" (v. 16) is crucial. All the hatred of the world was poured out on Jesus on a Roman Cross. Through his substitutionary death, he put this very hatred to death. This is why Paul looks to Jesus when he addresses the visceral hatred in his own time that existed between Jews and Gentiles (and here fill in the blank with new ethnicities, through every century and every culture).

One New Human Race

In this charter text, Paul puts the emphasis not on our differences (do we need to enumerate them?) but on the miracle of unity in Christ among peoples who disagree on just about everything. In a language tied to the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden, we who were estranged from each other have now been reconciled and have become one again "...that he might create in himself one new man [one new human race] in place of the two, so making peace" (v. 15). The stage is set here for the End game: a celebration of what brings us together. In Revelation 7, all the nations of the world are singing one song: the song of the Lamb who was slain: "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the lamb" (Rev. 7:10).

And the point is....

Paul's point is profound: We keep looking to the Cross in spite of competing opinions, cultures and ideologies. There isn't one dominant (or subservient) group here, but one cross-centered people of God by grace through faith.

If Paul's emphasis is on the cross, then we have our marching orders too. Jesus himself "came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near" (Eph. 2:17). So we too preach the Gospel of Peace and Reconciliation with God through the Cross. In fact, there is no other Gospel but this Gospel of Peace with God! This is one of the few times that we can legitimately attach a descriptor to the word "gospel" (not "prosperity" not "social" or any other distortion): this gospel is one that brings peace with God, which brings us all together as one new creation in Christ.

Take an Inventory

If you are constantly picking up new battles with others and discovering new hills to die on regularly, are you really reconciled with God and have embraced His peace?

What kind of Gospel are you preaching? If it's not one of peace and reconciliation with God, then it's falling short of what Jesus himself preaches. Don't bring political, socio-economic, cultural, etc. answers to a problem that is spiritual in nature. To be sure, this Gospel of peace carries profound implications in every culture of the world, but peace starts through the work of Christ on the Cross.

If you have been at church any length of time, it sounds like a well-worn message. It may be a familiar one, but it is also one that is one of the least applied. Paul will discuss this at length in the next chapters of Ephesians.

Real Faith for Real Life - Pete James

adam@tccwayland.org (Adam Kurihara) — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 14:52:49 GMT

This seminar concerns your real life, not merely your religious life. Real faith for real life will be our primary focus. Pete James, seminar leader draws upon his extensive experience in pastoral ministry for real life impact. He will explore five major themes that were part of his What Matters Most sermon series in early 2021. The goal of this seminar is to help each participant create an action plan for growth in faith. Jesus offers us abundant life. Real faith for real life.

Pete recently concluded 42 years of ministry at Vienna Presbyterian Church. He also led efforts to successfully launch three new churches in the DC metro area. He serves as adjunct faculty and the Board of Trustees at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

To register for this seminar which takes place on Friday, October 1st at 6:30-8:30pm and Saturday, October 2nd at 8:30-10:30am click here .

Pastor's Note: Hope for the hopeless

tdpetter@gmail.com (Tom Petter) — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:46:29 GMT

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Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23 is far reaching, powerful and incredibly relevant. He prays that the eyes of our hearts would be enlightened so that three specific things would happen:

First, that we would know hope. Hope is about confidence in a good future. It's about knowing you have an inheritance and legacy far greater than the limitations of your own limitations. It's living out the promise of Jeremiah to the exiles (who struggled mightily with hopelessness): "I know the plans I have for you...plans for welfare [ shalom ]and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Second, and directly related to this prayer for hope, that we would know the "riches of his glorious inheritance" (Eph 1:18). Any material blessings we might receive in this life completely pales in light of the eternal blessing that awaits those who believe in Jesus.

Paul knows to reach this place of hope will require God's supernatural power and this leads to his third request for us: that we would know "the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe" (Eph. 1:19). We live in an age of increasing hopelessness and despair and nothing short of the supernatural power of God will change our outlook. What kind of power are we talking about? The same level of powering that raised Jesus from the dead (Eph 1:20). Not even our own physical death can overcome this eternal hope we have in Christ. Jesus says: "The thief [the devil] comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

This week (and any other week!), let's pray Paul's prayer for hope for our own struggles with hopelessness, for those around us, for our church and for the Body of Christ worldwide.

Avis Saylor's Obituary

jrowley@tccwayland.org ( Johanna Rowley) — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 19:05:15 GMT

Avis Joanne Saylor was born in Michigan on March 9, 1933, the first-born of John and Elizabeth and beloved sister to Lois Gilbert of Marstons Mills. She moved to Boston as a young adult and experienced a life-changing event when she attended a Billy Graham convention, subsequently committing her life to God. Avis was a devoted and lifelong student of God’s word. While studying at Gordon College in Wenham, MA she met her future husband, Carlyle Saylor, on a blind date and married him in November 1956, upon the completion of his degree as a minister. Together, they served in churches in New York, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, and engaged in work at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass.

Avis spent much of her adult life as a minister’s wife, feeding and entertaining countless Bible studies and seminary student families, working with a limited budget to prepare multiple course gourmet meals that served a crowd. A parishioner described Avis as co-pastor with Carl, saying “she was right beside him with her loving and caring of the congregation.” Avis spun gold out of straw to create a comfortable life for her family, sewing costumes and clothes for her children. In all of her work, whether raising their four children, working in school administration and education, or fulfilling her role in churches, she was organized, well-dressed, and careful to attend to even the smallest of details, especially taking pleasure in preparing good food and reading at day’s end. With her neat script and careful words, Avis shared kindnesses and thoughtful gestures, lovingly arranging beauty around her with plants and artwork in peaceful surroundings. Always ready with a cup of tea and a sweet treat, she delighted in the occasional social event or concert, and embodied a playful and joyful spirit, enjoying games, crafts, dining out, and traveling.

Avis lived her life with grace and love and was a friend to many, but her family always came first and she loved them beyond measure. Avis and Carl shared a strong faith and lovingly devoted their lives to raising their children. Nothing made them happier than to be in their presence and they relished their role as grandparents to their many grandchildren. In her final years as a widow at Brooksby Retirement Village, Avis had many friends and caregivers that she cared about. As one friend stated, ‘she was a gentle and Godly presence in their lives’. Beneath our mother’s humble demeanor lay a soul of strength and determination, which carried her through the many demands and responsibilities of ministerial life, long-lasting pain in her last years, and the death of her husband of over 60 years. We loved and admired her more with each passing day.

Like Carl, Avis passed away at the age of 87 in the early hours of the morning on a late January day. She will be remembered and loved by those she touched, especially her sister Lois Gilbert of Marstons Mills, her son, daughters, sons-in-law, and daughter-in-law: Sandy and Carter Mitchell of Nantucket, Stephen and Pamela Saylor of Annisquam, Cheryl and Jeff Evans of Orleans, and Kathy Germaine of Wayland, along with her grandchildren, Adam and Ethan Saylor, Amelia and Emily Reardon, Caleb and Emily Mitchell, Maggie and Cameron Evans, and Grace Germaine, and extended family members, including her nephew John Kennan.

To honor Avis’ talents and service in providing home-cooked meals for others, donations may be made to the Trinitarian Congregational Church of Wayland’s Food Bank , their Deacons Fund for helping those in need, or Brooksby Village’s staff appreciation fund, https://www.ericksonseniorliving.com/brooksby-village/contact.

Christian Ed Hour Returns! CASKET Empty starts Sept 26 @ 11am

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 12:46:21 GMT

Our Christian Education Hour Returns Sept 26 at 11am

God's Big Redemption Story.

We know of the bible in many ways. It's a collection of individual God stories that we have learned from Sunday School. For example: Abraham, Joshua, David; and then Jesus, Peter, and Paul. Also, It's the story of our Lord and Savior walking on earth, dying and resurrecting and redeeming us. And it's creation - how we all came to be here on earth. There are so many ways that we Christians would describe what the Bible is, and all of them are correct.

Gordon Conwell teaches the students that the Bible is one divinely inspired story. Often described as the biblical metanarrative, the Bible describes God's perfect plan as having 4 connected parts. Creation (Gn 1-2), the Fall and resulting sin (Gn 3 - Malachi), Redemption (by Jesus in the Gospels), and finally Restoration of a new heaven and new earth (throughout the scriptures and ending in Revelation).

Dr Carol Kaminski and Dr David Palmer, professors at Gordon Conwell, have collaborated to teach the students the bible in two full semester classes. As we understand that the bible is one book and one divinely inspired story, Dr.'s Kaminski and Palmer have organized the teachings into 11 'chapters'. They call it CASKET EMPTY. Their website is here .

TCC Seminarians Jen Calverly and John Bleuer will be teaching the 6 week course, and we will cover the "C" and the "A" in CASKET EMPTY. (Creation and Abraham).

