Thanksgiving & Idolatry

Jeffrey Stivason
 

Idolatry is when we replace the giver with the gift.  Idolatry is when we offer our thanks to the thing rather than the one who gave it. Idolatry turns thanksgiving into a selfish holiday that promotes my joy in a thing rather than deepens my relationship with a person. A Christian Thanksgiving is indeed a counter-cultural event.  It reminds us that we are to be thankful, most of all, to the Triune God who has given to us the most blessed gift of all, His only begotten Son, that in Him we might have life.

PlaceforTruth.org

Quarterly Prayer Meeting

9/7/24

•              Thanksgiving: For being united in Christ (I Cor 1:4-9)

o             For being greatly blessed with the gospel, salvation, and spiritual gifts

•              Doxology:  Praise God: For Jesus Christ (II Cor 1:3-5)

o             For the Father of Mercies

o             God of all comfort

•              Thanks to God for His leadership in triumph (II Cor 2:14-16)

•              For God’s grace that is sufficient in affliction (II Cor 12:8-10)

•              That God would give us a Spirit of Wisdom and revelation with Knowledge (Eph 1:17)

•              That God would enlighten our hearts (Eph 1:18)

•              That our love may abound more and more (Phil 1:9-10) 

For church concerns:

•              Health and well-being of our members

•              Financial well-being for members and church

•              Opportunities for witness individually and corporately

•              Growth spiritually and in love

•              For increasingly meaningful worship

•              For a spirit of unity and service

For national and international concerns:

•              For righteousness

•              For protection from persecution

•              For missionaries

•              For our witness in a non-Christian culture

Good Friday Service at 7:00 PM

Opening Prayer

“Sweet the Moments, Rich in Blessing” Hymn 189

Scripture Reading – Luke 23:26-43

“Glory be to Jesus” Hymn 190

Scripture Reading – Luke 23:44-56

Special Music – Dori Martin

Sermon – Pastor Patrick Harrison

Isaiah 53

“Our Atoning, Sin-Bearer”

“Man of Sorrows!” Hymn 175

Closing Prayer

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return;

when he suffered, he did not threaten,

but continued entrusting himself

to him who judges justly.

I Peter 2:23

You know that he appeared in order to take away sins,

and in him there is no sin.

I John 3:5

These are written so that you may believe

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

and that by believing you may

have life in his name.

John 20:31

“The Resurrection is the event

without which there is no Christianity,

without which there is not salvation,

without which there is no forgiveness,

without which there is no heaven.

The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ

was the divine affirmation of His work

of atonement on the cross.

When God raised Jesus from the dead,

He was declaring that He was satisfied

by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice,

had accepted it as full payment

for the sins of His people.

Resurrection then demonstrates

that sin was atoned for,

death was conquered,

and eternal life is available

to those who believe the Gospel.”

John MacArthur

Christ Be With Me

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone

who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one

who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Christ.
May your salvation, Lord, be ever with us.

The Prayer of St. Patrick

Annual Congregational Meeting 2/25/24

No afternoon service this Sunday. The Congregational Meeting immediately follows the morning service.

The agenda and reports are available at the meeting. The meeting will be broadcast via Zoom. If you would like the meeting package sent to you please submit a request to Tom Taylor as found in the church directory or submit a request through the website.

2/25/24 RBCL Congregational Meeting at Church and via Zoom

Topic: Congregational Meeting

Time: Feb 25, 2024 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89582635702?pwd=ZTJzaWVsMkxrUkdmRWJiM1poK0FoUT09

Meeting ID: 895 8263 5702

Passcode: 929117

Grace’s Pantry Easter Baskets

Items requested by Sunday, March 24th.

Canned Vegetables

Pasta

Pasta Sauce

Instant Potatoes

Gravy

Cereal

Jello

Dinner Rolls

Cake Mix

Frosting

Egg Decorating Kits

Jelly Beans

$10.00 Gift Card

An outreach ministry of The Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, The Reformed Baptist

Church of Lafayette, The First Presbyterian Church of Franklin, The First Presbyterian Church of Ogdensburg, and The Hamburg Baptist Church.

Ladies Brunch

At the Reformed Baptist Church of Lafayette

Saturday

February 10

At 10:30

For a time of Food and Fellowship

It is a “BYOB brunch”

 or

bring food to share, such as your favorite brunch dish, quiche, egg dish, French toast, bread, pastry, fruit, yogurt….

Sign up is in the foyer. or let Jean Horjus know that you are attending.