The church parking lot is still mostly covered with ice, and there's no way, as cold as it is, and as much ice as there is, that I can get it all salted and have it melt.
Therefore, worship is canceled for today. Please get the word out! NO WORSHIP TODAY.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
Hi all,
I hope this email finds you well. I am sending you this note because each of you have been an integral part in the strengthening and encouragement of my faith at work. I truly believe that you are a bright light in this company as you have individually shown me how to stay true to the Word in my actions and words at work. I am also sending you this note because I trust that where two or three gather in His name, there He is in the midst of them. That said, this note is an invitation to pray with me for my trip home.
As you all know, I came from Indonesia to study MIS at Baylor University. Since then, I have had the privilege of working here at P66 with welcoming coworkers such as yourselves, and I also have the great blessing to fly home every Christmas. Unfortunately, we have been facing religious issues in Indonesia. To give you a small picture of what has been happening, below is a short timeline.
· Nov 13 – A radical Muslim, who was later on found to be part of ISIS, bombed a Catholic church and Buddhist temple, killing four civilians.
· Dec 2 – Millions of Muslims took to my city's downtown to protest against our first Christian governor.
· Dec 6 – A church's Christmas service was interrupted and shut down by Muslim officials for celebrating a Christian holiday in a public area.
· Dec 13 – Yesterday, our governor was put on trial for blaspheming Islam, pressured by the Dec 2 Muslim protests.
Although my family and I have been a strong Christian, our country is still broken and divided. This December, we have decided to travel outside of Indonesia over Christmas just in case any other protests break out. I have also let my supervisor know in case I'm prevented from coming home in time come January (as international airports can potentially be closed when protests occur). So far, I have yet to read any news regarding American citizens being restricted from coming into the country.
I don't believe that anything worst will continue to happen in Indonesia as the year comes to an end other than the occasional terrorist threats. Just in case, I have prepared a list of prayer points for us to stand against any further attacks. Please join me in praying for
1. Safety – for my travels to and from Indonesia, as well as my family during the holidays and the rest of the year.
2. Strength and courage – for believers in Indonesia as we are faced with adversaries, and for us to seek God when we are most fearful.
3. Unity – amongst Indonesians of all religions.
4. Justice – over our governor and all who support him in truth.
5. Revelation – of God's love in my country, my people, my government, my neighborhoods.
I know that with everything happening, God is on the move in Indonesia because with great victory comes many challenges. I really appreciate you joining me in support and love for my country. I pray that you also have a safe and happy holidays this December. J
PS. I wasn't sure whether I should send our big prayer group this note for fear of sounding too "political", so I leave it to you to share this prayer with anyone else you think would like to join. Thank you again!
Thank you and kind regards,
Grace Pardede
Commercial Risk & Pricing, Phillips 66
O: (+1) 832.765.3922 | S754–01 |
2331 CityWest Blvd | Houston, TX 77042
DEVOTION: Matthew 1:18-25
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ[a] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed[b] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel"
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Most people think of God as a far away being looking down on the world, sometimes laughing, sometimes frowning, sometimes shaking his head in disgust, and the rest of the time judging. Too often we fail to realize Immanuel. How often, as you are going through your day, realize that God is with us? Even though Jesus ascended into heaven, he promised us "Behold, I am with you always to the very end of the age." In many other various ways he has promised to always be WITH us and to live IN us.
He is not far off. He is not some mystical thought throughout the day. He was with us in body, and at Pentecost he sent His Spirit to live in us and in the world. He is most definitely WITH us!
First, this should give us fear. We shouldn't ever be willing to do in secret what we wouldn't doin public. We shouldn't ever be willing to do what God forbids. God sees it all. He is there for it all.
Secondly, His presence should give us peace, because we can know that, in spite of seeing every one of our failures, He still loves us and He already died and rose for us. In the same way that we know that a loving parent isn't going to destroy, disown, or forsake his or her children because of sin, so we can know that, because that the Son was already forsaken on our behalf, we will not be forsaken.
Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to us! Praise the Lord for His eternal peace! Praise the Lord for His love and forgiveness! Let us never take it for granted! Let us never fail to realize IMMANUEL!!
Prayer: Lord, help us to always, every day, realize that you are with us so that we may not sin, but when we do, you don't forsake us, but forgive us. Amen.
CALENDAR
Thurs- Karate 5:15-7:30
Sat- Men's breakfast 8am; Sunday school Christmas program Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Chapel 11
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- 8:30- Addie Hoelscher 11- Gus Klaustermeier
Ushers- Sun-Scott and Alex Heitgerd, Bob and Tom Linke
Altar- Set up- Dave and Linda Callies; Clean Up- Pam Linke
Elders- Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Don Turnure 11- Charlie Figura
Greeters- 8:30- Rich and Peggy Talbert; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Allan Dreyer; 11- Steve Robine
Piano- Sat- Doug Walters
Organist- Rachel Fisher 8:30 and 11
Projectionists: Sat- Kathy Fischer; 8:30 Schaumberg 11- Cluver
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: From where did Paul write the letter (Epistle) to the Colossians? Prison in Rome
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