“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.” Psalm 113:3
I just returned from three weeks of vacation with my wife, Audrey. We chose to spend our time together in Erie, PA. Together Audrey and I swam in Lake Erie, walked the beach and bathed in the sun at Presque Isle Park. The most impressive moment was when we sat on the beach and watched the setting of the sun. The intensive red ball of the sun slowly departed across the blue like water surface of Lake Erie and disappeared over the horizon. Thus, the
sun leaving us signified that another day was complete. We, like all on the face of the earth, would have to wait for the sun’s presence to show up in the
morning with its rising.
The Psalmist in Psalm 113 reminds all of us that every minute of every day on this earth is to be filled with the praise of the LORD. Praise to the LORD is to be sandwiched between the rising of the sun in the early morning and the setting of the sun in the late evening. The verse does not say anything about the nighttime. But, even at night, the praise of God is to continue on the earth (Ps. 42:8; 77:6).
Another thing that occupied my time was using a metal detector to look for buried treasure on the beach. I was extremely excited to get a strong signal and recover a lost quarter. Another time my metal detector indicated the presence of something in the sand, I pulled out a dime and three pennies. So, my total treasure find was thirty-eight cents.
Please allow me to change subjects in this article for the newsletter. Due to the current situations, I would like to ask every member and friend of Market Street Presbyterian Church to do your best to keep the peace at our fellowship. There is much confusion happening in America as I write this article. The two major sources of confusion are the medical emergency and the protests and demonstrations in the streets. The stress of these two external situations has come upon our church and, indeed, upon on all churches in the land of America.
The question that each of us needs to ask is: “In what ways can I be a peacemaker in our church and in our nation?” The two situations of medical emergency and social protests and unruly crowd behaviors are dividing people. So, as pastor, I am asking each one within our congregation to be
respectful of others. Face masks are optional within the confines of our church. Every individual can decide for himself or herself to wear a mask or not
wear a mask. Remaining in room 201 creates some problems, but it does provide for good air to breathe and cool temperature during worship. We will
return to the main sanctuary in September.
The session and I are doing our best to work things out at Market St. Church and make decisions that are pleasing to God and helpful to the body of
Christ.
I would also ask that you pray for our congregation and for our community and for our nation at this time. If you are led by the Holy Spirit, come and join the prayer meeting on Wednesdays at noon in the chapel.
Pastor Ken Chorle
Posted by: Sandy Lybarger AT 11:00 am
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The Bible, the Word of God, speaks to us about newness. As we begin the new year of 2020, let us all take heed to three passages of Scripture that refer to “new” in contrast to “old.” In this article, I will discuss with you three major uses of the contrast between old and new.
Luke 22:20 “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (See also I Cor. 11:25;
First, the Bible is divided between the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament, the covenant that God had with His people was based upon works. The Old Testament had a vast system of laws and regulations for God’s people to follow and obey. Accompanied with the legal system were rituals and festivals that were required. The concept of the Old Testament is very simple. It might be summed up in this statement. “See if you can keep the laws.” Hopefully, God’s people would conclude that they were not able to obey and keep all the laws. The rituals and festivals were to point them to the true answer, which was coming in history, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus would take the cup, on the night of His betrayal and announce to the world of “a new covenant in His blood.” Thus, the only real hope for humanity is in a person, the living Lord Jesus, and not in a system of law keeping and performing rituals and attending festivals.
II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (See also Colossians 3:9-10; Rom. 6:6; Ephes. 4:22-23)
A second use of the concept of newness versus oldness is within humanity. There exists in the spiritual realm an old man or old woman and a new man or new woman. This designation has nothing to do with chronological years on the human body or age. Rather, it refers to the inward spiritual condition of the inward state of the spirit. The question is: “Is the spirit within an individual controlled by the old nature from Adam that rebels against God and God’s ways, or is the spirit controlled by the new nature acquired from the Second Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ? The Bible tells us that when we come to Christ and Christ comes into our lives, we are new persons (II Cor. 5:17). The old no longer needs to dominate and control our lives. We can be “under new management.”
Isaiah 65:17 “For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” (See also Rev. 21:1-5)
A third use of the concept of new versus old is found in the universe. Currently, we live in the old creation of earth and the heavens. But, we are waiting for and longing for the new heavens and the new earth. After Jesus returns to earth in His second coming, all that we visibly see of the earth and the sky and above the sky will be changed. God, our Father, is going to create a new earth and new heavens. What will the new creation be like? I am not completely sure, but I think it will be both similar and different from what we currently see and know. Certainly, it will be more than fantastic and above and beyond description by words. Why? The new heavens and the new earth will be meant to last for all eternity. And, how long is eternity? Yes, it is forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever.……….Amen. Happy New Year!
Pastor Ken Chorle
Posted by: Sandy Lybarger AT 09:00 am
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If you missed church yesterday (May 20) you missed a fabulous celebration of worship, the music was outstanding and shared by all the talented folks who have been with us at different times this year. They ALL joined voices in one beautiful choir and we were not disappointed. It was a wonderful day of worship.
Following this great service, we enjoyed a meal of good food and fellowship provided by the Hospitality Committee.
