Elders Jerry Fourroux, Jr. Pastor Bob Tobias Clerk of Session Cheryl Appleton Bill Beltz Chris Bloom Dick Boehret Elaine Rockey

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Trustees Jeff Baier Chair David Bratt John Hess Tim Kelley Tom Paulhamus Andy Reibson Zach Ritchie Dennis

Redka Jean Richards Steve Ulmer Harry Vitolins Bringing our questions to Jesus is the theme of our

Bringing our questions to Jesus is also a tremendously helpful Lenten practice for seasoned believers.

Grace. Questions that we bring to Jesus can help us understand this love even more.

self-examination that leads to manipulation and control. NOT: Am I really saved?

This question difference is key to understanding why Grace is so important for self-examination.

There is no outside reference, and saved then becomes this work that you must attain.

Subtle, but the second question turns your heart back to Jesus.

NOT: Why do I keep on sinning? YES: Where can I turn to Jesus?

We can answer two ways: this is just the way I am OR I guess I am a worthless Christian.

Sin is not isolated experiences or behaviors but our deep need and our alienation from God.

Growth in Grace is not perfection, but repenting earlier- not just when caught, but when you are confronted

You can confess when your eyes see and your heart wants even before your hand ever takes.

When we feel frustrated it is often because we feel stuck in our circumstances.

1 Elders Jerry Fourroux, Jr. Pastor Bob Tobias Clerk of Session Cheryl Appleton Bill Beltz Chris Bloom Dick Boehret Elaine Rockey Trustees Jeff Baier Chair David Bratt John Hess Tim Kelley Tom Paulhamus Andy Reibson Zach Ritchie Dennis Swift Deacons Joyce Mix Deacons Staff Leader Deanna Boehret Lenora Caskey Nancy Nagel Carol Prentiss Peg Redka Jean Richards Steve Ulmer Harry Vitolins Bringing our questions to Jesus is the theme of our Evangelism course, Questioning Jesus. Bringing our questions to Jesus is also a tremendously helpful Lenten practice for seasoned believers. Let s take this Lenten Season to its central theme: self-examination in the context of the Covenant of Grace. Questions that we bring to Jesus can help us understand this love even more. This grace distinction helps us discern good self-examination that leads to freedom from man-centered self-examination that leads to manipulation and control. NOT: Am I really saved? YES: Am I delighting in Jesus? This question difference is key to understanding why Grace is so important for self-examination. The first question starts and ends with you. There is no outside reference, and saved then becomes this work that you must attain. Working for your salvation undermines the amazingness of grace! Subtle, but the second question turns your heart back to Jesus. This is the essence of repentance, and repentance is a sign that grace is at work in your life. NOT: Why do I keep on sinning? YES: Where can I turn to Jesus? Usually when confronted or caught in sin, we feel exposed and the first question will naturally come up. We can answer two ways: this is just the way I am OR I guess I am a worthless Christian. When we answer in these ways, we miss Jesus. Sin is not isolated experiences or behaviors but our deep need and our alienation from God. Grace in Christ s finished work helps you understand that you can always come back to Jesus. Growth in Grace is not perfection, but repenting earlier- not just when caught, but when you are confronted by the inclination of your heart or a passage of Scripture. You can confess when your eyes see and your heart wants even before your hand ever takes. Take all of it to Jesus. NOT: Why am I frustrated? YES: Where have I become Complacent? When we feel frustrated it is often because we feel stuck in our circumstances. But our Stuckness is usually complacency. Nothing makes me lose that loving connection with Jesus like complacency. Complacency lies to me and tells me everything is okay as long as things are safe. In complacency, I see no victories because I avoid the battle against sin in my life. I see no miraculous answers to prayer because I do not take big things to Jesus in prayer. I see no transformations of friends or family, because I believe the lie that they are okay. Choosing action means saying yes to engaging with what God wants to do. It means that I put on the Full Armor of God as explained in Ephesians 6. Choosing action, reminds me of the true nature of our relationship with God and the world- we are at war with sin and death. In battle, a complacent solider is at risk, but a victorious solider engages the enemy, prepared and armed. Continued on next page

