Experiencing the Father`s Heart
Transcription
Experiencing the Father`s Heart
Experiencing the Father's Heart AUGUST 2015 PRAYER AND RENEWAL Pastor Tom Willcox On a Friday night in the middle of July I had the opportunity to try something new in prayer. A prayer event was held in the Shoe Room in Marvel Cave at Silver Dollar City. In the dark! Absolute dark. For a little over three hours. I love this kind of thing! Specifically, I love it when I have a chance to try a new kind of prayer event. New prayer events provide a chance to stretch and grow. New prayer events shake me loose from stale, unintentional habits. New prayer events can be like a splash of cold water in the face when you first wake up, bringing clarity and energy and attention into the prayer experience. New prayer events can be awkward, uncomfortable and confusing, all of which is actually good! Having to deal with new things in life is usually somewhat awkward, uncomfortable and confusing, so I embrace it as what growing feels like. New prayer events help me to experience renewal, and I need to experience renewal over and over and over. The prayer in the cave event followed a course of five different phases. The first phase, after ALL the lights had been turned out and we were in absolute darkness, was to be silent. We were all sitting or laying on the ground or on a flat rock or, for Raylene and I, on camp chairs we had carried down with us. The only sounds were water dripping and an occasional rustle of fabric or scrape of a shoe as someone adjusted position. In the silence I found myself slowly letting go of all the distracting thoughts that became immediately evident when it got dark and quiet. My mind is always busy but since I’m usually doing something, the business is pushed back behind whatever I’m doing at the moment. Once I stopped doing anything, the business jumped from the background to the front of my mind. Bit by bit I just surrendered each thought to Jesus, picturing myself laying it down, like a package, at the foot of the cross. The second phase was cleansing. We were to ask the Lord to show us anything that we needed to confess as sin. We were to confess and seek to replace the sin with whatever God wanted in it’s place. Many of the folks present shared aloud what they were called to confess. God helped each of us to lighten our load by showing us sin baggage that we should not continue to carry. I was a little nervous about this phase because I never know what sin I might have unresolved and that I had, conveniently perhaps, forgotten. By God’s grace, what I had to deal with, un-forgiveness to people who had wronged me in the past, was not hard to face nor embarrassing. Others in the group were set free from bondage to hate, lust, past sexual sin, sinful attitudes towards family, friends and others. It seemed as if some were being released from some pretty deep pain and bondage as they confessed their sins and received forgiveness. The next phase was worship. We sang worship songs acapella (singing without instruments, not the resort in Mexico). It is amazing to hear nearly twenty voices singing heart felt praise to God in a cavern. Worship went on for a good while. It was obvious that most of us felt a deep and growing connection God as the prayer event went on. Worship included both singing and prayer, weighted towards singing. We sang everything from hymns to very currant praise and worship music. It was simply glorious. Experiencing the Father's Heart AUGUST 2015 The fourth phase emphasized listening for what God had to say to us as individuals or as a group. What each person heard was shared with the rest. This is the working of the prophetic in the Body of Christ. Prophecy is not fortune telling nor is it normally foretelling the future. Prophecy is speaking out the heart and thoughts of God as God reveals them to the Body through its many members. Everyone is capable of hearing God as God speaks to us. Not everyone has experience doing so and even fewer are comfortable sharing what they think God may be saying with others. In this time of listening to God we had folks hearing and sharing words that God was speaking to specific individuals; words of encouragement or direction. We heard words spoken to us about Ozark Mountain Country and about our nation as well. For my part, what God gave to me was more along the lines of an image or vision. This is one of the ways that God regularly “speaks” to me. It is part of my God given makeup that I tend to “think” and process concepts