True story….. Lew was in his early sixties, affluent, well dressed, handsome. He had really done well in his business, and had enough folks working for him so he could spend as much time as he wanted to on the golf course, or on vacation. He had been married for 30+ years, his children were grown, finished college – through grad school, had careers of their own. He and his wife attended church weekly and Sunday School. Life was GOOD, very good. But Lew was miserable, unhappy and discontent.
His wife suggested he talk to the pastor. He did – and first shared his general discontent, and then specific discontent regarding the worship services of the previous week. He said he doubted he should ever have married his wife – she irritated him every time she looked at him. The senior pastor listened, without interrupting, while writing a note down here and there as Lew told him everything that was wrong. He looked up at Lew when he was finished and asked a single question, “how’s your prayer life these days?”.
Lew described the sensation he felt when the question was asked – a mixture of how dare you – and are you kidding me? And then he said he realized something for the first time. He had no prayer life. Sure he went to church on Sunday – and even led the closing prayer in his Sunday School class sometimes. But he had no ongoing one on one relationship with God. He walked out of the office, and went home. Without saying a word.
One year later…. Lew was telling anyone who would listen about the way God had changed him; once he started praying. He was appreciative of his wife, his kids, his employees. He was taking Disciple 1 Bible Study – studying the scriptures daily, serving on the Finance Committee, helping with Youth Sunday School. Two nights each week he was at church teaching English as a Second Language classes. One of the Vietnamese women, after she passed her citizenship test – came to thank him. She gave him a leather wallet – but it was when she said “I want to be like you Mr. Lew and the other people here” that he was overcome with emotion. He told me “Isn’t God incredible - Forty years ago – if you had ever told me that I would be sitting in the same room with Vietnamese people – I’d never have believed you.”
This Sunday we will be “recounting the gracious deeds and remembering the days of old” – a good place to start – whenever we pray. It’s a good place to start the New Year too.
In His Service,
Amy
Vices/Virtues
Along with classes for children and youth, the following classes
are designed to help Adults on the Pathway to Discipleship
January Greeters-Team #1
8:00 Wendy Dickman, Mona Lindly, Jeanne Baker
9:30 Gail Hernandez, Laurie McBride, Bobbie Rettig, Jeanne Baker
11:00 Betty Rae & Jerry Barney, Diane Jackson,Richard & Barbara Kusserow
January Ushers-Team #1
8:00 Doyle & Sara Smith, Dick Johnson, Joy Wilson
9:30 Ann & Larry Rothman, Robert Ferrell, Bobbie Rettig, Virginia Cabero
11:00 Jerry Wallace, Gary & Susan Noble, Sandra & Gene Myers, Bill Peters
Communion Servers-Team #1
8:00Peggy Wolfe, John Nance
9:30Ann & Larry Rothman, Bobbie Rettig, Becky Martin
11:00Sherry & Bill Peters, Bob & Peggy Craig, Betty Rae & Jerry Barney, Judi & Larry Ellzey
Coffee Time
9:00Nancy & Jerry Roberts
10:30 Nancy & Jerry Roberts
Muggers
Jerry Barney
Media Ministry
Manny González, Bob Phillips, Mike Jacobs, Dave Beck, Don Wilkinson, Marty Alexander
The Gathering Band
Alan Shioji, Felipe Perez, Jackie Gaines, Charles Ogren, Steve Putnicki, Paul Behrendsen, Adrien Reyes, Melissa Ogren, Dave Boone, Mary Gaddy
Hospital Ministry Visitor
Frank & Zoe Dean Middleton
Acolytes
8:00Kelley Ann Martinez, Garrett Hingst
11:00 Robert Ferrell, Ryland Smith
Altar Flowers
Today’s altar flowers are given by Nancy Jullian in memory of Andrew Jullian.
Disciples . . . Trust God in the face of unexplained suffering.
Sunday’s Scripture
Isaiah 63:7-12