We are using the materials that the Professors use for teaching OT500 and NT501 and are making the materials available. (Dr. Donna Petter also teaches OT500 at GCTS). So feel free to come and enjoy, and absorb the teachings without pre-work, or reply to this email with a confirmation that you want the materials in advance. The materials are very good.

Deeper Still

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 17:00:00 GMT

Each year we gather as a staff to listen to God together, meditate on scripture, and form a theme for the coming year. This year we were drawn to the book of Ephesians, and out of our time together formed this theme. While only God knows what is in store for TCC this year, we are expecting him to do great things in the life of our church as we each go deeper in our relationship with him, relationships with each other, in our study of His word, and in our participation in the local church. Here’s a bit more about what this theme means:

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians presents a sweeping vision of what church is really like. And it’s not boring, uninspiring and irrelevant. We are invited to a vision-casting meeting we won’t soon forget! Thanks to our constantly updated news feed, it’s not easy to talk of hope without sounding a bit detached from reality. What can I do to revert trends in a society bent on godlessness? What can a church like TCC do to bring change in a sea of pain and suffering? And to cap it all, sociologists keep assuring us nobody really goes to church anymore. They even have a category: the ‘nones” (no God, no church, no faith).

Two most important words

In a 20 minute-read , Ephesians challenges this narrative of hopelessness and isolation head on. Our diminutive view of God is shattered with two simple words: in Christ . In Christ reconciliation with God is the cure to all our dysfunctions. In Christ, we are now reunited with each other . The metaphors of the interconnectedness of the human body, family and temple building are brought together to drive the same point home: Let’s quit focusing on our differences and what divides us and set our eyes on Him, who brings us all together. What an incredibly timely message! We have a purpose in gathering together as we realize our roles as individuals and community. Each one of us has a ministry and a calling to bring about this message of restoration to the fragmentation and chaos we see around us. In the final section of the letter, Paul warns this is no cake walk. We need to be ready for battle . We are in for a stiff fight since the divider-in-chief, the “devil” (Ephesians 6:11) will do everything he can to undermine this grand vision of the Church.

So this year, go deeper still, encounter God’s love, embrace building the church Ephesians style, and be ready for the Lord to do deep things in and through us!

Peacemaking: #8 2021

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 16:46:00 GMT

August 27, 2021

The Four Promises of Forgiveness

Through forgiveness God tears down the walls that our sins have built, and he opens the way for a renewed relationship with him. This is exactly what we can do when we forgive as the Lord forgives us: We release the person who has wronged us from the penalty of being separated from us. We do not hold wrongs against others, do not think about the wrongs, and do not punish others for them. Therefore, biblical forgiveness may be described as a decision to make four promises:

This is a very important promise, because what you think affects how you feel about people. In other words, I’m not going to let myself stew on what happened. I’m not going to intentionally ruminate over what happened and hold a grudge. Instead, I’m going to consider the matter done and finished in my heart. This is my decision – a decision to forgive.

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). Speak well about and to the person who hurt you. Begin to think of things that would help him—and then do them. That is evidence of real forgiveness. When you do these things, you will usually have better feelings about the person.

How easy it would be to store away the memory of what someone has done, along with all their other sins and failings. Then I can use it in a conversation somewhere: perhaps to score points in an argument, or to load their conscience or reputation up with guilt to crush them, or to make myself somehow look ‘better’ than them. This is the opposite of forgiveness. When God forgives you, he promises never to bring up your sin to use against you. In other words, you won’t hear about those sinful attitudes and actions from God again. Love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Cor. 13:5).

Note: This doesn’t mean we can never raise something someone has done wrong again. For example, an ongoing pattern of wrong behavior may need to be addressed – but the key is not to store things away and raise it for the purpose of using it against that person .

If you are like most people, you will be tempted to tell others what someone has done to hurt you. You may want people to feel sorry for you and side with you instead of with the person who mistreated you. This, too, is the opposite of forgiveness. Gossip usually causes more problems between you and others. God teaches us, “Without gossip a quarrel dies down” (Prov. 26:20).

If you are having a hard time dealing with a problem, it is appropriate to ask someone you trust to help you. In that case, you will need to explain the facts and express your feelings about the conflict. This should not be done to gossip, but to get help to solve the problem and save your friendship.

However, for this promise to actually be true in the reality of our relationships, each person needs to have first repented of and owned their part in the breakdown of the relationship and accept the consequences of their actions (including me)! This means a conversation needs to have taken place – a conversation that we hope will lead to both of us making the necessary apology and commitment to change – and mutual forgiveness extended. And when this happens, the miracle of forgiveness becomes the even greater miracle of a reconciled relationship.

Remember that forgiveness is a choice to make these promises—no matter how you feel. Whenever you forgive those who have hurt you, you show God how much you appreciate his gift of forgiveness to you.

By making and keeping these promises, you can tear down the walls that stand between you and those who have done something wrong to you.” You promise not to dwell on or brood over the problem or to punish by holding the person at a distance. You clear the way for your relationship to develop unhindered by memories of past wrongs. This is exactly what God does for us, and it is what he calls us to do for others.

** In cases of abuse, forgiveness can and should include the establishment of safe boundaries for emotional and physical safety. See The Peacemaker , pp. 156-7, 284.

If there is someone you need to forgive today, why not begin practicing these four promises?

Helping, praying, and supporting Haiti

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 17:30:00 GMT

http://www.usfch.org/

facebook here.

https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/2083248

Peacemaking: Article #7 2021

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 20:12:00 GMT

August 13, 2021

Seven A’s of a Biblical Confession.

God helps us to see our sins and leads us to resolution using the 4 “G’s”. As God opens your eyes to see how you have sinned against others, he simultaneously offers you a way to find freedom from your past wrongs. It is called confession. Many people have never experienced this freedom because they have never learned how to confess their wrongs honestly and unconditionally.

Instead, they use words like these: “I’m sorry if I hurt you.” “Let’s just forget the past.” “I suppose I could have done a better job.” “I guess it’s not all your fault.” These token statements rarely trigger genuine forgiveness and reconciliation. If you really want to make peace, ask God to help you breathe grace by humbly and thoroughly admitting your wrongs. The way to do this is to use the Seven A’s of a Biblical Confession.

1 John 1:8-9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

An eighth “A” could be added to this list: Allow time. When you’ve deeply disappointed, hurt or wronged someone else, they may need some time to process their emotions and come to a point of forgiveness.

Peacemaking: Article #6 2021

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 16:37:00 GMT

July 30, 2021

Foundational Principles….Peacemaker Ministries

The Bible provides us with a simple yet powerful system for resolving conflict. These principles are so simple that they can be used to resolve the most basic conflicts of daily life. But they are so powerful that they have been used to mediate and arbitrate bitter divorce and child custody actions, embezzlement situations, church divisions, multi-million-dollar business disputes, malpractice lawsuits, and terrible sexual abuse cases.

To gain a basic understanding of this system for biblical peacemaking, we invite you to study the foundational principles that are briefly discussed in the topics below.

The Gospel of Peace Mirrored Through Peacemaking – A summary statement of how the gospel of Jesus Christ is at the core of biblical peacemaking.

Pastor’s Note: Lord Please Send Someone Else

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 15:05:00 GMT

Read Exodus 3-4.

Oh Lord Please Send Someone Else

Moses in Exodus 3-4 provides the greatest list of all time when it comes to objections to fulfilling God’s call. Moses starts the sequence with a familiar hurdle: “who am I?” (Exodus 3:11). I am not qualified, I don’t have the expertise nor the experience. To this line of reasoning, God gives a terse answer: “I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12) as if to say, this is all you need to know, that my very presence will be enough to get through whatever comes your way. The second objection shifts the focus to God Himself: “Who are you?” (= “what is your name” Exodus 3:13). Put differently, the question becomes, is God up to the task? Here again, the answer is quite direct: I will be true to my nature. I will be who I say I am: The God of the patriarchs, a faithful God who keeps His Word (Exodus 3:14-15).*

In chapter 4:1-17 the back and forth continues: Moses says, they won’t listen to me (Exodus 4:1); I’m not eloquent (Exodus 4:10) so please send someone else instead (Exodus 4:13).

God’s hand of power, not ours

But the question behind these questions points back to control. Who really holds the power to get things done? God answers with two famous illustrations focusing on whose hand of power prevails (Exodus 4:2-7): Moses’ hand grabs the staff (turned into a snake and then back to a staff) and Moses’ hand turns flaky and then back to healthy again. Both signs leave no doubt as to the origin of the hand of power; it’s God’s from beginning to end (Exodus 3:19-20). The call of God is supernatural in Moses’ life as it is in our lives. Paul challenges Timothy to rekindle the gift of his ministry through the laying on of hands. “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:6-7). The greatness of our accomplishments in this life will be measured according to God’s greatness and His power made manifest in and through us. This was true for Moses, for Timothy and for every minister of the Gospel ever since. By faith in Jesus, we are all “His workmanship” and we walk in the “good works which he has prepared beforehand (Ephesians 2:10).

Our own objections

So what are some of the objections when facing the call of God in your life? Maybe it’s a new job; a shift in lifestyle; a return to an old and familiar place; or maybe we just need a reset for what God has called us, etc. etc. God’s holy calling takes on many shapes and characteristics as we are all uniquely created in His image. His call is particular for each one of us, but the principles displayed in Moses’ call remain the same. Whatever trajectory he has created for us will be a journey marked by His presence, reliability and power. Our objections, “I’m not…. etc.” are no match to His “I am.”

*Desmond Alexander in his 2017 commentary on Exodus has a wonderful exposition of this text.

Peacemaking: Article #5 2021

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 18:37:00 GMT

July 16, 2021

Q. What is it that the PeaceMaking Ministry wants to instill in members of TCC??

A. We call it…… “THE 4 G’s”

Article Part II Focus – G#3 and G#4 (see previous e-bulletins for Part I Focus – G#1 and G#2).

As soon as any of us recognize we are in a conflict or offended by or uncomfortable with another….. WE STOP, WE THINK, WE REMEMBER

In Part I we discussed G#1 and G#2……. We have spent considerable time “Glorifying God” – G#1 and “Getting the log out of our own eye.”- G#2.

IF THE SITUATION is serious enough to address the “other’s fault”…. then we proceed cautiously. G #3…………. GO AND GENTLY ENGAGE

We will DETERMINE to approach the other person without anger, with great respect, and in kindness, meekness, goodness. We will pray for patience and forbearance. AND as we PREPARE we continue to return to G#1 and REMEMBER that we have made a decision to GLORIFY GOD in all that we will do or say from this point on.(G#1).

We CAREFULLY THINK and PLAN as to how to approach the other person with a gentle demeanor.

Russell (Rusty) M. Hills, Jr. Memorial Service

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 18:55:00 GMT

Live-Stream for Rusty Hills Service

WAYLAND: Russell M. “Rusty” Hills, Jr., 77, of Wayland, died comfortably at his residence under the care and comfort of his family on Friday, July 16, 2021 following a rare terminal illness of several months.

Rusty was born on March 12, 1944 at Waltham Hospital. He was the son of the late Russell M. Hills, Sr and Virginia (Biggi) Hills. He lived on Bacon Street in Waltham thru his elementary school years before moving to Weston.

Rusty married Alexandra M. Taylor on November 7, 1970 and they moved to their home in Wayland. They had two children, Keith Russell and Dana Michelle, as well as several Golden Retrievers, horses and a few cats and bunnies. The whole family was very active with ventures in skiing all over New England, out West and in Europe. He also enjoyed boating, bicycling, kayaking, hunting, hiking the New England 4000 footers, horses and skeet shooting.

Nickerson and Hills, Inc., a paint store and contracting company, was started by Rusty’s dad Russell in 1946 and Rusty came on board around 1966 to help. He quickly began running the crew and contracting jobs for the next 50 years while continuing to help run the store as well.

Then there was the purchase of a second home in Aiken, SC in 2016 to get away from the snow and cold New England winters. His son Keith stepped up to run the company back in Waltham during the winters with help from his father Rusty who would be back working for the 6 month summer season. After a break from sport shooting up North, Rusty got back into his guns in Aiken and added trap, five stand, sporting clays and woods to his skeet becoming an overall shooting guy.

Russell leaves behind his beloved wife of 51 years, Alexandra “Randy” (Taylor) Hills of Wayland; his son Keith Russell Hills and his wife Stephanie Anne Hills and their sons Jake and Sam; his daughter Dana Michelle Hills Riley and her husband James Edmund Riley and son James and daughter Taylor; his three sisters, Jody Hill of Waltham, Linda Brown and her husband Stanley Brown of Castle Rock, CO and Ginger Lopez and her husband John Lopez of Rockledge, FL as well as many nieces and nephews whom he adored. He will be missed by so many who felt close bonds with Rusty, an outstanding, personable, outgoing, lovable fun guy.

Memorial Visitations will be held on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road (off Rte. 30), Wayland.

A memorial service will be held at the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 53 Cochituate Road (Rte. 27), Wayland on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 11:00 o’clock. The Memorial Service will be live streamed at www.TCCWayland.org .

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Creutzfeldt – Jakob Foundation for Research www.cjdfoundation.org/donate . Please indicate the tribute is in loving memory of Russell M. Hills, Jr.

Peacemaking: Article #4 2021

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 19:32:00 GMT

July 2, 2021

Q. What is it that the PeaceMaking Ministry wants to instill in members of TCC??
A. We call it…… “THE 4 G’s”

Article: Part I – Focus on G #1 and G#2
As soon as any of us recognize we are in a conflict, offended by or uncomfortable with another…..

WE STOP, WE THINK, WE REMEMBER – THE 4 G’s

They are not to be administered quickly nor lightly…. (it may take hours or days depending on
the magnitude of the conflict and our level of anger/hurt/bitterness.)

Part I will explain the slow and thorough process of the first two G’s.
Also, the overall importance of G#1…. how with all the G’s we refer to it constantly.

G #1: GLORIFY GOD in all that we will say or do from this point on.
(The greatest of all four G’s)

We will determine not to “revile for revile.” – I Peter 2:23-25

We will determine not to “stew and grow in anger.” – Eph. 4:26

We will determine to STOP and THINK

about Jesus Who loves us,
about Jesus Who died for our sins,
about Jesus Who forgives us.
about Jesus – kind and good and forgiving

G #2: GET THE LOG OUT OF OUR OWN EYE

STOP and THINK and REFLECT about our part in this conflict or offense or discomfort.
REMEMBER our own sinful contribution to this situation and we STAND and OWN IT!
We take the responsibility for our part, by confession to God and man.
Confession to God
Let’s take our sins to the cross. Let’s acknowledge our sin before The Father, in The Name of Jesus. With the encouragement and support and wisdom and guidance of The Holy Spirit – —
Before The Lord, we will acknowledge our sin.
Before The Lord, we will confess our sin.
Before The Lord, we will repent of our sin.
(if this is an habitual sin… ) Before The Lord we ask for deliverance of this sin.
Before The Lord we receive the forgiveness of our God.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…” – 1John 1:9

Before The Lord we THANK GOD , for His goodness, love & mercy.
Confession to man
With care, respect and gentleness we acknowledge and confess our sin to ‘the other’ seeking his/her forgiveness. Often times, this is enough to cause the other person to also confess and seek your forgiveness. If the latter does not occur, simply thank the person for his/her forgiveness of us.
THIS ENCOUNTER WAS SOLELY to “get the log out of our own eye.”

END OF Article: Part I, Focus – G#1 and G#2

If you want to learn more, see the Peacemaking website: https://tccwayland.org/resources/care/
peacemakers/. To contact the Peacemaking Team, send an email to peacemaking@tccwayland.org .

Peacemaking: Article #3 2021

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 19:11:00 GMT

June 18, 2021

God invites you to be a peacemaker. In fact, he wants you and every Christian alive to master his way of handling conflict. There is a four-step process for handling all kinds of clashes. It is called “The Four G’s of Peacemaking.”

Today, we’ll begin with the first “G,” “Glorify God.”

“ So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Something significant happens when you decide to follow God’s instructions for relationships, especially his insights on conflict. When you focus on him and his ways, you do more than cope. When you choose to study and act on God’s plans in every area of your existence, you’re living for his glory.

Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others may do, we will rejoice in the Lord and bring him praise by depending on his forgiveness, wisdom, power and love, as we seek to faithfully obey his commands and maintain a loving, merciful and forgiving attitude.

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,” – Psalm 37

If you want to learn more, see the Peacemaking website: https://tccwayland.org/resources/care/peacemakers/

To contact the Peacemaking Team, send an email to peacemaking@tccwayland.org .

Peacemaking: Article #2 2021

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 18:56:00 GMT

The Person Who Loves, Wins!

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that
battle within you? You want something but don’t get it” (James 4:1-2)

Do you know how to love? It seems like an easy question, right? But how you love determines
your relationships and, to be honest, how you handle your conflicts.

What does love look like in your life today? We have spent a lot of time in isolation being tucked
away from family and friends with our smiles hidden behind a mask.

What does love look like in the church today? Some of us have been unable to return to church
and it leaves us feeling slightly out of touch and oftentimes alone.

All of us have experienced something along these lines, or know someone who has, and it can
add a heaviness that doesn’t help with conflict.

How can we approach conflict knowing that WE are loved? And showing those just coming out
of isolation that they are loved too?

According to the Peacemaker Ministries, “Peacemakers are people who breathe grace. Inspired
by the gospel, they draw continually on the goodness and power of Jesus Christ, and then
breathe out his love.”