through images. Therefore, it makes sense that God would often reveal his heart and thoughts to me through images. The image God gave to me in that time of attending to what God had to reveal, was of our area, Ozark Mountain Country, at night but lit up by countless points of light. It reminded me of photographs that we’ve all probably seen of our country, at night, taken from space. As is often my experience with such God given images, there was a great deal of meaning behind the image that was given with the image. Like the images of our country taken from space, there were clusters where the points of light were more densely gathered. The individual points of light were us, all of God’s people in Ozark Mountain Country. The clusters were individual congregations. As I “looked” at this image in my mind, it was as if I was suddenly zooming in on individual lights. In one instance, several people were talking in an office setting, coworkers, and one of them was sharing about God’s love with the others. As the scene zoomed in on another point of light I saw a group of people in a park (this scene was in daylight) listening to another of God’s people sharing the Good News. I began to flick through other scenes, scenes of people in prayer over someone, scenes of people performing acts of service for unchurched neighbors and strangers. The import of the image was that God was showing me an image of what the Church in Ozark Mountain Country was supposed to be, what God wanted it to be. It was a vision of the Church made up not of separate congregations but of thousands upon thousands of individual believers. In this vision of the Church, every one of us was a blazing light in the dark land. Every one of us was actively, passionately and continuously engaged in showing, sharing and living out the love of God with our unchurched and de-churched neighbors. There were still congregations but, like cities in an orbital nightscape, there were no clear edges, boundaries of borders between them. I also “knew”, as part of the vision, that the congregations were support systems for the work all of us were doing as individual sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. The individual Experiencing the Father's Heart AUGUST 2015 congregations were there to provide healing to the wounded, freedom to the captive, nurture to those newly born into God’s Kingdom and support to everyone as we were out and about, doing the Father’s work. The overall theme of the revelations being spoken out in that prayer in the cave was that of the unity and renewal in the Body of Christ. For some it was about their own healing and reconciliation to family or to the Church. For others, like me, it was more about there being one Church in Ozark Mountain Country and about that Church being on fire for the Lord. The last phase of the prayer in the cave was that of declaring what God had shown to be His will. Statements of authority born out of the revelation of God’s heart and will were intermixed with intercession. We placed our selves into God’s hands and lifted each other through our intercession. We shifted things in our world and in the heavenly realm through our agreement with God and our declarations of His will. It was an exhilarating time. I was amazed, when the prayer time ended and the lights came back on, to realize that a bit more than three hours had gone by. It seemed much less. There is another prayer time coming very shortly, on Friday evening August 14th at 7:00pm in the Old Stone Church. I don’t know what this prayer time will be like, though I know it won’t be just like the prayer in the cave. So, I’m excited for the chance to experience another new prayer adventure. I encourage you to think, and perhaps pray, about being part of this “Unusual” prayer adventure on August 14th. It may not be a familiar prayer experience; it may not even be an entirely comfortable prayer experience. I believe that God wants us to move beyond life as usual, church as usual and prayer as usual. I expect that God will meet us, challenge us, stretch us, empower us, inspire us and perhaps ignite us to be the Church on fire in Ozark Mountain Country. See you there! Pastor Tom Willcox Baby Bottle Boomerang Spins to a Close for Another Year Please return your filled bottle to the church as soon as possible so our liaison, Marilyn Erselius can deliver it to Options Pregnancy Clinic. Baby Bottle Boomerang is a significant annual fundraiser that helps Options provide Experiencing the Father's Heart WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH LITTLE DISCIPLES? We had a great turn out at the Akers’ creek property for a picnic and a whole lot of swimming. There were about 45 who turned out on a day that the weather was wonderful. It was a little soggy from the previous rainstorms but that made the creek perfect for playing in. MARCH 2015 more if you like, please see Frieda Sindorf or Donna Baker for details. Blessings from your Little Disciples Team NURSERY ATTENDENTS COMING IN AUGUST How does a pajama party with a movie and Build Your Own Sundae sound! Friday, August 28th wear your favorite PJ’s, bring a blanket and plan an evening of fun! The movie has yet to be decided, but James will bring one from the IMAX that can be shown on the “silver screen.” For the parents, there will be a social gathering in the annex with games and activities. Don’t worry…you get to have a sundae, too. Watch for a sign-up sheet in the Fireside Room. We know families get busy with many activities during the summer but we’d like to let you know we have Sunday school at 9:00 which has a short lesson and fellowship time and then Kids Own Worship is held from about 11 to 11:30, at which time we are showing the video series, “Buck Denver asks…What’s in the Bible?” We are still in need of volunteers to help guide the lessons. And guess what? Everything is prepared for you and very simple to follow along and guide the children through. If you can give of yourself a couple of Sundays a year, or To all who volunteer with childcare in the nursery: YOU!!! THANK It takes a church to help raise children and without our volunteers this would be a missing brick in the foundation of our children’s spiritual growth. Each Sunday morning and Wednesday evenings during the school year there is a need of volunteers, like you, to help in the nursery. It’s a small commitment of only a few times a year for you to love on the youngest of our flock. If you have love to pour out please see either Shelley Sloan or Frieda Sindorf for details. Also, the nursery has undergone a complete cleaning from fuzzy little critters, Experiencing the Father's Heart to planes, trains, and automobiles, to cribs and carpet. We would like to ask the helpers to place any soiled items in the basket in the nursery bathroom. The toys that are played with will need to be sprayed with Lysol, found on the shelf by the changing table. Please help us to keep those nasty germs down to a minimum. AUGUST 2015 & Steve Collier Aug 23 Aug 30 Edd & Karen Akers Aug 16 Ty Christeson & D. Chapa Jenni Roger & Betty Radebaugh Thank you for your help. DEACONS DETAILS At our recent meeting, it was noted that we have an inordinate number of members suffering physical ailments, recovery from surgeries and other medical conditions who are in need of prayer and support. We were reminded of 1 Thess. 5:18which says, “Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” And Ps. 73:23 reminds us, “Nevertheless, I am continually with you.” So please join us as we lift up our ailing brothers and sisters to receive a healing touch from the One who loves them and knows the plans He has for them to give them a future and a hope. SUNDAY SCHEDULES WORSHIP LEADER Aug 2 Auu 9 Aug 16 Aug 23 Aug 30 Pastor Tom Willcox Pastor Tom Willcox Pastor Tom Willcox Pastor Tom Willcox Pastor Tom Willcox WORSHIP ASSISTANT Rob Sindorf Youth David Whetstone Barbara Hunt Peggy Chastain GREETERS NURSERY Aug 2 Louise Ellingson/B.Bengtson Jim & Jennifer Justus Aug 9 Jerry & Caroline Pierce Meg Pyron/Karen Akers AUGUST BIRTHDAYS 2 3 4 5 12 13 16 17 18 23 24 25 27 29 Joyce Clemenson Donna Schisler Donn Russell Lindsey Sullivan Daxton Stanley Heather Allen Jean Morris Madeline Houston Arlene DuBois Sloan Houston Benjamin Rolf Stanley Gant Jenni Collier Ivan Wayne Miller Donna Yoh Doug Baker Walter Erselius Janice Summers Tom Dodds Tyler VanderLaan Experiencing the Father's Heart AUGUST 2015 Chance Wallesen FPCBranson.org PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER! Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Ephesians 6:18 believers everywhere. August 30 – Sept 5 Mission Focus: LUC Sloan & Kari Houston, Madeline and James Ryan Don Long Dorothy Erland James & Mary Lou Edkin David & Jane Huffstetler Lydia Allen The names are picked randomly and will rotate weekly throughout the year until we have prayed for our entire church family. Thank you for joining us in this endeavor as we continue to encourage one another in our daily walk with Christ. NLT Please pray daily for our : Mission Focus of the Month: CARE FOR KIDS & PRESBYTERIAN PRESCHOOL August 2 - 8 Jim & Diane Barber, Jessica Norris & Rosemary Grant Bob & Ruth Abbott Phil & Patty Loyd Mike & Cassandra Nabena, Cameron, Caitlyn and Moriah Bob & Peachie Hevel August 9 - 15 Bob & Mary Lynn Grimes Jacki Lee & Bailee Gordon & Barbara Proctor Mary Jane King Keith Olson Vashti Shrum August 16 - 22 Kirk & Shelley Sloan, Emma and Payden Sam & Candi Owens Sue Bisplinghoff Fred & Wanda Emmenegger Carol Pratt Lola Dudley August 23 - 29 Lynn Fontaine Jan Medlock Irvena Kennedy Scott & Katherine Murphy, Aubrey David & Joyce Clemenson CARE FOR KIDS WHAT: WHEN: Mission for August Celebration Tuesday, August 18th 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. WHERE: Showboat Branson Belle WHY: To celebrate 10 years of loving and mentoring children in our area through Care for Kids *RSVP: Call 417-336-7055 or Email -> [email protected] All current, past and prospective volunteers are welcome to attend! Experiencing the Father's Heart Hear how God has blessed students, teachers, administrators, pastors, and volunteers while you enjoy a dinner cruise on the wonder Showboat Branson Belle. JOIN US at a AUGUST 2015 August is known for being a month without holidays. Well, at least well known holidays. One holiday that I like to celebrate is August 13th - it is International Left Handers Day. Being left handed is one of those things that I am and I embrace. What is a bit interesting for me is that I just found out that the only other left hander in my grade in elementary school is also a pastor. There are a lot of different characteristics that each person can have in common with another person. And there are a lot of differences that we also experience. I believe that God created so many differences so we could compliment each other as we live out our faith. The diversity we have as Presbyterians creates a richness that allows us to do a lot of different things a lot of different ways. This diversity was evident in the Creative Ministry Grants that were approved by General Council in July. These grants will be awarded at the August 3rd meeting of Presbytery in Crane, MO. There are no two grants that are alike and they all show how creative and different we are as people of God. I praise God for the creativeness of our churches and how they choose to serve God in their communities. Seeing God at work in our diversity is something to treasure. Susan Rosenbaum Pastoral Presbyter Rev. Susan Rosenbaum Cardinals Baseball Game Thursday, August 20 Game Time - 7 pm Cost - $12 approx. Thursday night is $1 Brat Night. Sign-up at the Welcome Center by Aug. 10. If you need a ride, contact Robin Carlock (972/741-3534). See the September newsletter for updates from the Fellowship Team on upcoming monthly fellowship activities. PRESBYTERY NEWS Presbyterian Women’s News Thursday, July 9th,2015, the Presbyterian Women met at Jean Morris’s home for a delightful and delicious luncheon. We had a great time getting to know more about one another. Thank you Jean, for your gracious hospitality. On August 13th, 2015, the Presbyterian Women will meet at ‘Ye Olde English Inn’, located at 24 Downing Street in downtown Hollister, at noon, for lunch. We will have dessert at Barbara Hunt’s home, located at 416 Oak Lane, Branson, afterwards. We will meet in the church parking lot at 11:30 am. to carpool. Please contact Linda Perillo at 417-544-4718 if you are planning to attend. The Presbyterian Women will meet on Septermber 11th, 2015, in Fellowship Hall at 1:00 pm. We will do the last lesson of study book, Women of the Bible 2, ‘Following God’. Please continue to support CAM by bring a donation on Sunday mornings. CAM is now accepting food items, paper products, hygiene products, and cash as Experiencing the Father's Heart AUGUST 2015 The night will be marked by fervent and joyful corporate prayers, an atmosphere of faith, decrees of Scripture, passionate worship and a cry for awakening in the Ozarks. Prepare toe experience a raw and unpolished atmosphere of fire fueled by the Holy Spirit Join with other firebrands and contend together for an outpouring that will awaken the sleepers and raise the dead to life! Pastors, intercessors, youth groups and every person hungry for the shock and awe of God's glory in this region are encouraged to attend! REGISTRATION IS FREE BUT REQUIRED Learn more, watch an info video, contact us and register: CARRIERSOFFIRE.ORG/UNUSUAL BUSINESS AS USUAL - CHURCH AS USUAL - LIFE AS USUAL... IS OVER