I want to take a moment to say that we have some amazing people in this church family. I wish to brag on my team, the staff, and its many volunteers. Why? Because they get it- Ministry. We do these tasks, prepare our strategies, take on things all for the right reasons. To bless people and empower them to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Recently on a weekend we held a Friday night prayer event, hosted a Saturday ladies breakfast, ministered at the Micah Respite house in Fredburg, held both Sunday services, held a membership class simultaneously to services, met with one of our First Impressions team, and then on Monday had a team at Head Start serving another meal to those folks.
Wow! Many moving parts all bringing God glory in the service to His Kingdom. I love it. I really love people taking initiative to get things done. This four day time is outside of our regular team that goes to the Prison, or the team that goes to the Homeless shelter. Every Tuesday we have life group meetings at the facility. Things are happening and we have an amazing group of volunteers and staff. How about that Chili dinner, how about our kids and youth staff's. See what I mean...Amazing people doing good work.
Thanks to all of you that make Horizons a going, growing church. You rock.
Blessings
Pastor J
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Supernatural Generosity
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I'm still blown away by the supernatural generosity that our church shared in the past Sunday. Over $4000 was given through the spontaneous offering we collected for two special families in our church.
During Sync, we have looked at the special relationship we share with God and with other Christ followers. Koinonia is the biblical word that represents that unique relationship. On Sunday, we will conclude with Admonish One Another.
We normally view the concept of admonishing someone from the negative. In other words, correcting and warning or confronting. But there is also a positive aspect of admonoishing someone through encouragement and coaching. See you Sunday.
Pastor Rich
During Sync, we have looked at the special relationship we share with God and with other Christ followers. Koinonia is the biblical word that represents that unique relationship. On Sunday, we will conclude with Admonish One Another.
We normally view the concept of admonishing someone from the negative. In other words, correcting and warning or confronting. But there is also a positive aspect of admonoishing someone through encouragement and coaching. See you Sunday.
Pastor Rich
Thursday, February 17, 2011
The Wonder of Prayer
1
Let me just get this out first - sign up for the worship and prayer night on February 25 from 6-10P - here is the link - http://www.horizonschurch.com/event-3
This night is designed to give you an opportunity to cultivate your spiritual growth. We will have open times of prayer and worship and special workshops designed to help you grow in your understanding of prayer. We even have a special workshop designed for kids and parents to attend so that families can talk learn about prayer together.
I love this amazing link we have with our Heavenly Father. During sync we are talking about our wireless connection with God and others; and prayer is a great vehicle for us to connect to God. I still remember encountering God through prayer at the young age of 6 - my mom tells me I used to pray consistently as a young boy and remember God's presence being strong in my life from a very early age. As a pastor at Horizons, I long for all people to connect to God in the same way.
See you Sunday as we look at how God calls us to Share with One Another. Something very special is going to take place on Sunday; don't miss this awesome service.
Pastor Rich
This night is designed to give you an opportunity to cultivate your spiritual growth. We will have open times of prayer and worship and special workshops designed to help you grow in your understanding of prayer. We even have a special workshop designed for kids and parents to attend so that families can talk learn about prayer together.
I love this amazing link we have with our Heavenly Father. During sync we are talking about our wireless connection with God and others; and prayer is a great vehicle for us to connect to God. I still remember encountering God through prayer at the young age of 6 - my mom tells me I used to pray consistently as a young boy and remember God's presence being strong in my life from a very early age. As a pastor at Horizons, I long for all people to connect to God in the same way.
See you Sunday as we look at how God calls us to Share with One Another. Something very special is going to take place on Sunday; don't miss this awesome service.
Pastor Rich
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Acceptance
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When I was 12 years old, there was a lot of transition and turmoil in my life. My dad had just resigned from a church in Radford, VA and was completing a secular job; so my mom moved us(me and my brother and sister and grandmother) to Lakeland, FL. We were waiting for dad to come join us, and we were pretty poor. We lived in one of those long term motels on the outskirts of town(much like you see along the older parts of Route 1). We stayed there for a few months before moving back to Virginia when dad started pastoring a church in Woodbridge.
During the time that we were there, I was struggling with being accepted. The school I attended had kids who had the nicer clothes and lived in town and they knew I was an outsider. It was a tough time. Where we lived there was this ragged dog that we befriended and accepted into our home - he was tattered and looked like he had been abused and was not well taken care of. Each day, we would feed this dog and try to get him back into shape. I came to love this little creature that most people would have been disgusted with. In alot of ways I identified with this dog who had been rejected by others and it was with a sad heart the one day he stopped coming around and shortly after we moved away. It is not often that I think about that dog; but as I am preparing for Sunday he entered my memory. How many of us have rejected others much like that dog had been. How many of us maybe feel like that little dog - tattered and abused by others, rejected by men.
On Sunday, we are going to examine acceptance from a Biblical perspective. We will talk about how God loves and welcomes and calls us to love and welcome the beautiful and the rejected, even ourselves.
See you Sunday.
Pastor Rich
During the time that we were there, I was struggling with being accepted. The school I attended had kids who had the nicer clothes and lived in town and they knew I was an outsider. It was a tough time. Where we lived there was this ragged dog that we befriended and accepted into our home - he was tattered and looked like he had been abused and was not well taken care of. Each day, we would feed this dog and try to get him back into shape. I came to love this little creature that most people would have been disgusted with. In alot of ways I identified with this dog who had been rejected by others and it was with a sad heart the one day he stopped coming around and shortly after we moved away. It is not often that I think about that dog; but as I am preparing for Sunday he entered my memory. How many of us have rejected others much like that dog had been. How many of us maybe feel like that little dog - tattered and abused by others, rejected by men.
