03
Oct
The Ultimate Prize : October 2, 2011
Autumn weather is finally here! We at Meito Christ International Church hope that you are enjoying this beautiful weather our Lord has blessed us with.
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Sunday’s Readings
(Please click on the readings to read this past weeks lessons online.)
First Lesson: Isaiah 5:1-5
Second Lesson: Phillipians 3:4-14
Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:33-46
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Children’s Time
Children’s Song: “I Just want to be a Sheep”
– Allen Williams
Children’s Message: “Give others 2, 3, or more chances”
– Byron Peterson
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Adult Message
– Lowell Sheppard
Points from Lowell’s powerpoint:
Human Systems of Reckoning Prestige are NOT at the heart of the Gospel
Pressing on
– Power of Perseverance
– Heavenward is Upward”
“What is our Prize?
Knowing Christ
Scriptures
Amidst the suffering of humanity
In silence”
Points from the sermon that stuck with me:
Today’s New Testament reading was from Phillipians, written by Paul. In this letter, Paul expresses great gratitude. He talks about all the things he has done right in his life, yet all those things were for nothing. He, Paul, is interpreting the Gospel to be saying that we do not need to be return to many of the laws – such as circumcision, refraining from eating unclean animals, etc – and that in fact, Jesus also came from Gentiles. Not just Jews. It is through God’s grace that we are given the instinct to know how to live good.
Goals keep us moving forward. As Christians, are ultimate prize is knowing Christ. How can we get to know Christ? 1) Through reading the Scriptures. In the Scriptures God teaches and leads us. 2) When we help others, Jesus is also there. He said that whenever we help the least of our brothers and sisters, we are helping Jesus. 3) In the silent time we spend with Him. For it is in the silent moments we take that we can focus even more fully upon Him.
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Attendance
– Sunday School : 2
– Service : 33
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First time visitors
– Joyce, Sammy, Jeff, Mika, Lina, Lisa, Kirk, Tammy, and Yukiharu
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Words from the Admin
God blessed us greatly this week with so many people at our 5:00pm service – some who have finally returned to us after a summer of being away but also with 9 people who came to worship with us for the first time.
In the coming week may God bless you all as richly in fellowship with others until we can gather again this coming Sunday, October 9th.
On a side note, please bear with me as I am fiddling with formats while I try and decide on one to stick with moving forward.
Nice to hear about so many visitors to the English worship at Meito. Nice to keep up in a small way on the web site and Facebook. Keep up the great work. Miss you all!
Pastor C.
October 9th, 2011 at 7:57 pm