Going into this new season in our walks with the Lord, let us commit to loving one another. Don’t
pay attention to what people have done to you or what you have done to others but let’s have a
renewed focus on what Jesus has done for us..

Lets handle all of our conflicts with a Cross-centric and gospel-centric approach. A life full of
love, because at the end of the day, life begins at the Cross.

Glorifying God is our first G.

Want to learn more follow https://tccwayland.org/resources/care/peacemakers

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest
commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Peacemaking: Article #1 2021

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 15:27:00 GMT

The TCC Peacemaking Team is back and ready to help . There has been so much going on this past year and there hasn’t been one person who has not been confronted with conflict- It could be at work, it could be political agendas, it could be current events (as seen on the news), and strife even in our own families and relationships.

We want you to know that you are not alone- therefore we will be here to listen and help you navigate through your situations with a focus on the Gospel and on the *four G’s of peacemaking. You can come up to us in person or simply write an anonymous email…

“like… Dear Peacemaker, (insert prayer request here) or (insert situation here).

The Peacemaking Team is here and ready to listen and pray with and for you!”

We don’t have all the answers but God does. He is faithful and will see us through all situations and conflicts in our lives. Just know you have a friend here on the Peacemaking Team.

Want to learn more follow the link: https://tccwayland.org/resources/care/peacemakers/

Pastor’s note: Be the Blessing

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 19:38:00 GMT

Read Genesis 12:1-7; Joshua 24:23; Hebrews 11: 8-10; Hebrews 11:13-16; Mark 10:27-30

Reading the above texts in sequence all point to one inevitable reality of Jesus’ claim upon our lives: the call to leave behind ancestral home and family and culture for the sake of the Gospel. For some, it’s a permanent departure as in the case of Abraham; for others, it may not be so radical (relocating from one part of town to another). This ‘leaving everything behind’ is always painful. Abraham’s life of faith and departure from his culture in South West Asia (modern day Iraq) to relocate to the eastern Mediterranean region was a profound turning point. Hebrews 11 tells us Abraham didn’t really know where he was going. But God’s Word tells us it created a cascade of blessings with effects felt to this day (Galatians 3:8-9). In the end, the relocation wasn’t about any place on this earth, but was to a city-state a lot greater than Ur, a city-state that lasts forever, which builder is God Himself!

So there is a definite giving up involved on our part and it’s painful! But as Jesus promises, we receive back “hundredfold” and we end up the ones being blessed. Of course, it would be wrong to assume it’s a sort of quid pro quo and that we can commandeer God as a vending machine to get our “blessing.” God chooses when and how these blessings are allocated to us and the journey is not without persecutions and opposition.

To leave it there would be wrong because the final dimension of Abraham’s turning point is actually a commandment. Genesis 12:2, translated “so that you will be a blessing” is actually an imperative = “be a blessing!” We don’t sit of the benefits of giving up everything for the sake of the Gospel. We in turn become a blessing to others.

Questions for the week:

What or who is it God is asking you to let go and give up? your culture, your calendar, your reputation, your family, your children (who are God’s to begin with), the list is really endless here. Let the Holy Spirit show you what it is you need to let go.

Are you recognizing and identifying the blessings in your life as you have given family country etc. for the Gospel?

What sort of blessing do you think God is calling you to be to others? Do the people around you need you? Does your church need you to serve (a result of giving up control of your calendar)? For some it may be time to actually pack up your bags and go on to the next leg of the journey.

In all these scenarios of giving up, we don’t know all the details when we begin this journey of faith, but one thing is abundantly clear: Jesus will be with us all the way to the End! This is the blessing of Abraham passed on to us today.

Turning Points: Seek First the Welfare of Zion

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 18:56:00 GMT

Read Nehemiah 1:1-11 and Nehemiah 2:1-8

Disciples of Jesus Christ, whether custodians, physicians, engineers, managers, artists, at home raising children, retired, etc. carry two ‘hats:’ servant of the king (=those to whom we report in our daily lives) and servant of the King of kings. This seems “old hat” to some and yet, it’s deceptively difficult to apply in real life.

Nehemiah embodies the idea of a trusted “servant” to his boss (he is cupbearer to King Artaxerxes; Nehemiah 2:5), the ruler of Persia. He performs his day job admirably.

But Nehemiah’s second and main hat is “servant” of the King of kings (Nehemiah 1:11). When Nehemiah hears of how Zion (aka Jerusalem, aka God’s people, see Hebrews 12:22) has faltered and needs some serious assistance, he pivots at the drop of a hat and embraces his first calling as servant of the King of kings. He hits the ground praying for an extensive period of time (about 4/5 months, Nehemiah 1:2-8). His time of prayer yields results beyond his wildest expectations as Nehemiah finds himself the answer to his own prayer! King Artaxerxes commissions Nehemiah as Governor to restore the worship of the Living God in the temple (Nehemiah 2:1-8). Artaxerxes would only entrust this task to someone who would never betray him, and that person is Nehemiah.

The big lesson for us? When you carry two hats, you routinely re-prioritize your life and put the welfare of Zion first. Jesus says, “seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). This can mean a time of concerted prayer, which could then lead to a change of location, direction, or calling. There is no cookie cutter formula out of Nehemiah’s life as we each have to follow our own call, but one thing is certain: Anything is possible and we all need to be open for new directives from the King of kings. For some of us, this is unsettling (those who love routine and hate change), for others it’s exciting! Regardless of our own disposition, God works with us and prepares for these momentous turning points. It’s not really an “if” but rather a “when.” When you and I carry two-hats, we give up our own agenda and we embrace God’s.

New Summer Preaching Series: Turning Points

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 15:24:00 GMT

How do we prepare for turning points in our lives? Sometimes turning points are planned, expected and welcome. Other times, they are complete disruptions and intrusions that are thoroughly unpleasant. This Summer we look at the disrupted lives of famous characters in God’s Story, all with great significance for us. Among others, we will examine the lives of Nehemiah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Job, Paul the Apostle as snapshots of momentous turning points in God’s Story. These stories also provide practical help for us to negotiate our own turning points:

Dealing with career changes (Nehemiah)

The courage to sever unhelpful ties (Abraham)

A string of bad circumstances may turn out for the good in the end (Joseph)

It ain’t over till it’s over: when the fun and excitement begins later in life (Moses)

Catastrophic turning points: Why do we suffer? (Job)

Leopards can change their spots after all (Saul of Tarsus)

There is one disruption the entire world will experience at the same time One Day: Jesus Christ will return in Glory to judge the Living and the Dead. So the bigger question for you and me is, are we prepared to welcome Him or are we uncertain or even downright indifferent? Perhaps more to the point, are we actually prepared to face the one turning point we will all encounter one day: death?

This summer, bring a friend, neighbor or relative to TCC. God’s Story, the Bible, is the one book that prepares us for all the turning points you and I will ever face in our lives. And the confidence we have is that with the presence of the Lord Jesus at our side, and by placing our faith in Him, we will have the grace and favor to face them all.

Gaye Church Memorial Service

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 15:10:00 GMT

Please join the Church family, and Trinitarian Congregational Church on June 17, 2021 at 1pm EST to celebrate Gaye Church’s life via the live-stream link below.

Live-Stream Memorial Service

View Messages of Condolence

Service Bulletin

Send Message of Condolence

OBITUARY

Wayland: (Gerry) Gaye Church, 70, died peacefully in her home June 7, 2021 surrounded by loving family and caregivers after a long battle with diabetes and other chronic illnesses. She was the oldest of 4 children of the late Inez and Herbert Gillespie of Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. She attended Penn State University where she met her future husband, Paul, and made life-long friends through their combined sorority/fraternity connections. They were married in 1972, and they lived in New York City for 9 years while Paul completed his medical studies and training. During that time, Gaye earned her Master’s Degree from Teachers College at Columbia University and taught at Lexington School for the Deaf until the birth of her 2 daughters Melissa and Tracey.

Gaye devoted many years to serving God by teaching children of the love of Jesus. Countless children have come to know God because of her powerful work in the Mom to Mom and TWIGS programs at Trinitarian Congregational Church and Bible Study Fellowship International.

She was a devoted, loving wife, mother, and grandmother to 7 grandchildren.

Gaye is predeceased by her brothers Gary and Gill Gillespie, and she is survived by her husband Paul of Wayland; daughters Melissa Figueroa and family of Framingham and Tracey DeCastro and family of Stonington, CT; and sister Gyda Molchany and family of Catasauqua, PA. Gaye will be remembered for her steadfast unwavering faith; her quick, genuine smile; her tireless volunteer efforts for many ministries at TCC; and unlimited devotion to her grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Deacons’ Fund, Trinitarian Congregational Church, 53 Cochituate Rd, Wayland, MA 01778 (for the needy within the local community).

