Immanuel United Church of Christ

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Autumn Blessings

9/24/2020

1 Comment

 
  As a person that loves warmer temperatures, the bright sun, and all the grandeur of summer, I tend to hold on tenaciously to summer.  But there’s a time when the brisk cool breeze, smell of wood burning in the fireplace, and colors of the autumn leaves, invariably win me over.  I have a cup of hot cider or pumpkin spiced latte, sit back and think to myself, autumn is here, it’s time to enjoy the beauty of the season before the colors fade to winter.   I enjoy the fall festivals and the roadside crafts, and my favorite, a relaxing drive down a country road that winds through fields with famers harvesting crops and forests with trees bundled in fall colors.  
  It reminds me that each season of the year has its special beauty and its own unique blessings.  It also reminds me that each season of life has its special blessings to be enjoyed.  More often than not we tend to look to the past or press to the future and forget to simply be present in the moment and enjoy God’s many blessings.   I invite you to lean into the moment and enjoy the beauty of creation, the warmth of family, and the blessings of hearth and home.  Make every day a special day and give thanks to God for His manifold blessings.  God is good.  All the time.
 
(scripture of the week)
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to reap,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build up, 
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
  a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 
a time to gain and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away, 
a time to rend and a time to sew, a time to keep silence and a time to speak, 
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 
What do workers gain from their toil?  I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.  He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11)
 
(prayer of the week)
Lord, help us to embrace each season of life and live each day to the fullest.  Help us to thank you for the blessings and to lean into your strength for the battles.  Thank you for the gift of life itself, and help us to live each day as a gift given to others and to you, in your name, Amen.
 
Blessings in Christ–Pastor TJ
 
God's grace, unsought and unearned, blows through my life,
and all I need to do is raise my sails
to catch the full wind- Catharine of Siena
 
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

1 Comment

Reach for the Stars

9/17/2020

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Reach for the stars and keep your feet on the ground -- it is a great adage and a great goal to start off a new fall season.  Paul challenges us to be rooted and established in Christ's love and that relationship will help us grow strong and become fruitful in all we do.  We can keep growing in the love of Christ through all of life, and have confidence that our relationship to God gives us a firm foundation to use our gifts and talents to pursue great dreams that serve others and honor God.  Reach for the stars and keep your feet on the ground --and hold on to the hand of the Lord who loves you and will be with you always.  Open your heart to God's awesome love...and trust God to take you places you never even dreamed of... then fasten your seat belt for all the thrills, adventure, and joy of a lifetime! 
 
(Verse of the week)
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. (Ephesians 3.17,18)
 
(Prayer of the week)
Gracious God, thank you for the gift of this day and the gift of life itself.  Thank you for the gifts and talents you have given me.  Help me to keep my life grounded in your love and help me reach for the stars and be all that I can be.  In everything I do may others see your love and grace in me. Amen.       
 
Open your heart to God’s amazing love!–Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
O God, my Father, don't let me die without having really lived and really loved --John Powell
 
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

0 Comments

Peace in the Storm

9/10/2020

0 Comments

 
We watched the interesting phenomena of the eye of a hurricane again with Hurricane Laura recently. One of the most interesting natural phenomena is the eye of the hurricane.  In the middle of the most devastating storm, with deadly winds and pounding waves is the eye of the hurricane, which has blue skies and a peaceful breeze where birds often find shelter.  God has promised that we too, can find a calm peace in the midst of the most turbulent storms of life, if our hearts and lives are centered on Christ.  May God's Spirit fill you with a peace that transcends all understanding and refreshes your heart and life.
 
(Verse of the week)
Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14.27)
 
(Prayer of the week)
Almighty God of power and love, thank you for the gift of life and even the challenges of life.  Fill me anew with your Spirit of peace and may I find quiet rest in you even in the midst of the challenges of life.  May your peace so touch me that others will be touched by your presence and peace in me.  Amen.
 
Open your heart to God’s amazing love!—Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
Be the change you want to see in the world-Ghandi
 
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

0 Comments

Word

9/3/2020

0 Comments

 
“For you have set my heart free”—what beautiful words!  So often people think that God’s Word is a list of “don’t’s.”  But God’s Word is a river of life!  It is truth that sets our heart free, because it guides us to the One who loves us and has a plan and purpose for our lives.  It is not the dry, dusty pathway of heartless rules, but a path of life and truth and fulfillment and love.  It is the pathway of Christ.  “I run in the paths of your commands, for you have set me heart free.”  Let go of the chains of guilt and shame and failure and sorrow and be set free by the life and love of Christ.  Discover God’s promises for your life.  Trust God!  God loves you!
 
(scripture of the week)
I have chosen the way of truth;
  I have set my heart on your laws.
I hold fast to your statutes, O Lord;
  Do not let me be put to shame.
I run in the paths of your commands,
  For you have set my heart free. (Psalm 119.30-32)
 
(Prayer of the week)
Almighty and Loving God, thank you for your great love and the way you forgive us and give us new life.   Strengthen and guide me with your Word.  Open my heart and mind to trust in your plan and purpose for my life.  Open my life to your power that touches and transforms life.  Renew within me a fresh appreciation and confident hope in your love and plan and purpose for my life.  Let your love burn within me that others may see you in all I do.   Amen.
 
Blessings in Christ! –Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by those who were inspired. I study the Bible daily—Sir Isaac Newton
 
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

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1526 South 18th Street

Lafayette, IN 47905

Phone 765-474-6496



Worship Services;

Summer Worship Begins 
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Sunday June 4


Worship Service 9:30am 

Coffee & Conversation 10:30am 

Sunday School & Adult Ed 10:30 am

 
 
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