Bless, Blessed, Blessing

The Mustard Seed October 2014 P a s t o r s C o r n e r Bless, Blessed, Blessing The term bless, in various parts of speech, occurs over five hundred twenty times in the New King James Version. After each service on Sunday mornings a benediction is pronounced. This benediction is an act of blessing or a pronouncement of a blessing upon all present. In pronouncing a benediction, the one pronouncing the benediction acts on behalf of God in pronouncing a blessing upon the congregation. Understanding this, there are, technically, two benedictions in the Scriptures. In the Old Testament there is the Aaronic benediction: "The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. In the New Testament there is the Apostolic benediction: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. Other passages, frequently used for benedictions, are better understood as prayers. In prayer, the one praying is the representative of the people before God voicing supplication before God. Note that the New Testament Apostolic benediction reflects the progress of revelation as it emphasizes the Trinity. So, what is a blessing? What does it mean to bless? How can men bless God? What do people mean when they sign a communication Blessings, Bless you, May God bless you, or some other use of the term Bless? Can just anyone bless another? These questions will not be answered here, but they are to stimulate your thought and meditation during the next two months as we will be contemplating blessedness. But, it may help to examine the first uses of the concept in the Scriptures. In the record of Creation the concept of Bless appears three times. It appears at the end of the fifth and sixth day and in the seventh day. The fifth and sixth days were the days that God created living creatures. The seventh day was the day God set apart as blessed and sanctified for creation was finished and God rested. The next use is This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. The book of Genesis is divided into ten sections by the phrase, or variation there of, This is the book of the genealogy of.... In this passage the creation and status of Mankind is reiterated emphasizing God's activity and Man's likeness to God. The fifth use is found after the Flood: So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man. And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; Bring forth abundantly in the earth And multiply in it." The sixth use presents a radical change. The first five God is blessing. The sixth use, "Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem, And may Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, And may he dwell in the tents of Shem; And may Canaan be his servant.", Noah blesses God. Each time that God blesses He is bestowing a gift by a powerful utterance. When Noah blesses God he is praising and thanking God for God had preserved Noah, his family and, Cont. on pg. 5

P a g e 2 T h e M u s t a r d S e e d Fall Church Clean-up! Saturday, November 8th 8 am-12 pm Help us to prepare our building and grounds for the winter. There are many tasks inside and out that we need help to complete. The Scouts will be helping us with the outside work. Many hands make light work, great time of fellowship while we help make our Church clean and shiny! Lunch will be served. See Stewardship with any questions or to let them know you are available to help!! Potluck Luncheon 3rd Sunday of every month! Dates for remainder of 2014: October 19, November 16 and December 21 Join us for a time of fellowship, to share a meal and encourage one another in the body of Christ! Bring a dish to share, bring your family and friends. All are welcome! Church Theme 2014-15 Ambassadors for Christ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3: 16-17

P a g e 3 Saturday, November 15-9:00 am - 2:00 pm Fall Church Fair Meeting, Sunday, October 19th following service. We will meet during our potluck luncheon. We are blessed to have a coordinator for each area, Thank you! How can you help? 1. Craft items - decorations, ornaments, aprons, knit/crochet goods, fleece items, or your special gift/talent. We have lots of fabric if you would like to use it for a project for the fair. It is in the music storage room upstairs. 2. Bakers to create goodies for the bake table. Please package nicely, suggestions-cookies, brownies, small coffee cakes, gluten free offerings, pies are very popular, full cakes do not usually do well. Bring in Friday or early Saturday morning. 3. People to prepare baked beans, potato salad. We currently have three people making baked beans and not positive on people to make potato salad. 4. Gently used items for our white elephant room. Drop off after service beginning November 9th, no electronics/ TV s/computers or big furniture. 5. Used Jewelry or handcrafted jewelry-give donations to Audrey Reed anytime and at least a week prior to give her a chance to clean up and get ready for display. 6. Candy for children s games-either your leftover Halloween candy or small bags of individual candy to have for prizes. 7. Helpers for setup-cleanup, take flyers around town to display. 8. Prayer that we will serve the community in love and God will be glorified through all we do. All net proceeds will be donated to EFCA ReachGlobal Ministries who help with immediate and long term physical and spiritual needs for disasters in the US and around the world. An amazing opportunity to bless others with the blessings we receive in our efforts for the community. Please pray that the Lord will honor all we do and donations will exceed anything we can ask or imagine! Any questions, please see Maggie Baldasaro or Heidi Kumm, your co-chairs for the Fall Church Fair. Thank you!!!!

