Pastor's Message (from the bulletin)

Pastor's Message (from the bulletin) 
This morning our text is from Exodus 19, where God invites Moses to come up and visit with him on Mount Sinai. It was there that God would give Moses the “Torah.”

We often think of the “Torah” as being the “10 Commandments.” The Torah was much more than that. God gave Moses instructions for building the Tabernacle.

Those of you who have been doing your “Bible in a Year” reading have spent the last four days reading God’s instructions of how to build the tabernacle. From the type of linen used in the curtains, to the measurements of the Most Holy Place, God gave specific instructions for the Tabernacle and all that came with it.

About three days into reading about the Tabernacle, you might have thought to yourself: “It took Moses one chapter to describe how everything in the world came to be, but he spends almost half of the book of Exodus describing a tent? Why?”

The Tabernacle did more than provide a place where the Israelites could come and offer sacrifices; it provided more than a place for God to place his presence. The Tabernacle and the regulations of the Law that governed the practices concerning the Tabernacle served to teach the Israelites one life-long lesson: God is holy, you are not and there is nothing you can do to bridge the gap between you and God. He will always be behind the curtain, in the Most Holy Place; a place where you can never go. God has to bridge the gap that exists between you and him.

The Tabernacle and all that came with it pointed forwarded to the need for God to send a savior to break down the barrier between God and man. The Tabernacle and all that came with it (all that you’ve been reading this last week) pointed forward to the need for Jesus. In Christ, the barrier between God and man has been broken down. In Christ, we have access to the presence of God. In Christ, God lives in us. In Christ, nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God.

-Pastor Duncan 

Sermon - Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012

Gospel reading and Sermon by
Pastor Duncan McLellan
>Click to Listen

Matthew 8:23-27
Jesus Calms a Storm
And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

The Name of God

In this video, Pastor Duncan talks about how the name of God differes from one Bible translation to the next.

Pastor's Message (from the bulletin)

Pastor's Message (from the bulletin)
It is fitting, and even providential that, as we continue to read the Bible in a year together, we come across a text where a faithful man was asked to murder his son in the same week that we celebrate the sanctity of human life and continue to pledge our support to the protection and preservation of life.

Abraham was asked to perform the ultimate act of obedience when he was told to kill his son, his only son whom he loved. He was tested by God to see if he would do a horrible, tragic, evil thing if God told him to. Will obedience to God trump everything else this man believed in? Yes, our text tells us, he was.

Fortunately, for us, God does not make us prove our allegiance to him through the taking of innocent life. However, he does ask that we show our allegiance to him through protecting innocent life.

The only life being created today that is in the image of God and that is eternal, is created in the wombs of human mothers. And yet, in our nation, the womb is the most dangerous place for humans to live. 22% of all pregnancies in our country end in abortion. Only 7% of abortions take place for “health related” reasons, rape or incest. By the time a woman is 45, there is over a 40% chance she will have had an abortion. Over 70% of all people who have had abortions identify themselves as “Christian.”

As a church, we are going to be taking steps to increase our support to Christian ministries that seek to reduce the number of abortions that take place in our neighborhoods and across our country. The Baby Bottle Campaign we started last week is a first, small step in this direction. We are also going to be training men and women in the art of Christ-centered Care Giving through Stephen Ministry later this year. These individuals will be able to council families and individuals whose lives have been torn apart by abortion. This is only the beginning of what we, by God’s grace, will do in his name.

Your prayers for the divine protection of innocent human life will not go unanswered; our God loves life!

-Pastor Duncan

Sermon - Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012

Gospel reading and Sermon
by Pastor Duncan McLellan
>Click to Listen

The Gospel Lesson: Mark 17:1-8
After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Introducing Thomas Walter McLellan

It is with great pride we introduce Thomas Walter McLellan -- 9 lbs., 9 oz., born on Wednesday Jan. 25th at 1:28 p.m.

It's a Boy!

Alissa and Duncan would like to thank you for the prayers and are pleased to announce the birth of Thomas Walter McLellan, born at 1:28pm and weighing 9 pounds 9 ounces.  Both baby and mother are healthy and in good spirits.