Where do we go from here?
It is SUMMER, and I don’t even feel like we have experienced Spring yet, but off we go into the summer months which bring many different things for each of us.
For some it means vacations and time away.
For others it means being outside and caring for our lawns and flower gardens.
For others it means summer sports with our children or grandchildren.
For others just, quiet time outside enjoying sunshine and warmth.
Whatever summer means to you one thing is important to remember it doesn’t mean a vacation from church and from God.
Summer is a perfect opportunity to spend time experiencing God when we are out in nature and see His creation in all of its beauty.
Summer is a time while we are soaking up the warmth that we read His word and listen for His voice in our quiet morning or afternoon tea or coffee.
God is with us every season of the year but in the summer, we do have more opportunity to see Him at work in a different setting.
Again, this summer we will be worshipping in the comfort of air conditioning in room 201. I know it is not our beautiful sanctuary, but it will be comfortable in the heat of the summer and I always enjoy the intimacy we experience when we worship there together.
Please come, knowing the music will be uplifting,
God’s word will be shared in challenging ways
and just maybe God will have a surprise in store for you.
May God’s sunshine warm your heart and soul this summer.
Pastor Dottie
Posted by: Sandy Lybarger AT 08:00 am
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As I write this article it is the middle of Holy Week and I am looking back at a wonderful Palm Sunday service we had, if you weren’t there you missed something special. I am anticipating celebrating the remaining services this week as we reflect on all Jesus was willing to do for me and for you.
Hopefully you were a part of these services or will be this week.
We don’t always understand what His sacrifice means to us, but hopefully we will continue to follow a daily reading of scripture and prayer to become a more committed Christian.
The world we live in has many challenges and needs and how do we as Christians live our lives to be a part of solutions to those needs.
May I challenge each of us this Spring to find opportunities to share our faith with others by our words and actions.
Please take the time to read the lyrics below.
They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
Songwriter: Peter Scholtes
Blessings
Pastor Dottie
Posted by: Rev. Dottie Kaiser AT 11:00 am
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The last month has been filled with fires, hurricanes which have affected so many lives. I want to share how one victim has been affected.
Not Just a Number: Victim Offers View from Post-Harvey Texas - By Carl Stagner
She’s been through hurricanes before; this was no ordinary hurricane. Before the Category 4 monster known as Harvey slammed the Texas coast near Rockport on August 25, Vera Predom knew a disaster could be on its way. Having lived in the same Rockport home for nearly thirty years, she’s had plenty of opportunity to observe hurricane behavior. When Hurricane Harvey made “the turn” near Corpus Christi, she realized Rockport was in danger. Little did she know her home would be totally destroyed. Now Vera offers the Church of God a view of post-Harvey Texas through the window a FEMA-designated shelter.
Much of what dominated headlines in the wake of Hurricane Harvey focused on flooding. Rockport was hit with widespread flooding, too, but it was severe wind that dealt the first blow. “This was the worst storm in the history of Rockport,” Vera explains. “Sustained winds were at 145 miles-per-hour, but they also think that about nine tornados touched down within the storm. All the leaves were stripped off the trees, many trees were twisted, and many large oaks were completely uprooted.”
After the mandatory evacuation notice was handed down, Vera left her home with her dog, but had to leave most of her belongings behind. Her first stop was a church campground, but when waters rose, she had to find another place. A hotel and a friend’s house were each suitable shelter for a time, but Vera wanted to be closer to her community. Her current shelter, a pet-friendly lodge, has since been named a FEMA shelter. The conditions are good, but not what she’s used to.
“We had no cell phone service for a while,” Vera continues. “We still have no electricity. Water service is limited to about five hours a day, so we have to use bottled water for cleaning, too. Schools have been destroyed, so we’re not sure when classes will resume.”
The schools are a special concern for Vera, and it’s no wonder. Vera is a school counselor for pre-K and elementary-aged children. While she doesn’t know what the school calendar will look like, she’s blessed that the shelter will allow her to stay until near the end of the month. After that, she’ll look for another stop on this crazy journey. Thankfully, she does have friends in the area and a support network through her church. But many like Vera have nowhere to go.
“I feel like if I didn’t have faith in God, I would really be devastated,” she reflects. “We’ve just come through a storm—a literal storm—but God was here and is still here with us. Sure, I’m crushed that I lost my material stuff. But it wasn’t really my home. This is all just temporary. It was just a waiting place.”
The churches of the community weren’t immune to Harvey’s onslaught. Vera reports that many of the churches, representing a variety of denominations, were destroyed. The entire side came off the building of a major Episcopalian congregation that had just finished construction. Vera’s own church—Rockport Church of God—suffered significant wind damage—damage which she reports is not covered by their insurance.
That’s why it’s so crucial that every Christian does whatever we can. Each number represents a real need—a need that we can’t simply assume will be met by someone else. Through your donation to PDA people like Vera and churches can receive the help they desperately need.
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the leastofthese my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Pastor Dottie
Posted by: Sandy Lybarger AT 10:47 am
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It is SUMMER, and I don’t even feel like we have experienced Spring yet, but off we go into the summer months which bring many different things for each of us.