P a g e 4 T h e M u s t a r d S e e d Cub Scout Corner We welcome all the cub scouts back from summer vacation. It is nice to see them back to start a new year. Danny one of our Weblo s enjoyed summer camp. He had a great time. We had our open house which was a big success. We have almost doubled in size as a pack. It is a great way to make new friends and spend time with some of your old ones. We had our first den meeting which was a fun filled night where the boys started to earn new badges and begin the new year in their new rank. It is a new adventure. We went to the Saugus Iron Works which is believed to be the first iron works in America. The iron works was reconstructed from what archaeologists had found and were able to reconstruct. The boys that went had a great time and learned a lot. This was a badge which they earned for historical place. They had fun and earned a badge without realizing they did anything special. We had our first pack meeting which also was the kick-off for our popcorn fundraiser. This is a fundraiser which helps pay for so much of what the boys do and enjoy throughout the year. It helps pays for supplies, badges, plus covers most of the cost towards trips and camping. If a cub scout asks you to support purchasing some popcorn, please consider helping him out. This is a great program and with God s grace we will be able to make a difference. God Bless these young men. Thank you to all of you for your support and helping to be mentors to these boys. Boy Scout Corner We are back and School is in. The Boys scouts went to summer camp. Boy I can t believe how many boys went. I was there to be a part of this great week. Combined they earned over one hundred merit badges and many advanced in rank. This was a fun week in which they learned new skills and enjoyed their fellow scouts. This is a week of learning and sharpening skills without any electronics. They all survived the week without cell phones or play stations. Summer Camp was directly following the Allagash trip that many scouts participated in and traveled by canoe and slept in tents. This was a true survival trip. All the boys had a great time with great memories. The boys are off to a 7 plus mile mountain hike, by the time this is sent in to the church office. The boys are going to a rock climbing indoor place to enjoy a day of fun and climbing. We have planned our white water rafting trip for October and are planning our Nov. camping trip. We have a lot coming up. Please keep everyone in your prayers and may God be with each one of these boys as they enjoy what He has given them. May they enjoy the beauty of what God has placed on their journeys! May Jesus Christ give me the wisdom and ability to share His promise with these boys as I travel with them in all they do. Submitted by Peter James Charter Chairman-Dick Grinder Charter members-steve Lyons & Peter James

P a g e 5 Pastor s Corner (cont. from pg. 1) through them, Mankind. If we take a close look at each of these six uses we will see that when one person blesses another person the focus is on the gift of Life. When God blessed the seventh day, it was the crowning of Creation and establishment of the rule of God over Creation. Other uses of the term Bless may be found, but the greatest blessing is Life. This ultimate meaning for blessing can be understood as the Psalmist's foot nearly slips as he contemplates the temporal ease and luxury of the wicked. But when the Psalmist remembers the wicked's end and that they are in slippery places and nigh to destruction he confesses that it is good to draw near to God. Also, the Blessed man meditates on God's Law, prospers, and is known by God. The abundant Life, that Jesus offers His disciples, can best be appreciated as we live by faith which is a life typified by joyous obedience. Through October and November we will be meditating on Blessedness as described by Jesus as He taught the multitudes and His disciples. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. Pastor Russell The Quiet Hour Speak, Lord, in the stillness, while I wait on Thee; hushed my heart to listen, in expectancy. Speak, O blessed Master, in this quiet hour, let me see Thy face, Lord, feel Thy touch of power. For the words Thou speakest, They are life indeed; living Bread from heaven, Now my spirit feed! All to Thee is yielded, I am not my own; blissful, glad surrender, I am Thine alone. Fill me with the knowledge, of Thy glorious will; all Thine own good pleasure, in my life fulfill. Like a watered garden, full of fragrance rare, ling ring in Thy presence, let my life appear. Emily M. Crawford Reprinted from NewsletterNewsletter - October 2014

P a g e 6 T h e M u s t a r d S e e d This month the Missions Committee is highlighting two Missions - our newest Missionary, Julie Gustafson and The Boston Center for Pregnancy Choices, formerly Daybreak. The Center for Pregnancy Choices is celebrating their 30th Anniversary Thursday, October 2, 2014 at Omni Parker House. This wonderful event, celebrating thirty years of God's faithfulness, will include powerful client stories. Daybreak opened in 1984 in Harvard Square. One of the founders was from Park Street Church. After some years in Harvard Square, Daybreak leased space from Park Street Church. Later an office was procured on Tremont Street. Presently the ministry is located on Arlington Street where they moved in February of this year. The property management in their building changed and was vacating the entire floor of their office location to begin renovations on the building. They are presently near Back Bay in a temporary space while they look for permanent office space. The name, Daybreak Pregnancy Center, was changed to the Boston Center for Pregnancy Choices. This change was made because they received feedback that people had a difficult time knowing what they did. They first began to pray about changing the name. After a period of prayer they decided on Boston Center for Pregnancy Choices. This name was chosen so that people would have a clear idea of exactly what they offer. Many people in the midst of their decision feel like abortion is the only option, and they want them to know there are other options. Although choice has become closely associated with abortion, they seek to offer true choice. They provide factual information about abortion, such as cost, procedure, effects, etc., but do not refer them since their hope is that they will choose to continue their pregnancies. Boston Pregnancy Center receives no funds from government sources. They have two grants ($20,000/each) from the Flately Foundation for 2013 and 2012. All other funds come from individuals and churches who support them. Please pray for this ministry as they counsel by helping women understand the only option is not abortion and through Christ their hope can be found. Our Church has been especially blessed these past few months as we have the high privilege of sending one of our members to serve the Lord in a distant land for two years. Julie Gustafson, a young woman who grew up in our midst, will be leaving to serve, with others, in the Ukraine. Julie graduated from Messiah College this past Spring. During the summer, Julie has been visiting churches and individuals sharing her calling to the Ukraine. As she prepared to go, she had the responsibility of preparing and meeting a budget for two years. Our church was asked to be Julie's sponsoring church. We enthusiastically agreed. As her sponsoring church we are to oversee her and her work. One of the responsibilities of oversight is to pray. Many of the church congregation have been praying for Julie for a period of years, so this aspect of oversight was already in place as others joined in the process. The Lord often provides those who pray with other opportunities to express their participation. One such opportunity is to provide funding. Our church, richly blessed financially, has been able to provide Julie with the following financial support: $10,000 as a one time contribution to her over and back fund, and $250.00 per month for her on going income. We can rejoice, with Julie, in God's abundant confirmation of His blessing upon this venture. In June, the target of $11,100 for the over and back fund and the need to raise $2,205 per month for on going income seemed quite daunting. But, Julie has seen the Lord supply. The over and back fund has been funded abundantly with 150% of the required funding. The on going income fund has been funded abundantly with 113% of the required funding. The abundance in the over and back fund is to be prorated over the twenty four month period so that her monthly income will increase by (approximately) $225.00. This largess is an example of what the Lord, who owns all the silver and gold, is able to do for one who obeys Him. On September 21, 2014, the morning church service was a commissioning service for Julie. During that service, we were reminded that all of God's people are: to make disciples, to bear fruit for eternity, and that we participate with Julie as she serves in the Ukraine. We, the people of God here at the Congregational Church in Wilmington, expectantly wait for the joys and blessings that will be poured on Julie and others through her during the next two years. Let us continue to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send laborers into the field. Missions Committee, Lavern Forrest, Marcia Armstrong, Louise Jenkins, Cheryl Diorio

The Congregational Church 220 Middlesex Ave Wilmington, MA 01887 Moved? Please update your address with the Church Office. Thank you. M u s t a r d S e e d N e w s l e t t e r Pastor: Russell Kent Secretary: Heidi Kumm Music Director: Lydia Okumura Sexton: Don Armstrong November Newsletter Deadline October 22, 2014 Office Hours Mon-Thurs - 9:00-3:00 pm Phone: 978-658-2264 Email: office@wilcong.org www.wilcong.org The Mustard Seed - A publication of The Congregational Church in Wilmington, 220 Middlesex Avenue, Wilmington, MA 01887. Editor: Heidi Kumm. The Mustard Seed is published monthly, excluding the month of August, to keep members and friends informed of programs of the church and to report news about the congregation. Deadline for copy: Third Wednesday of the month