Kidsweek Summer 2021

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 19:41:00 GMT

Information Sheet

Kidsweek Session 1 Registration

Kidsweek Session 2 Registration

Pastor’s Note: QM aka GG vs. Titanic

Fri, 28 May 2021 16:51:00 GMT

Grey Ghost

The RMS Queen Mary’s maiden voyage across the Atlantic was in 1936. Decommissioned in 1967, during World War II, she was refitted as a troop transport, her portholes covered, and painted with a dull Atlantic Ocean grey. Thus the elegant Art Deco-fitted vessel became a warship. She exchanged her nickname QM for GG (Grey Ghost). During WWII, she went through rough waters and great dangers but she made it through.

After the war she became again that elegant liner that many from that generation still remember. She is now harbored permanently in Long Beach CA. Beautiful and elegant as ever.

Contrast the RMS Titanic, also from Southampton, who, on her maiden Atlantic voyage went down in circumstance so well documented that “to be on the Titanic” is now a metaphor for epic and catastrophic failure. NOTHING went right not only on that fateful night in April 1912 but even during the designing and construction phase (google Titanic “rivets”). Even the 2003 documentary on the Titanic (named Ghosts of the Abyss ) contains a huge touch of irony. The day the team led by James Cameron deposed a commemorative plaque on the Titanic was September 11, 2001. The inscription read: THE 1500 SOULS LOST HERE STILL SPEAK, REMINDING US THAT THE UNTHINKABLE CAN HAPPEN, BUT FOR OUR VIGILANCE, HUMILITY AND COMPASSION.

Nothing can stop the Word of God!

The image of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) is so evocative, meaningful and powerful on so many levels. But one image that keeps coming back in the Book of Acts is that the spread of the Gospel is irresistible and unstoppable. The Word who is Spirit (John 6:63) cannot be thwarted (e.g., Acts 12:24).

You are not on the Titanic!

As we return to embodied worship, we too remember we are not on the Titanic . We are on that lovely ship turned war ship, in rough waters yes, but we are going to make it through. Isaiah the Prophet affirms this confidence with his characteristic poignant poetry. For the Word of God, aka, the Gospel (Isaiah 40:6-8; 1 Peter 1:15), aka the Spirit (John 6:63) to be rendered ineffective is as likely as water and snow returning to their place of origins in the cloud: unthinkable! The Word-Spirit-Gospel will succeed! (Isaiah 55:10-12).

Now is the time to seek Him!

So we persevere. Isaiah puts some urgency to it: “now is the time!” “He will abundantly pardon” as we abandon our own ways. We return to Jesus in repentance (Isaiah 55:6-9). We remind ourselves that His ways of doing things and His way of thinking stand in contrast to our own devices, thinking and worldview. As our worldview is transformed by the Lord Jesus, His Word and His Spirit, this is also the Promise of Pentecost: A successful passage is in store for us as individuals, the Body of Christ in our area and the Church worldwide. You and I are not on the Titanic!

Stephen Ministry: Training in Compassion (New class forming Fall 2021)

Fri, 21 May 2021 14:33:00 GMT

Our Quiet Ministry of Care

Stephen Ministry has been quietly supporting many people both inside and outside of our congregation. You might not know it, but throughout the pandemic Stephen Ministers have been paired with a care receiver to give support by listening and praying through the struggles of life. It is one of many core ministries of TCC for our community.

Diane Fay will be sharing an update about Stephen Ministry at our service on May 23rd to announce the launch of a new class this fall!

Looking to Care for Others? Join the Stephen Ministry Training Class

New class beginning Fall 2021

Your neighbor tells you they lost their job, your friend is battling a terminal disease, your coworker tells you their marriage is ending. How do you respond? Do you feel equipped to support those walking through life’s valleys? Do you want to learn the skills, know what to say (and more importantly, what not to say!) to help and support those in need? If so, consider becoming a Stephen Minister!

A new class is beginning in the Fall (Sept 2021). Contact Diane Fay at 508-733-3181 (cell) or email dianehfay@gmail.com if you are interested for further information.

Looking for Support from the Body of Christ? Find a Stephen Minister

It’s okay to be human.

We’re brought up to be strong, self-sufficient, independent people. We tend to think that if we ask for help, it’s a sign of weakness. So we try to keep our struggles hidden, stuffed deep inside. However, that’s not God’s plan. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” God wants us to care for others—and allow others to care for us in our time of need.

If you’re sad or struggling inside, don’t suffer alone. Ask for help. We’ve got a team of Stephen Ministers who are ready to listen, care, encourage, pray, and help you through a tough time. Men are matched with men, and women with women (it’s completely confidential too!). To find out more about Stephen Ministry for you or someone you know, please contact Diane Fay (info above).

Our Stephen Ministers are trained to care and walk alongside you with whatever you are going through. Care provided is completely confidential. For more information or to meet our current Stephen Ministers, see here.

Pastor’s Note: Batting .250

Fri, 07 May 2021 14:40:00 GMT

[Read Isaiah 6:1-13 and Matthew 13:1-23]

Spiritual Self-Examination:

The parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23), aka, the four soils, is “the parable of parables” in the Gospels. Jesus provides an honest answer as to why some hearers “understand” the Gospel and why some don’t. There are famously four basic categories of attitudes:

Unreceptive (=the Word of God that is “snatched” and “devoured” by the Evil One because it can’t take root.)

Superficial (=the Word has an immediate effect but doesn’t last. The speed at which the message seems to take root is the same speed at which it disappears.)

Preoccupied/anxious/distracted (=the Word of God takes roots but, sooner or later, is overtaken by other priorities so that it ends up having zero impact in a person’s life.)

On the surface the parable serves as spiritual self-examination: maybe we find ourselves in one of these categories. But by having true “understanding,” going from just seeing to perceiving, we too might be “blessed” like the inner circle of the disciples (Matthew 13:16). We become receptive, deep, and focused on the Word of God , bearing much fruit = category 4.

A Reality Check:

The other dimension of the parable is the “reality check” Jesus puts before his disciples and us. There is a large crowd that listens to Jesus (Matthew 13:1), but he’s under no illusion as to their level of attentiveness (read Matthew 11-12 to get a sense of the push back Jesus receives). Only the fourth soil is attentive and bears considerable fruit. So here is the unvarnished truth of this famous parable: not everyone will endure and not everyone will pay attention to the Gospel. But, Jesus says, if 1 out of 4 responds, the Gospel is spreading and bearing much fruit. So, by way of illustration, batting .250 is actually not bad!

Hope of the Gospel:

Another dimension to the parable of the sower, seldom discussed, is the context of the quote (Matthew 13:14-15) taken from Isaiah 6:1-13. Isaiah himself got his eyes wide open to the Glory of God and reached a level of attentiveness that simply didn’t exist before. “My eyes have seen the king” (Isaiah 6:5) and out of that revelation and forgiveness, he is commissioned (“here am I, send me” Isaiah 6:8). His ministry will include a lot of rejection and push back, (Isaiah 6:9-10 = Matthew 13:14-15) to be sure, but also fruitfulness. So Isaiah’s own witness is providing us with the below-the-surface application of what Jesus is also teaching in this parable: without a revelation from God, all of us remain unresponsive, superficial, distracted and fruitless (see Ephesians 2:1-10).

Reflections:

If we find ourselves realizing we belong to the first three types of soils, it means the Lord is opening our eyes. It’s a painful realization, (ask Isaiah!) but a great start to this deeper walk with Jesus, bearing much fruit and finding true meaning and fulfillment in life. Let’s pray this prayer together: “Lord open my eyes that I might understand and apply your Word.”

If discussions with your neighbors go nowhere about the things of God and His Word, be patient and persevere and keep praying from them. God is the One opening eyes that are closed. However, we also understand that sharing the Gospel always entails a level rejection. Not everyone will respond to His Word of mercy, grace and forgiveness in Christ. If Jesus the Son of God experienced the pain of rejection from the crowds, we should not be surprised that not everyone we meet will be receptive to the Gospel.

Pastor’s Note: Hope Against Hope

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 15:44:00 GMT

[Read Revelation 21:1-8]

The New Order of Things

In the symbolic wilderness we call life on earth (Revelation 12:14), we remember that God is doing a new thing (Isaiah 43:19-10). The old order (this age of death) will “pass away” to usher in the “New Heavens and New earth” (Revelation 21:1; Isaiah 65:17; 66:22). As Richard Bauckham (in Hope against Hope ) has observed, the “new” is a qualitative “new” rather than in the sense of another version of the same thing. What God is doing and will do is an entirely different order. God is not doing renovations or a “refresh” to an old house. He is building an entirely different house. A place where “God Himself will dwell with us” (Revelation 21:3). In the hopelessness of a seemingly interminable pandemic, the constant reality of physical and emotional pain, the loneliness of social isolation, etc., the vision of this new order of things is meant to fill us with hope. But this hope is not anchored in the here-and-now but truly in the hereafter.

