Pastor's Note from January 26

Over the past several months I have been trying to post portions of the message from the previous Sunday. You may have noticed that the last such update was about a month ago. It has simply become too time consuming as there is this blog and the CR blog as well. Therefore, I am going to switch to posting the "Pastor's Note" on the blog each week. I prepare that every week already and it usually talks about our weekly Bible reading, although sometimes it is about special events or concerns. I hope you will find it helpful as you read through the Word of God.

Since early January, the post on this blog has been about the Bible reading and memorization plan we are using this year.   But for any new-comers here is a brief description of it from the January post…

I have often found that my mind and attention can wander while reading. Reading out loud helps because it involves speaking and hearing and makes me slow down, but even better is taking notes as I go. That really makes me engage the text! Thus, the basic layout for this year is one New Testament (NT) chapter each day, Monday – Friday, along with several Old Testament (OT) chapters each day, Monday – Sunday. During the week when we have our NT chapter, I would encourage you to not just read, or read out loud, but take some notes or outline the NT chapter as you go. That will significantly slow you down and make you think about the text.

We will move through the Books of the OT in the order they appear in the Bible. For the NT though, we will jump around some. I have grouped the NT books so that we will basically do one of the Gospels each quarter. Along with each Gospel will be some NT Epistles.

Now, as for the most recent pastor’s note…

 

Our Bible reading plan has been incredible this week as we read in Exodus about the blood of the Passover lamb’s, as God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt.  At the same time we were reading the final chapters of Mark and about the Blood of the Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, as God delivered those who would entrust themselves to Him, from slavery to sin and death.  Incredible.

This week we move on through Exodus in the OT and begin 1 Peter in the NT.  There is an interesting connection, besides the obvious fact that “all Scripture is God-breathed” by the Holy Spirit, as Mark spent a great deal of time with the Apostle Peter.  That is why we are moving to 1 Peter now.

Last week was our Annual Congregational meeting and it was decided that we would allow the Tower of Hope Pregnancy and Family Counseling Center to move into the front part of our building.  I want to thank everyone for their generosity to this very important ministry in our community.  As you know, we have been supporting the Tower of Hope for several years in a variety of ways, and that will certainly continue even more so now.  I certainly want to welcome Roe and the Tower of Hope aboard and we look forward to working together in some new ways.

Finally, I want to give you this week’s reading schedule…

Bible reading:

1/27	Monday	Exodus 19-20	1 Peter 1
1/28	Tuesday	Exodus 21-22	1 Peter 2
1/29	Wednesday	Exodus 23-24	1 Peter 3
1/30	Thursday	Exodus 25-26	1 Peter 4
1/31	Friday	Exodus 27-28	1 Peter 5
2/1	Saturday	Exodus 29-31	none
2/2	Sunday	Exodus 32-34	none

Bible memory verse: 1 Peter 2:2