2 NOT: Why do I have to change? YES: What Is Jesus Vision for my life? We have such small perspectives. I find this was the most humbling things that I learned in seminary. I always looked at Scripture through the lens of my experience or my issues. When I panned my perspective back to see things from a historical perspective, I began to marvel. Then, I began to pan my mental camera back even more to understand from Scripture how God sees us and how He views revelation. I found that my dreams, strategies, and goals were too small. God wants to expand that vision of my life, my dreams and my perspective to be bigger: His Life in Jesus, His Vision of the Future, and His Perspective to glorify Christ. All of us need a purpose check-up, a mission check-up, and a vision check-up. This Lenten season, beginning March 6 to April 21, is a time to examine yourself as we have examined ourselves as a congregation last year. My prayer is that God will lead us as a church of Grace for the Greater Williamsport Area. May the Lord do all this and more in Jesus Christ throughout all generations. Blessings, Jerry 3/01 Diane Frank 3/02 Marilyn Allen 3/02 Steve Shilling 3/02 Rollie Slingerland 3/02 Hope Fourroux 3/04 Pam Shuler 3/04 Emily Allen 3/04 Themis Leidhecker 3/04 Frank Hummel 3/05 Ann Reichelderfer 3/08 Steve Rockey 3/09 Becky Kiessling 3/12 Shelley Bloom 3/13 Eric Albert 3/13 Scott Leinbach 3/16 Judy Tobias 3/16 Aiden Kiessling 3/23 Lauren Kline 3/25 Sue Huyck 3/26 Judi Rook 3/27 Maggie Manchester 3/30 Brad Yarzebinski

3 March 3 Family Promise Training after the Worship Service with a light lunch served! March Family Promise Host Week March 10 Centre d Women Book Group Plum Tea Crazy by Laura Childs 2:30 in the Lounge There will be Plum Tea and Scones Served April 14 Congregational Meeting After the Worship Service A light lunch will be served

4 Join the Greatest Show on Earth And try to solve the murder mystery! WHO: 6-12th Grade Students WHEN: Friday, March 8 from 6-9pm WHERE: Lycoming Centre WHAT: Food, Fun, Best Costume Competition& Mystery RSVP by March 5 Contact Luke:

6 God s Kids Valentine Outing Is always an incredible outreach, This year the children touched many Of our shut-ins with God s Love! Thank you to all the God s Kids And their wonderful Leaders!

8 VBS Meeting Who: All VBS recruits & anyone interested in volunteering When: Sunday, March 10th immediately after the worship service Where: Hallelujah Hall

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Lounge and Kitchen in use 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9:00 am Sunday

lunch 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 9:00 am Sunday School 10:15 Worship Service After Service

Book Group 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 9:00 am Sunday School 10:15 Worship Service 24 31

ROCK Murder Mystery Night 6-9pm 25 26 27 28 29 30 God s Kids Play 6:30pm Legends At

9 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Lounge and Kitchen in use :00 am Sunday School 10:15 Worship Service & Communion After Service Family Promise Training with lunch :00 am Sunday School 10:15 Worship Service After Service VBS Meeting 2:30 C.W. Book Group :00 am Sunday School 10:15 Worship Service :00pm God s Kids 7:00pm Adult Choir 5:30pm God s Kids Carnival 7:00pm Adult Choir ROCK Murder Mystery Night 6-9pm God s Kids Play 6:30pm Legends At Camp Garner Creek Family Promise Family Promise Family Promise Family Promise Family Promise Family Promise Family Promise 9:00 am Sunday School 10:15 Worship Service

Nicholas DeRemer The Jesus Storybook Bible The Friend of Little Children (Jesus and the Children) Peg Redka & Betty Ann

10 656 West Creek Road P.O. Box 310 Cogan Station, PA Phone: Fax: Dee Gannon: Website: Date March 3, 2019 March 10, 2019 March 17, 2019 March 24, 2019 March 31, 2019 Children s Church Cindy Springman & Nicholas DeRemer The Jesus Storybook Bible The Friend of Little Children (Jesus and the Children) Peg Redka & Betty Ann Leiby The Jesus Storybook Bible The Man Who Didn t Have any Friends (Zacchaeus) Theresa & Mieren Kendall The Jesus Storybook Bible Running Away (The lost son) Tiffany & Gabby DeRemer The Jesus Storybook Bible Washed with Tears (Sinful women anoints Jesus) Sue Koch The Jesus Storybook Bible The Servant Kind (The Last Supper)

Elders Rev. Jerry Fourroux Pastor Bob Tobias Clerk of Session Cheryl Appleton Bill Beltz Chris Bloom Dick Boehret Brenda Manchester Elaine Rockey

Elders Rev. Jerry Fourroux Pastor Bob Tobias Clerk of Session Cheryl Appleton Bill Beltz Chris Bloom Dick Boehret Brenda Manchester Elaine Rockey John Stugrin Trustees Jeff Baier Chair David Bratt Ken