So, does this mean we sit back and wait for the End to come? Martin Luther has the answer for us: “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” This sort of Spirit-filled hope for the New Order of things (Romans 15:13) is precisely what gives us the courage to go about doing the right things today in the old order of things. For Martin Luther, he knew planting that tree was a statement of his faith in the blessed hope of Christ’s Return (Titus 2:11-14). He was putting a stake in the ground now for a better future yet to come.

Listen to the Sermon

Questions for discussion in your family, friends, neighbors and Life Groups :

Are you clinging to the old order of things to muster up a sense of hope in the face of the continued barrage of adversities (what we call life on earth)? OR do you set your eyes above, by faith, in the Hope of the New Order of things?

What sort of apple tree do you need to plant today , by faith, knowing that this act of faith is your own declaration that you are putting your hope in a city “not built with human hands” (Hebrews 11:8-10)?

The last question is a bit more direct: Have you placed your faith in Jesus for a life spent with God in eternity? This text doesn’t hold back the reality of the consequences of rejecting God’s gracious offer of salvation in Christ. To be “faithless” and to be “cowardly” (Revelation 21:8 same word as in 2 Timothy 1:7) is not meant here in the sense of wavering and having doubts in our lives (we all do!). Instead, the warning is against a continued and deliberate conviction to reject God and His fellowship. Just as the Lord Jesus has been issuing warnings through every cycle of “sevens” , here in Revelation 21:6, the Lord still is inviting hardened hearts to Himself to receive the free gift (=”without payment” Romans 3:24; Revelation 21: 6) of forgiveness and an eternal inheritance. Let’s not put it off any longer. Why would you not want to spend eternity with the One who Himself is Love, who will wipe away our tears and remove the sting of death forever?

Virtual Bulletin | Fourth Sunday of Easter (April 25, 2021)

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 19:05:00 GMT

Prelude

Christ is Alive! | TRURO
Charlie Orr, Organist

Gathering Hymn
Oh Worship the King, #10

O worship the King all glorious above
And gratefully sing His power and His love
Our Shield and Defender the Ancient of Days
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise

O tell of His might O sing of His grace
Whose robe is the light whose canopy space
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm

Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite
It breathes in the air it shines in the light
It streams from the hills it descends to the plain
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain

Frail children of dust and feeble as frail
In Thee do we trust nor find Thee to fail
Thy mercies how tender how firm to the end
Our Maker Defender Redeemer and Friend

Call To Worship

Psalm 113

Leader: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord.
Congregation: Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised. Praise the Lord!

Praise

Rising Sun

Verse 1
Praise Him all you sinners
Sing oh sing you weary
Oh praise Him all you children of God

Verse 2
We lift high His glory
Shown throughout our stories
We praise Him as the children of God

Chorus 1
Our great Redeemer glorious Savior
Your Name is higher than the rising sun
Light of the morning You shine forever
Your Name is higher than the rising sun (oh)
Your Name is higher than the rising sun

Verse 3
Praise His Name forever
Speak it loud and clear now
Oh praise Him all you children of God

Bridge
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Hallelujah name above all
Simply to speak Your Name is praise
Hallelujah now and always
Forever we lift Your Name in praise
Hallelujah our God You reign
Simply to speak Your Name is praise oh
Hallelujah name above all
Hallelujah name above all
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Praise

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Verse 1
Praise to the Lord the Almighty the King of creation
O my soul praise Him
For He is thy health and salvation
All ye who hear now to His temple draw near
Praise Him in glad adoration

Verse 2
Praise to the Lord who o’er all things
So wondrously reigneth
Shelters thee under His wings
Yea so gently sustaineth
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth

Verse 3
Praise to the Lord who doth prosper
Thy work and defend thee
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
If with His love He befriend thee

Verse 4
Praise to the Lord O let all that is in me adore Him
All that hath life and breath
Come now with praises before Him
Let the Amen sound from His people again
Gladly for all we adore Him

Greeting
Adam Kurihara

Announcements
Adam Kurihara

Missions Moment
Rev. Kyle Smethurst, Pastor of Youth and Outreach

Jesus Film Project Video

Congregational Prayer
Rev. Dr. Thomas Petter

Praise

This I Believe

Verse 1
Our Father everlasting
The all creating One
God Almighty
Through Your Holy Spirit
Conceiving Christ the Son
Jesus our Saviour

Chorus 1
I believe in God our Father
I believe in Christ the Son
I believe in the Holy Spirit
Our God is three in One
I believe in the resurrection
That we will rise again
For I believe in the Name of Jesus

Verse 2
Our judge and our defender
Suffered and crucified
Forgiveness is in You
Descended into darkness
You rose in glorious life
Forever seated high

Bridge
I believe in You
I believe You rose again
I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord

Chorus 2
I believe in life eternal
I believe in the virgin birth
I believe in the saints’ communion
And in Your holy Church
I believe in the resurrection
When Jesus comes again
For I believe in the Name of Jesus

Scripture Reading

Colossians 2:6-15

Sermon
Rev. Kyle Smethurst, Pastor of Youth and Outreach

Song of Response

Build My Life

Verse 1
Worthy of ev’ry song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of ev’ry breath we could ever breathe
We live for You

Verse 2
Jesus the name above ev’ry other name
Jesus the only one who could ever save
Worthy of ev’ry breath we could ever breathe
We live for You
We live for You

Chorus 1
Holy there is no one like You
There is none besides You
Open up my eyes in wonder and show me who You are
And fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me

Bridge
I will build my life upon Your love
It is a firm foundation
I will put my trust in You alone
And I will not be shaken

Benediction
Rev. Kyle Smethurst, Pastor of Youth and Outreach

Band this Morning:

Virtual Bulletin | Third Sunday of Easter (April 18, 2021)

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 17:03:00 GMT

Prelude
Charlie Orr, Organist

Gathering Hymn

Holy, Holy, Holy

Verse 1
Holy holy holy
Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning
Our song shall rise to Thee
Holy holy holy
Merciful and mighty
God in three persons
Blessed Trinity

Verse 2
Holy holy holy
All the saints adore Thee
Casting down their golden crowns
Around the glassy sea
Cherubim and seraphim
Falling down before Thee
Which wert and art
And evermore shalt be

Verse 3
Holy holy holy
Though the darkness hide Thee
Though the eye of sinful man
Thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy
There is none beside Thee
Perfect in power
In love and purity

Verse 4
Holy holy holy
Lord God Almighty
All Thy works shall praise Thy name
In earth and sky and sea
Holy holy holy
Merciful and mighty
God in three persons
Blessed Trinity

Call To Worship

Revelation 5:11-14

Worship Leader: Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

Congregation: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Praise

How Great is Our God

The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the Earth rejoice
All the Earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb

Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

Praise

Only a Holy God

Verse 1
Who else commands all the hosts of heaven
Who else could make every king bow down
Who else can whisper and darkness trembles
Only a Holy God

Verse 2
What other beauty demands such praises
What other splendor outshines the sun
What other majesty rules with justice
Only a Holy God

Chorus 1
Come and behold Him
The One and the Only
Cry out sing holy
Forever a Holy God
Come and worship the Holy God

Verse 3
What other glory consumes like fire
What other power can raise the dead
What other name remains undefeated
Only a Holy God

Verse 4
Who else could rescue me from my failing
Who else would offer His only Son
Who else invites me to call Him Father
Only a Holy God
Only my Holy God

Greeting / Dismissal
Adam Kurihara

Announcements
Adam Kurihara

Missions Moment
Kyle Smethurst, Pastor of Students and Outreach

–Adrienne Christian, Student Ministries Assistant

Commissioning Prayer
Rev. Dr. Tom Petter

Congregational Prayer
Dave Newman

Praise

Your Glory | Nothing but the Blood

Verse 1
My life is Yours
And my hope is in You only
And my heart You hold
‘Cause You made this sinner holy
And holy holy

Chorus 1
‘Cause Your glory is so beautiful
I fall onto my knees in awe
And the heartbeat of my life
Is to worship in Your light
‘Cause Your glory is so beautiful
‘Cause Your glory is so beautiful (oh)

Bridge
Glory glory hallelujah
Jesus You are good

Ending
What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Scripture Reading
Karen Johnson

Revelation 21:1-8

Sermon – The Return: The New Jerusalem
Rev. Dr. Thomas Petter

Praise

O Love that will not Let Me Go

Verse 1
O Love that will not let me go
I rest my weary soul in Thee
I give Thee back the life I owe
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer fuller be

Verse 2
O Light that follow’st all my way
I yield my flickering torch to Thee
My heart restores its borrowed ray
That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day
My brighter fairer be

Verse 3
O Joy that seekest me through pain
I cannot close my heart to Thee
I trace the rainbow through the rain
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be

Verse 4
O Cross that liftest up my head
I dare not ask to fly from thee
I lay in dust life’s glory dead
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be

Benediction
Rev. Dr. Thomas Petter

Band this Morning:

Virtual Bulletin | Second Sunday of Easter (April 11, 2021)

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 18:01:00 GMT

Prelude

Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain (Bohemian Brethren)

Charlie Orr, Organist

Gathering Hymn

Crown Him With Many Crowns

Verse 2
Crown Him the Lord of love
Behold His hands and side
Those wounds yet visible above
In beauty glorified
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight
But downward bend His burning eye
At mysteries so bright

Verse 3
Crown Him the Lord of life
Who triumphed over the grave
And rose victorious to the strife
For those He came to save
His glories now we sing
Who died and rose on high
Who died eternal life to bring
And lives that death may die

Verse 4
Crown Him the Lord of heaven
One with the Father known
One with the Spirit thru Him given
From yonder glorious throne
To Thee be endless praise,
For Thou for us hast died;
Be Thou, O Lord, thru endless days
Adored and magnified.

