Mass: Anything but Ordinary

The Jr. High Revelation Tour from Custer Road United Methodist Church filled in for Rev. Stephenson this week with a message about the Roman Catholic Mass.

Through song they shared the parts of mass, the leading of people to Eucharist, communion with Christ.

Gathering... recognizing our need to worship in community... a time to come together with others...

Worship:

the time to give our hearts...

surrender our lives...

bow our knees...

before the only One truly worthy of worship...

Kyrie... seeking God's mercy and compassion... we confess our failures and sin...

Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 51:1 ESV

Gloria... recognizing that God has blessed us more than we can imagine... through Christ the King... the Father's gift of love...

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those who he favors!"

Luke 2:14 NRSV

Credo... "I believe"... a statement of faith... a time to bring our faith to Jesus... whatever size...

I believe in God, even when God is silent.

Immediately the father of the child cried out,

"I believe; help my unbelief!"

Mark 9:24 NRSV

Sanctus... acknowledging God as Holy... Holy... Holy... set apart... above all others.

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory."

Isaiah 6:3 NRSV

Agnus Dei... coming under the covering of the Lamb of God... receiving Christ's sacrifice for our sins... yours... mine...

"Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!..."

John 1:29 NRSV

Sending Forth... a time to remember we go forth into the world as His.

Through communion

we offer our service...

our lives...

to Him...

for His use...

with thanksgiving...

In all, a reminder that the Eucharist... mass... communion... is anything but ordinary!

Do you recognize the parts of Mass reflected in our communion services?

Take time to put it in your own words, meditate on the wonder of the Church, our Lord, and His sacrifice.

Don't let the extraordinary love of God's grace, become ordinary.

Read Luke 22:14-20

Bring your faith...Thoughts on Sunday

We stand to sing the last hymn and my oldest stands just one pew in front of us.  I glance down to where she is writing...taking notes about the sermon.

There in big bold letters along with her doodles are five words.  Words Rev. Stephenson said that ring true no matter where we are on our journey.

Bring your faith to Jesus

Maybe yours is a mustard seed faith or a mountain faith...when we bring it to Jesus...He uses it in ways we could never imagine.

Read Mark 6:1-13...

For more Thoughts on Sunday come on over to FUMC Children's Ministry.

Do you trust the One pushing your swing?

Rev. Stephenson's lesson last Sunday came from Luke 8:22-25, and he asked: Who's pushing your swing?

Refresh your memory by reading the passage (if you don't have a Bible handy click the Scripture reference above and it will take you to the verse online).

The one who "pushes your swing", is the one directing the course of your life, determines whether you find yourself in calm or stormy waters.

God, in His sovereignty, is the One who ultimately pushes everyone's swing...

Who can speak and have it happen

if the Lord has not decreed it?

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High

that both calamities and good things come?

Lamentations 3:37-38

The challenge for Believers, is to remember:

God is good, all the time.

All the time, God is good.

In the good, and the bad, God is always working for the good of His people, for His glory, and the building up of His kingdom.

Can you trust God to push your swing, even when it feels like He's smacked you right into a hackberry tree?

Are you willing to place your faith in His sovereignty, His goodness, and seek to learn the lesson He is teaching? the growth He is preparing? the truth He is revealing?

When was the last time it felt like you were blind-sided by a hackberry tree? Did you learn anything about yourself or God? Can you thank God for the experience... even when it hurts?

...give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1Thessalonians 5:18

What is the mission of the Church?

Sunday, Rev. Tom Stephenson's first message included homework...

Prayerfully consider:  What is the mission of the Church? 

Write your answer in one sentence.

Read Mark 10:35-45, his text from Sunday to help you complete the homework.

He reminded us that the "circle of the church" is not to face inward, but outward.

Share your answer by adding it as a comment on the bottom of the blog post. If you receive this via email, you can reach the site by clicking the title of this post.

Epilogue

A final word...

John 20:30-31, 21:25 NIV84

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

The 50 day journey we have taken together through Scripture is just a small part of all that God has done on behalf of His creation. We pray that you will continue to journey through the Bible asking your own questions, listening for God to speak, and obediently following His Word to you. 

The Word was written that you might believe and have life in His name. Spend time increasing your faith and allow Him to write many wonderful things on your heart... so many that the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Father God, bless each person who makes this journey with a hunger for Your Word and the discipline to spend time seeking You each day. Open their eyes and ears to all the wonders You have prepared for them.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived

what God has prepared for those who love him" ---

1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV84