Immanuel United Church of Christ

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What's Good About Good Friday?

4/19/2019

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Today is Good Friday --a time when we remember the willing suffering and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  You might ask, "What's good about that?"-- We believe that Christ's willing sacrifice upon the cross paid the penalty for any sins and failures in our life and offers us new life and hope. Good Friday is good because as the old preacher once said, "it's Friday but Sunday’s coming!" Just as the tragedy of the cross became the triumph of the resurrection, we too know that God can take our greatest tragedies and through His eternal power turn them into triumph.  On Easter we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord with special exuberance, but the impact of Easter and the resurrection of Christ touches us each and every day of our life.  We know that the depth of Christ’s love is without limit, for He suffered all that could be suffered for us.  In the cross and resurrection, we find forgiveness for sin and failure, and hope for new life now and through all eternity.  Our heart may rest assured that God’s peace is a lasting peace.  And as we face trials and tribulation, we can be confident that God can take the most poignant tragedies and turn it into the greatest triumph.  Even death does not have the final word, for we know that we will one day be re-united with those who love God along with our Lord in eternity.  God has taken the tragedy of the cross and turned it into the triumph of the resurrection.  Why? --Because of God's amazing love!  This living hope touches our life each day.  Whatever you are facing, remember God loves you and God's love is life-changing!  Peter reminds us of this hope:
 
 (Verse of the week)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  (1 Peter 1.3-9)
 
(Prayer of the week)
Almighty and Loving God, thank you your great love expressed by Jesus on the cross, and thank you for your forgiving grace.  Forgive me of wrongs and shortcomings of the past, and fill my life with your peace and hope.  May each day I know your incredible love.  And may my life touch others with love like a candle in the night.  Amen.
 
Blessings in Christ!—Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
Believe in God like you believe in the sunrise. Not because you can see it, but because you can see all it touches --C.S. Lewis
 
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/

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Palm Sunday

4/11/2019

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This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week.  Palm Sunday is a celebration of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, where people shouted praise and children laid palm branches along the path.  Jesus entered the city willingly even though he knew trouble and adversity and suffering awaited.  Jesus did it willingly to show his love for each of us.  Easter week reminds us more than anything else of the depth of God’s love –a love so great that Christ was willing to give his own life that we would know forgiveness and new life.  This is more than a religious truth, it is the promise of a personal relationship with a risen Lord.    In Christ we have the promise of love beyond measure, of forgiveness and new life, and the promise of a future filled with the hope that God has a plan and purpose for our lives.   Open your heart anew to the power of God’s life-changing love.
 
(Verse of the week)
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  (John 13.34, 35)
 
(Prayer of the week)
Almighty and Loving God, thank you for the privilege of opening my heart and life to your love and power.  Help me to discover anew your love and learn to trust you for strength.  Fill me with your hope and peace and joy, and may I touch others with your love.  Amen.
 
Blessings in Christ—Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
Do small things with great love—Mother Teresa
 
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/

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Trust--Joseph’s Amazing Rise from Prison to Palace

4/4/2019

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Joseph’s life is an amazing story.  We see him move from dreamer to leader, but not before first experiencing jealousy and betrayal as he moved from prison to palace.  If anyone had a reason to complain, it was Joseph.  He experienced evil returned for good, lies for integrity, but still God provided the path that opened to the fulfillment of the promise.  The truth is God was preparing Joseph for his moment of ministry.    On the way to our dreams, God often leads our path of destiny through challenge and adversity.  But in so doing God is also refining and purifying us so that when our moment of leadership comes, we are fully prepared and strengthen to face the trials and temptations of the moment.   Joseph would one day rise to a position of power second only to the Pharaoh of Egypt.   He would need integrity and wisdom that only adversity and challenge could provide.  When he finally met his brothers, who had betrayed him and sold him into slavery, he was able to see God’s plan and extend forgiveness and grace.  His words offer all of us a perspective of faith and wisdom:
 
(verse of the week)
“You intended it to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20, NIV).
 
(prayer)
Lord help me to trust you through challenge and adversity to bless my life and fulfill your plan for my life.  May I dream dreams that honor you and serve others.  May I somehow fulfill the destiny you have for me.   Help me to accept challenge and adversity as your way of refining me and strengthening me for the task ahead.  And may my goals align with your plan and my heart with your heart, through Christ my Lord, amen. 
 
(quote of the week)
 “We find everywhere in this world the traces of a revealed God and a hidden God; revealed enough to strengthen our faith, concealed enough to try our faith”-- Philip Schaff    

Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
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1526 South 18th Street

Lafayette, IN 47905

Phone 765-474-6496


Worship Services;

Contemporary Service 8:30am 

Coffee & Conversation 9:30am 

Sunday School & Adult Ed 9:45 am

Traditional Worship ​10:45am 
 
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No matter who you are, or where you

are on life's journey, YOU are

welcome here!