Call To Worship

-from Psalm 148

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens
    and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
And he has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise

Christ is Risen

Let no one caught in sin
Remain inside the lie of inward shame
But fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely You’ve bled for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but heaven’s will
No scheme of hell no scoffer’s crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim

O death where is your sting
O hell where is your victory
O church come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night
Singing O death where is your sting
O hell where is your victory
O church come stand in the light
Our God is not dead
He’s alive He’s alive

Praise

The Love of the Father

Verse 1
Lift up your voices and lift up your praise
Join with the heavens declaring
The wonders of His faithfulness
Forever

Verse 2
Sing of the victory the hope of the world
The Saviour has risen
The Spirit has come to bring us into love
Forever

Chorus
Oh we are the people of God
With the freedom of hope in our hearts
How great is the love of the Father

Verse 3
Lifted from darkness and into the light
The sons and the daughters are loved at a price
Our God has made us His
Forever

Bridge
This is the song of the redeemed
The ransomed and the free
Given life at such a price
This is love this is love
And when the Father calls us home
And we see Him on the throne
Hear the voices sing as one
This is love this is love

Greeting / Dismissal

Announcements

Congregational Prayer

Steve Johnson

Praise

All Creatures of Our God and King

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O praise Him alleluia
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him, Alleluia

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heav’n along
O praise Him alleluia
Thou rising morn in praise rejoice
Ye lights of evening find a voice
O praise Him O praise Him
Alleluia alleluia alleluia

And all ye friends of tender heart
Forgiving others, take your part
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
O praise Him O praise Him
Alleluia alleluia alleluia

Let all things their Creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O praise Him alleluia
Praise praise the Father praise the Son
And praise the Spirit three in One
O praise Him O praise Him
Alleluia alleluia alleluia

Doxology

Praise praise the Father praise the Son
And praise the Spirit three in One
O praise Him O praise Him
Alleluia alleluia alleluia

Scripture Reading
Revelation 19:9-16

Ben Morse

Sermon – The Return of Jesus Christ
Rev. Dr. Thomas Petter

Communion

Praise

In Christ Alone

Verse 1
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light my strength my song
This Cornerstone this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease
My Comforter my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

Verse 2
In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

Verse 3
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

Verse 4
No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Benediction
Rev. Dr. Thomas Petter

Band this Morning:

Virtual Bulletin | Easter Sunday (April 4, 2021)

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 13:28:00 GMT

Prelude
Charles Orr, Organ

Look, Ye Saints, the Sight is Glorious

Gathering Hymn
Charles Orr, Organ

Christ the Lord has Risen Today

Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth reply: Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once, he all doth save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won,, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Call To Worship

Leader: Christ is risen

People: He is risen indeed!

Leader: Christ is risen

People: He is risen indeed!

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!

People: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Praise

Mighty to Save

Verse 1
Everyone needs compassion
Love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations

Chorus 1
Savior
He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever
Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

Verse 2
So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

Bridge
Shine your light
And let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory
Of the risen King Jesus
Shine your light
And let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory
Of the risen King

Reading
Ethan Yoon 9:30, Cannon Carson 11:15

John 3:16

Easter Drama

Praise

O Come to the Altar

Verse 1
Are you hurting and broken within
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself
Do you thirst for a drink from the well
Jesus is calling

Chorus 1
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Verse 2
Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today there’s no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes a new life is born
Jesus is calling

Bridge
Oh what a Savior
Isn’t he wonderful
Sing alleluia Christ is risen
Bow down before him
For he is Lord of all
Sing alleluia Christ is risen

Verse 3
Bear your cross as you wait for the crown
Tell the world of the treasure you’ve found

Announcements

Scripture Reading
Andrew Kouris

Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20

Sermon – Risen Conquering Son
Rev. Dr. Thomas Petter

Praise – Thine be the Glory

Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son
Endless is the victory Thou o`er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave clothes where Thy body lay.

Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb!
Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom.
Let the Church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
For Her Lord now liveth, death hast lost its sting.

No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life;
Life is naught without Thee: aid us in our strife;
Make us more than conquerors, through Thy deathless love;
Lead us in Thy triumph to Thy home above.

Benediction
Rev. Dr. Thomas Petter

Band this Morning:

Virtual Bulletin | Easter Sunday (April 4, 2021)

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 13:28:00 GMT

Prelude
Charles Orr, Organ

Look, Ye Saints, the Sight is Glorious

Gathering Hymn
Charles Orr, Organ

Christ the Lord has Risen Today

Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth reply: Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once, he all doth save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won,, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Call To Worship

Leader: Christ is risen

People: He is risen indeed!

Leader: Christ is risen

People: He is risen indeed!

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!

People: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Praise

Mighty to Save

Verse 1
Everyone needs compassion
Love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations

Reading
Ethan Yoon 9:30, Cannon Carson 11:15

John 3:16

Easter Drama

Praise

Chorus 1
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Verse 2
Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today there’s no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes a new life is born
Jesus is calling

Bridge
Oh what a Savior
Isn’t he wonderful
Sing alleluia Christ is risen
Bow down before him
For he is Lord of all
Sing alleluia Christ is risen

Verse 3
Bear your cross as you wait for the crown
Tell the world of the treasure you’ve found

Announcements

Scripture Reading
Andrew Kouris

Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20

Sermon – Risen Conquering Son
Rev. Dr. Thomas Petter

Praise – Thine be the Glory

Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son
Endless is the victory Thou o`er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave clothes where Thy body lay.

Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb!
Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom.
Let the Church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
For Her Lord now liveth, death hast lost its sting.

No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life;
Life is naught without Thee: aid us in our strife;
Make us more than conquerors, through Thy deathless love;
Lead us in Thy triumph to Thy home above.

Benediction
Rev. Dr. Thomas Petter

Band this Morning:

Virtual Bulletin | Good Friday of Holy Week (April 2nd, 2021)

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 17:45:00 GMT

Prelude

Prelude in C Major, JS Bach

Alex Kouris, Piano

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

String Quartet

Welcome, Prayer, Call to Worship
Adam Kurihara

from Isaiah 53:1-6

Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

All People: We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

Gathering Hymn

O Praise The Name (Anastasis)

I cast my mind to Calvary
Where Jesus bled and died for me
I see His wounds His hands His feet
My Savior on that cursed tree

O praise the Name of the Lord our God
O praise His Name forevermore
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord oh Lord our God

Reading 1
Ryan Huang

Exodus 32:7-10

And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.”

Praise

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the Man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders,
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life;
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything;
No gifts, no power, no wisdom,
But I will boast in Jesus Christ:
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom.

Reading 2
Melissa Figueroa

Jesus is Sentenced to Death
Luke 23:4; 13-23

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.”

Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.”

But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.

Praise

Glory to the Lamb (Our Great God)

Verse 1
How can the hands that hung the stars hang, nailed, upon a tree?
The feet that walked with Adam’s steps are pierced for one like me.
Thy feet were nailed upon the tree to trample down our sin;
Thy hands stretched out for all to see to take thy murderers in.

Verse 2
Hear Him cry out, the Word made flesh, who called all things to be
The sun, which knows His voice so well, in shock, holds back its beams.
Hear how he groans, while nature shakes, and earth’s strong pillars bend!
The temple’s veil in sunder breaks, the solid marbles rend.

Chorus
Hosanna! Glory be to our great God!
Hosanna! Glory be to our great God!

Verse 3
‘Tis done! The precious ransom’s paid. ‘Receive my soul,’ he cries!
See, now he bows his sacred head! The God of angels dies.
But soon he’ll break death’s envious chain, and in full glory shine.
O Lamb of God, was ever pain, was ever love like thine!

