|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Friends,
I hope and trust that you have experienced the Lord’s fellowship and grace this past week! I take this opportunity to encourage you to give fresh consideration to the ways that you “practice” your faith. I offer this encouragement in view of the approaching Lenten season. Lent has historically been a time when disciples of Jesus step aside from the regular routines of life and take stock of one’s walk with Jesus. Lent serves as a fitting time to ask questions like, “How closely do I walk with Jesus? What fruit does my faith produce that points to the presence of Jesus, and reflects my love for him as my Savior and my Lord? Do I long to be with the Lord in prayer? Do I thirst for the scriptures on a consistent basis, where I may encounter the risen Lord? Does my life demonstrate a level of humility and healthy self-estimation that make room for Jesus to dwell in me, and for his influence over my life to grow?”
About the importance of practice, Dallas Willard writes, “We want to be good, but we are prepared, ready, to do evil - should circumstances require it. And, of course, they do ‘require’ it, with deadening regularity. As Jesus himself indicated, those who practice sin actually are slaves of it (John 8:34). Ordinary life confirms it. How consistently do you find people who routinely succeed in doing the good and avoiding the evil they intend?” Lent is a good time for me to ask that question of myself: how consistently do I find myself doing the right thing and avoiding evil? Willard goes on to make the case for “practicing Jesus’ words, as his apprentices.” [Dallas Willard, The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’ Essential Teachings on Discipleship] This Lent, consider taking up one (or more!) of the spiritual disciplines that help us practice Jesus’ words: prayer, solitude, fasting, scripture reading, examination of my heart, worship, service. Make plans to use the Union Church family’s Lenten Devotional that will be accessible via the MyChurch app to help you with a daily Lenten rhythm. (Please note…it’s not too late to contribute to that devotional! Click here for more information.) Let this Lent be a season for reorienting your faith practices, a realignment of your walk with Jesus.
This Sunday, we will consider Jesus’ call of Peter to a life of discipleship. Join us for worship in person or online and hear Peter’s testimony about his encounter with Jesus. That encounter led him to leave the life he knew, the comfort and safety of his fishing nets, and boats, and his daily routine as a fisherman. The Gospels recount Peter’s testimony so that we will hear Jesus’ words with clarity today, “Come, follow me!”
Then, next week, we will kick off the Lenten season in earnest on Ash Wednesday, February 17th, at 7 p.m. Mt. Pisgah will be hosting the Ash Wednesday service this year. You may come in person to Mt. Pisgah for worship and celebration of the Lord’s Table, or join us online via the Mt. Pisgah YouTube channel. If you plan to worship online, be sure to prepare yourself for the Lord’s Table by gathering a piece of bread and cup of juice before you sit down for worship.
See you Sunday in worship!
Peace,
Tom
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
It may be hard to believe, but Ash Wednesday is one month away. Many of us may still have Christmas decorations up, and yet we are already beginning to turn our attentions to Lent.
This year, we are asking for volunteers to help with our reflection and worship during such an important time in the church. On the link below, you will find a list of all of the daily Scripture readings from the Lenten lectionary. And here is where we need your help, family.
We are asking you to consider joining your brothers and sisters in reverence of this holy season. Simply select a day (or more) to volunteer to create a short reflection or devotion that will be shared with the entire Union Church family, via the website. These reflections can be created by an individual, as a couple, as a family, or as a household (or any combination).
Reflections need not be long or too involved. A short paragraph will do just fine. These should be 10 minute devotions that can easily fit into any busy schedule, and join Union Church together worship from anywhere. If you do not feel you can express yourself through your own words, think about how the daily reading resonates within you. You may be led to share a poem, a passage from a book, or even a song that shares a theme with that particular piece of Scripture.
We have all been blessed with unique abilities with which to worship the Lord. This Lenten season, we are hoping that you will share yours with your Union Church family.
Click the sign up link to select a date and complete your reflection of the scripture that corresponds. Completed Devotionals should be returned to Kellyn von Arx (uym@unionpresbychurch.org)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Currently a 412 Volunteer delivers produce every Sunday that needs to be used before it spoils. Peppers, pineapple, potatoes, apples, onions, cucumbers, mint, cilantro, and mangos have been in our delivery this month. We are encouraging our members to take this and share it with family, friends, and neighbors, especially those that may be food insecure. Our second Tuesday of the month Food Pantry currently serves 15-20 families that depend on our non perishable canned and boxed donations from the Crafton Giant Eagle. The addition of fresh produce is just an added benefit that we can offer our families. Recent donations from Scott Family Farm in Oakdale of fresh eggs and ground meat have been an extra bonus. The produce comes in large boxes and needs to be separated in bags. Anyone wishing to help with the delivery and bagging the produce is welcome to help. The donation usually comes between ten and noon on Sunday. The weekly donation is currently the best way to ensure food for Union’s food pantry, which is only once a month.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOCATION
Union Church of Robinson Twp.
6165 Steubenville Pike
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
Ph: 4127871818
Email: Click Here
|
Services
Sunday Morning Combined Worship is at 11 a.m.
|
|
|
|