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A Devotional Life
1 John 2:1-11
John 17:12-19
"I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world" (John 17:14)
What is a church? How can you tell one by looking at it? Architecture might be a clue... but not always. The sounds and smells of the place might point in a certain direction... but not definitively. Maybe by the people? Yes, in part, at least. In our passage from John's gospel, we are given a definition of the church: It is those who have received God's word and who are now hated in the world because they no longer belong to the world. This is how you know a church. God's word is present - and, of course, "word" can and does mean both scripture and Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God - and as a result the world is at odds with those who have received this word.
It isn't a particularly romantic view of the church. All of the lovely things - stained glass and ringing bells, organ music and quite prayers - these things are good, even holy, ornamentation to the church. The church, though, is still known more by the allergic reaction the world has to us. It is the stark and dark truth about the church that I must continually return to whenever terrible news about martyred adults and children in different places in Africa reach my ears. This truth does not necessarily make these terrible, sinful deeds any the more palatable, but it does remind us that such sins are expected in the lives of the faithful.
But Jesus isn't done there. He has hope for us even still. It is not that He has abandoned us to the world's evil, but - in fact - stands with us in those moments and in those places. Wherever one is persecuted for the sake of the Gospel, so too is Jesus present. And while "Come to our church; Get persecuted" doesn't make for a good advertising campaign, the truth that even in persecution we have Christ should instill a deep sense of hope.
Yet there is a terrible inverse that exists as well. Those who do not find themselves - at least at times - being persecuted in some way for their faith might reasonably ask whether they are in the church. In our other reading from I John 2, we see that receiving Jesus necessarily involves obeying Him and obeying Him will, inevitably, result in the world's malice. And thus we find that persecution - when it comes from obedience - becomes a sign of faithfulness. And yet there is Good News even here because when our persecution becomes a sign, then we can also pray that God might open the eyes of some who see this sign as it points back to Jesus Christ. This is and has always been the prayer of the martyrs: That their deaths might be the sign by which someone else sees their life in Christ.
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April 19, 2015
Sermon Title: "Are You an Apostle?"
Sermon Text: Acts 11:19-26
Other Text: 1 Timothy 4:11-16
Sermon Theme:
This week is Youth Sunday! In the sermon this week, we will be hearing about some of the early apostles as well as some apostles in our midst today. Children and youth will be leading both services.
 This is a story about four people: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did. Somebody got angry because it was Everybody's job. Everybody knew that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Somebody wouldn't do it. And it ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody because Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
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Music in Ministry
Please enjoy this inspiring video of composer John Rutter sharing his sentiments about choral singing
John Rutter
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Upcoming Events
- CPC's Representative Nominating Committee will be filling five open spots on the Deaconate. Two of the spots are just for the remainder of this calendar year. Two of the spots go through 2016. One spot goes through 2017. Nomination forms will be posted in the bulletin for the next two Sundays and members from the RNC will be reaching out to folks individually. Please prayerfully consider if you're being called to serve your church in this capacity.
- Assistive hearing devices are available for those who might have difficulty hearing all parts of worship. These are small earbuds that are easy to use and not highly visible to others. Please ask when you come into to church and we will be happy to discreetly hook you up.
- Presbyterian Women's Spring Gathering is Thursday, April 16, 3PM at the Presbyterian SeniorCare Chapel. A light supper will be served. Cost is $8.00. The Please call Nancy Magera to RSVP by April 10. 724-745-3291
- Special Ecumenical Worship service at St. Paul AME Church (16 Ridge Avenue, Washington, PA 15301). Pastor Schooley will be participating in a special service - "The Value of God's Love" - that will feature choirs, mime groups, soloists, and more. Service is on Sunday, April 26 at 4 p.m. You are strongly encouraged to attend and help foster a spirit of Christian unity in love.
- Our preschool is holding a "Frozen Fun Super Saturday" on Saturday, April 25 for 3 - 7 year olds. The cost is $10 and the event will feature Elsa, Anna, and Spiderman present to take photos with the kids and interact with them. Food and games will also keep everyone happy. Please RSVP soon, as spots are limited.
- Can't make it to Frozen Fun Super Saturday? You can still participate by providing a theme basket for the event's Basket Raffle. Themes can include "Movie Night," "Sporty Fun," "Nature Time," etc. Please donate your basket and/or materials for a basket no later than Sunday, April 19.
- Peters Township Public Library is holding their annual "Taste of the Township" fundraiser on Friday, May 1st. Tickets cost $50/person. If you are interested in attending and providing a presence from Center Presbyterian Church, you can find more details here. Pastor Schooley (a book nerd) and his wife, Brianne (a "foodie"), are seriously interested in attending, so if you're going, let them know. Here's the link to use as a hyperlink on "find more details here": http://www.ptlibrary.org/events.asp
- We will have a Strawberry Festival on Sunday, May 31st from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Food, games, and - naturally - strawberries will abound. Mark your calendars now and please plan on attending
- Brianne Schooley will be contacting folks to volunteer for the Strawberry Festival. Please be on the look out for her requests for volunteers.
- CPC's Book Club, currently reading Anne Lamott's Help, Thanks, Wow will meet at Bob and Harriet Dilly's house, 268 Maplewood Drive, McMurray on Saturday, May 2nd at 10 a.m. for our "Brunch and Books" discussion. Please RSVP to the church or to Pastor Schooley no later than Thursday, April 30 if you plan to attend. All are welcomed!
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Intergenerational Summer Mission Trip to The Center in Baltimore, MD. There are still a few spots left for our Intergenerational Mission Trip this summer, June 13-20, to Baltimore, MD. Contact Becky ASAP if you are interested in going.
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Don't miss the opportunity to support Family Promise and help change the lives of homeless children and their families on May 16! Click on the image below to register TODAY!
- Some of our congregation will remember Barb Marshall as a very active member of our congregation before she moved to be closer to her family. It recently came to our attention that she has been diagnosed with a serious cancer. Barb would certainly appreciate cards, prayers and well wishes from her friends here at Center. Her mailing address is 1702 Normandie Drive, Yok, PA 17408.
- Join in the middle school group trip this summer July 19 - July 23 to Pine Springs Camp for Mission Ex! Mission Ex is for middle school youth groups designed to provide campers with all the fun elements of Pine Springs combined with a meaningful experience in missions. WE will explore what it truly means to serve Jesus and others. Highlights include team building activities, 3 days of service, evening activities like pool parties, Bible study, BIG games, camp fires, fun and challenging Praise and Worship sessions at THE BARN. Click here to find out more about Pine Springs Camp.
- Condolences are extended to the family of former member (1954-1986) and children's choir director, Frances Bell Wood. Frances passed away on Friday April 3rd. You may follow this link to her obituary
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A Joyful Life
Now that it's finally warm, we can look back at the cold winter and laugh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7u2NoYGH1c
Happy Birthday:
Jan Roth April 17
Bob Latimore April 18
Pastor Jeff Schooley April 18
Nancy Schriver April 18
Evan Pakela April 19
Taylor Kern April 20
Don Conn April 21
Jean Woerner April 22
Happy Anniversary:
Kathi and Bill Spangenberg April 16
Nancy and Roland Schriver April 23
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