On Sunday, we are going to examine acceptance from a Biblical perspective. We will talk about how God loves and welcomes and calls us to love and welcome the beautiful and the rejected, even ourselves.
See you Sunday.
Pastor Rich
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
What is this thing called Love?
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That was a great delirious song. I guess it still is. No, I;m sure it still is. Ok enough Rich - move on.(what does it mean when you talk to yourself in a blog?)(also, you may want to look into a rhapsody subscription if you don't have one - it's a great way to listen to songs without the itunes requirement of a purchase)
A lot has been said about love; we actually preach about it quite a bit as well. A reason for that is that love is the foundation of all that we do and of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. It is the great commandment and the greatest of the graces. The truth is we will have a life long quest to understand and pursue this grace.
Sunday, we begin a new series called Sync and we will start by examining the biblical relationships we have with each other. The bible uses the word koinonia to describe these relationships; so come and discover what these loving relationships are about.
See you Sunday.
Pastor Rich
A lot has been said about love; we actually preach about it quite a bit as well. A reason for that is that love is the foundation of all that we do and of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. It is the great commandment and the greatest of the graces. The truth is we will have a life long quest to understand and pursue this grace.
Sunday, we begin a new series called Sync and we will start by examining the biblical relationships we have with each other. The bible uses the word koinonia to describe these relationships; so come and discover what these loving relationships are about.
See you Sunday.
Pastor Rich
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Lighten the Load
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As we all are into a new year there is no doubt that a number of items have come up for us to do. Maybe we have some goals that require a new discipline? Maybe this season of winter has had an affect on our energy. Maybe we are feeling a little overwhelmed with keeping up the family items and personal lists. The commute is a bit longer. Weather is altering our normal schedule. All of this comes at us and can feel a bit overwhelming.
I remember a pastor saying to me one time...I am so busy that I need to pray for two hours instead of one. He reported that this time out, enabled his time in to be incredibly productive. His stress lowered and his ability to stay focused on the main things proved this principle out. It proved scripture out as well... Matt 11:28,29 states: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
I am continually learning to lean on Jesus, finding rest In Him and experiencing the truth of His gentleness. It is a hard lesson to learn for someone like me that likes to be in control and feel a sense of accomplishment from my To Do list. May we all learn to take this scripture to heart. Go to Him and let His love surround you in a fresh way ...do that today.
Pastor J
I remember a pastor saying to me one time...I am so busy that I need to pray for two hours instead of one. He reported that this time out, enabled his time in to be incredibly productive. His stress lowered and his ability to stay focused on the main things proved this principle out. It proved scripture out as well... Matt 11:28,29 states: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
I am continually learning to lean on Jesus, finding rest In Him and experiencing the truth of His gentleness. It is a hard lesson to learn for someone like me that likes to be in control and feel a sense of accomplishment from my To Do list. May we all learn to take this scripture to heart. Go to Him and let His love surround you in a fresh way ...do that today.
Pastor J
Friday, January 14, 2011
On the Ready
0
I used to drive a Ford Thunderbird...wait for it here comes the good part....SC. Now SC means supercharged. It had a more than a little extra. This was not your fathers T-Bird. It was a black, lean, T-topped driving machine. I have no idea about gas mileage, that was back in the day when gas was a tad cheaper (90's).
Anyhow it had such potential at speed. I loved to be on the highway and punch it. In fact for a passenger it was always fun to watch that head flip back toward the headrest. I am totally serious it would go and quickly. I didn't need a lot of speed driving around neighborhoods, but I found the passion for the power on hills, to pass someone, and of course for good ol fun.
This week I will be sharing the passage in Romans that challenges, even commands us to keep our spiritual fervor. We often equate that fervor with some high energy emotional action. That can be true, but that is not all fervor is. In fact fervor and zeal, passion are necessary in our Christian journey, sometimes to overcome hills, sometimes to pass by obstacles, sometimes just for good ol fun. Christianity should be loads of fun, I hope you are having a good journey.
Maybe we need to change our thinking...because I can't live at some high emotional level, but I can be on the ready to press the gas and see that spiritual passion rise to the occasion. There are some keys to staying fueled up - so I hope to see you Sunday it could be huge.
blessings
Pastor Jay
Anyhow it had such potential at speed. I loved to be on the highway and punch it. In fact for a passenger it was always fun to watch that head flip back toward the headrest. I am totally serious it would go and quickly. I didn't need a lot of speed driving around neighborhoods, but I found the passion for the power on hills, to pass someone, and of course for good ol fun.
This week I will be sharing the passage in Romans that challenges, even commands us to keep our spiritual fervor. We often equate that fervor with some high energy emotional action. That can be true, but that is not all fervor is. In fact fervor and zeal, passion are necessary in our Christian journey, sometimes to overcome hills, sometimes to pass by obstacles, sometimes just for good ol fun. Christianity should be loads of fun, I hope you are having a good journey.
Maybe we need to change our thinking...because I can't live at some high emotional level, but I can be on the ready to press the gas and see that spiritual passion rise to the occasion. There are some keys to staying fueled up - so I hope to see you Sunday it could be huge.
blessings
Pastor Jay
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