donations. If you have any questions please contact Harlene Rantz at 417-559-0194. Bridal Please remember Irvena Kennedy, Pauline Barton, Jean Ford , and Shirley Cunningham at Point Lookout . Brighten their day, give them a call, stop by and visit, bring them some flowers from your yard, or send them a card. Please come and join us at our meetings. It’s a wonderful opportunity to become better acquainted with the ladies of the church. Enrich your heart with friendships, and your mind with a Bible study. We look forward to seeing you there! Shower If you have any questions, please call Linda Perillo, at 417-544-4718. God Bless from all the Presbyterian Women. UNUSUAL is a regional prayer and worship gathering of people who are desperate for legitimate revival and transformation in the SOUTHWEST MISSOURI area. Please join us for a Bridal Shower honoring Katie Sindorf in the Church Parlor Sunday, August 23, 2015 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Hosted by Katie's Church Family RSVP to Meg at 365-1660 or [email protected] by August 19th. Experiencing the Father's Heart AUGUST 2015 The couple is registered at Bed, Bath & Beyond and Target. adults or friends. More information will be out soon including a signup sheet; There is also a need for help with the after school snack time. Those helping out will need to prepare and get the snack set out for when the kids arrive after school. After snack time there is a small amount of cleanup, but not much. KIDS AND PARENTS Please indicate on the registration form that you are able to help out in these areas. Thank you for your support of our children’s programs. We are looking forward to seeing all the kiddos back and hearing all about their summer. Blessings! It’s time to start thinking about the 2015-2016 Chorister and John Calvin Ringers programs. Enclosed is a registration form for completion. We would appreciate them being returned no later than August 28th, which is the “movie and a sundae” activity (see article). The registration can also be dropped off or mailed to the church office. ([email protected]) There are a couple of changes this year. Due to a transportation challenge we need to know if you are able to bring your child and possibly another child to the church on Wednesdays. You could take turns with driving each week; We are asking that all parents assist with Choristers this year. We need one parent, grandparent or family friend to sign up for assisting with your child’s group on at least two Wednesdays during the year. We understand some parents work and can’t be there, and that’s why we’ve included other family Wednesday Night youth will start up on August 19th! Any students 7 – 12th grade are welcome to join. Parents, please drop off students at the youth building at6:00pm, and have them ready for pick up at 8:00pm. Experiencing the Father's Heart Participation forms: All students/parents must fill out our Participation Form to allow students to participate in our youth activities this year. I’m beginning to send them home with students to be returned as soon as possible. Things to look forward to: Parent/Guardian meeting in September. We’ll get together to discuss this year’s events, calendar, etc. As always, please contact me with any comments or questions: 417.335.0428 -Rob AUGUST 2015 Experiencing the Father's Heart AUGUST 2015 Experiencing the Father's Heart FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - BRANSON 420 W MAIN ST BRANSON, MO 65616-2726 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED AUGUST 2015 NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID BRANSON, MO PERMIT NO. 82 Experiencing the Father's Heart AUGUST 2015 Experiencing the Father's Heart is a monthly publication of First Presbyterian Church of Branson, 420 West Main St., Branson, Missouri. The church office is open Monday - Friday 8:30 - 4:30, (417) 334-3468, [email protected]. The church is located one block east of Highway 65. Sunday School - 9:00 a.m.; Sunday Worship - 10:30 a.m. All visitors are welcome. The Reverend Thomas N. Willcox, Pastor, Robert Sindorf, Youth Director; Robert Abbott, Jr, Interim Director of Music and Worship Arts; Frieda Sindorf, Discipleship Assistant; Stephanie Taylor, Choristers II Director, Jenni Collier, Choristers I Director; Meg Pyron, Administrative Assistant; Marcia Schemper-Carlock, Organist and Assistant Director of Worship Arts; Ron VanderLaan, Jr., Custodian; and Cindy Haydon, Preschool Director. Website: fpcbranson.org Preschool Website: www.bransonprechool.com