Reading 3
Andrew Kouris

The Crucifixion
Luke 23:32-41

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”

Sermon – From the Golden Calf to the Glorious Cross
Dr. Donna Petter

Our Response – Nailing Our Sins
Kyle Smethurst, Pastor of Family Ministries

Praise

Sing to Jesus

Verse 1
Come and see
Look on this mystery
The Lord of the universe
Nailed to a tree
Christ our God
Spilling His holy blood
Bowing in anguish
His sacred head

Chorus 1
Sing to Jesus
Lord of our shame
Lord of our sinful hearts
He is our great Redeemer
Sing to Jesus
Honor His name
Sing of His faithfulness
Pouring His life out unto death

Verse 2
Come you weary
And He will give you rest
Come you who mourn
Lay on His breast
Christ who died
Risen in paradise
Giver of mercy
Giver of life

Chorus 2
Sing to Jesus
His is the throne
Now and forever
He is the King of heaven
Sing to Jesus we are His own
Now and forever
Sing for the love our God has shown

Chorus 3
Sing to Jesus Lord of our shame
Lord of our sinful hearts
He is our great Redeemer
Sing to Jesus honor His name

Depart In Silence

Announcements

Band this Evening:

Virtual Bulletin | Good Friday of Holy Week (April 2nd, 2021)

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 17:45:00 GMT

Prelude

Prelude in C Major, JS Bach

Alex Kouris, Piano

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

String Quartet

Welcome, Prayer, Call to Worship
Adam Kurihara

from Isaiah 53:1-6

All People: We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

Gathering Hymn

O Praise The Name (Anastasis)

I cast my mind to Calvary
Where Jesus bled and died for me
I see His wounds His hands His feet
My Savior on that cursed tree

O praise the Name of the Lord our God
O praise His Name forevermore
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord oh Lord our God

Reading 1
Ryan Huang

Exodus 32:7-10

Praise

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

Reading 2
Melissa Figueroa

Jesus is Sentenced to Death
Luke 23:4; 13-23

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.”

Praise

Glory to the Lamb (Our Great God)

Reading 3
Andrew Kouris

The Crucifixion
Luke 23:32-41

Sermon – From the Golden Calf to the Glorious Cross
Dr. Donna Petter

Our Response – Nailing Our Sins
Kyle Smethurst, Pastor of Family Ministries

Praise

Sing to Jesus

Depart In Silence

Announcements

Band this Evening:

Virtual Bulletin | Maundy Thursday (April 1st, 2021)

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 19:05:00 GMT

Prelude

Charles Orr, Organ
In Death’s Strong Grasp the Savior Lay J.S. Bach

Call to Worship

Officiant: O Lord, open our lips;
People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Officiant: O God, make speed to save us;
People: O Lord, make haste to help us
Officiant: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
People: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Officiant: Praise the Lord.
People: The Lord’s Name be praised.

Hymn – My Song Is Love Unknown

My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me,
love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
my Lord should take frail flesh, and die?

Sometimes they strew his way, and his strong praises sing,
resounding all the day hosannas to their King.
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
and for his death they thirst and cry.

They rise, and needs will have my dear Lord made away;
a murderer they save, the Prince of Life they slay.
Yet steadfast he to suffering goes,
that he his foes from thence might free.

Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine;
never was love, dear King! Never was grief like thine.
This is my friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

Scripture Reading

Exodus 12:1-11

Tom Petter

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.

“Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.

Sermon
Kyle Smethurst, Pastor of Family Ministries & Outreach

Song of Response

Behold the Lamb

Verse 1
Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away
Slain for us and we remember
The promise made that all who come in faith
Find forgiveness at the cross
So we share in this Bread of Life
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of peace
Around the table of the King

Verse 2
The body of our Savior Jesus Christ
Torn for you eat and remember
The wounds that heal the death that brings us life
Paid the price to make us one
So we share in this Bread of Life
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of love
Around the table of the King

Verse 3
The blood that cleanses every stain of sin
Shed for you drink and remember
He drained death’s cup that all may enter in
To receive the life of God
So we share in this Bread of Life
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of grace
Around the table of the King

Verse 4
And so with thankfulness and faith we rise
To respond and to remember
Our call to follow in the steps of Christ
As His body here on earth
As we share in His suffering
We proclaim Christ will come again
And we’ll join in the feast of heaven
Around the table of the King

Communion

Benediction
Kyle Smethurst, Pastor of Family Ministries & Outreach

Depart In Silence

Announcements

Music this Evening:

Virtual Bulletin | Maundy Thursday (April 1st, 2021)

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 19:05:00 GMT

Prelude

Charles Orr, Organ
In Death’s Strong Grasp the Savior Lay J.S. Bach

Call to Worship

Hymn – My Song Is Love Unknown

My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me,
love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
my Lord should take frail flesh, and die?

Sometimes they strew his way, and his strong praises sing,
resounding all the day hosannas to their King.
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
and for his death they thirst and cry.

They rise, and needs will have my dear Lord made away;
a murderer they save, the Prince of Life they slay.
Yet steadfast he to suffering goes,
that he his foes from thence might free.

Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine;
never was love, dear King! Never was grief like thine.
This is my friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

Scripture Reading

Exodus 12:1-11

Tom Petter

Sermon
Kyle Smethurst, Pastor of Family Ministries & Outreach

Song of Response

Behold the Lamb

Communion

Benediction
Kyle Smethurst, Pastor of Family Ministries & Outreach

Depart In Silence

Announcements

Music this Evening:

Virtual Bulletin | Palm Sunday (March 28th, 2021)

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 17:27:00 GMT

Prelude

Gathering Hymn

All Glory Laud and Honor

Verse 1
All glory laud and honor
To Thee Redeemer King
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring
Thou art the King of Israel
Thou David’s royal Son
Who in the Lord’s name comest
The King and Blessed One

Verse 2
The company of angels
Are praising Thee on high
And mortal men and all
Things created make reply
The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before Thee we present

Verse 3
To Thee before Thy passion
They sang their hymns of praise
To Thee now high exalted
Our melody we raise
Thou didst accept their praises
Accept the praise we bring
Who in all good delightest
Thou good and gracious King

Call To Worship

Psalm 118

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Let all the men say:
(men) “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let all the women say:
(women) “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let all the children say:
(children) “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel.
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Praise

Hosanna (Praise is Rising)

Verse 1
Praise is rising
Eyes are turning to You
We turn to You
Hope is stirring
Hearts are yearning for You
We long for You

Pre-Chorus
‘Cause when we see You
We find strength to face the day
In Your presence
All our fears are washed away
Washed away

Chorus 1
Hosanna hosanna
You are the God who saves us
Worthy of all our praises
Hosanna hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here Lord Jesus

Verse 2
Hear the sound of
Hearts returning to You
We turn to You
In Your Kingdom
Broken lives are made new
You make us new

Praise

Praise the Lord (Psalm 117)

Chorus
Praise the Lord all you nations
extol him all you peoples,
for great is his love for us
Praise the Lord he is faithful
His love endures forever
and great is his love for us.

Verse 1
Sing a song of praise to God enthroned on high,
Bow before the King of the angels,
His mercy and His love, his justice will be known,
lift a song of praise to the Lord!

Verse 2
Boldly shout his praise for he has rescued us,
Sin and death no more can enslave us.
His beauty and his pow’r, displayed at Calvary,
lift a song of praise to the Lord!

Announcements / Missions Moment

Congregational Prayer
Rev. Dr. Tom Petter

Praise

Before the Throne of God

Verse 1
Before the Throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest Whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His Hands
My name is written on His Heart
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart

Verse 2
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me

Chorus
Hosanna, Hosanna, to the lamb that was slain
Hosanna, Hosanna, Jesus died and rose again

Verse 3
Before Him there the Risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The unchangeable I Am
The King of Glory and of Grace
One in Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased with His Blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen.

Scripture Reading
Michael Coppock

Matthew 21: 1-11

Sermon – The King has Returned
Rev. Dr. Thomas Petter

Song of Response

Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor

Verse 1
Christ the sure and steady anchor
In the fury of the storm
When the winds of doubt blow through me
And my sails have all been torn

Chorus 1
In the suffering in the sorrow
When my sinking hopes are few
I will hold fast to the anchor
It shall never be removed

Verse 2
Christ the sure and steady anchor
While the tempest rages on
When temptation claims the battle
And it seems the night has won

Chorus 2
Deeper still then goes the anchor
Though I justly stand accused
I will hold fast to the anchor
It shall never be removed

Verse 3
Christ the sure and steady anchor
Through the floods of unbelief
Hopeless somehow O my soul now
Lift your eyes to Calvary

Chorus 3
This my ballast of assurance
See His love forever proved
All my hope is in the anchor
It shall never be removed

Verse 4
Christ the sure and steady anchor
As we face the wave of death
When these trials give way to glory
As we draw our final breath

Chorus 4
We will cross that great horizon
Clouds behind and life secured
And the calm will be the better
For the storms that we endured

Chorus 5
Christ the shore of our salvation
Ever faithful ever true
We will hold fast to the anchor
It shall never be removed