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Knowing Your “Why” in Worship

We look forward to sharing in Worship with you this morning. Our guest speaker, Mackenzie Smith, will share the sermon, “Knowing Your ‘Why’ in Worship”. We will be reading from Deuteronomy 6:1-9, 12, 23-25; and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 139:1-4, 7-12.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall lead me,
And your right hand shall hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
And the light around me become night,”
Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day,
For darkness is as light to you.

Bulletin July 23, 2023Download
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Expected Grace

“Expected Grace” – Rev. Benjamin Wines

I will extol You, my God and King,
And bless Your Name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And praise Your Name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall laud Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of Your Majesty,
And on Your wondrous works, I will meditate.
The might of Your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall celebrate the fame of Your abundant goodness,
And shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. – Psalm 145:1-7

We look forward to joining you in Worship – either in person or via livestream – starting at 11:00AM. Rev. Benjamin Wines brings today’s message, “Expected Grace”, as part of our continued study of Jonah. We will be reading from Jonah 3:10-4:11.

Questions for Further Reflection:
What is God’s grace?
How does it comfort you?
How does it challenge you?

Bulletin for July 16, 2023Download
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Mary and Martha

Brothers and sisters,

At this week’s Super Saturday Adventure, we’re going to be talking with the children about the story of Mary and Martha. It’s a pretty simple story on its face. Jesus and his disciples make their way to a village where they are first welcomed by Martha. She brings the disciples into her home and there they meet Mary, who sits at the feet of Jesus and listens to him. Martha, however, was engaged with the many different tasks involved with hosting people in the ancient world — food, drink, overnight accommodations, etc. Frustrated, she came to Jesus and asked him to tell Mary to come and help her. But Jesus replied that Mary had chosen “the better part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).

Based on that passage, Martha tends to get a bad rap. The more traditional interpretation tends to go something along the lines of, “Mary was right and Martha was wrong. Mary loved Jesus more than Martha. Mary was wiser than Martha, thus Martha needed to be corrected. Don’t be like Martha.” And that interpretation doesn’t sit well with me. Jesus and his disciples depended on people bringing them into their homes in order for them to offer their ministry to folks. And right there at the beginning of this passage, Luke says that Martha “welcomed him.” She believed in his ministry enough to be willing to open her home to him and provide for his disciples. And, yes, she does have her moment of frustration, but the tone of Jesus’ response implies something more along the lines of, “Martha, the things you’re doing are not wrong. But more than anything else, I want to be able to spend time with you.”

At this Saturday’s adventure, we’re going to teach the kids more about that second interpretation. We’re going to talk to them about the different ways that Mary and Martha showed their love for Jesus. And we’re going to remind them that each and every one of us has unique gifts and talents that have been given to us by God. Those talents help us reach out to others, help us care for other people, help us connect with God, and help us become better disciples.

So, if you have not signed up to help on Saturday morning, you can still come by and offer your gifts and talents to help care for these children. You can help teach them about the love God has for each of them. You can come and teach them that the folks at Hope Valley Baptist Church love and care about them too. Or, if you can’t come by, you can still pray for the kids, their parents, our volunteers, and this ministry in general.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben

P.S. Martha appears in John’s gospel as well and reminds us of her faith in Jesus. After Lazarus died, she met Jesus on his way into Bethany and they had a conversation about resurrection. In that conversation, Martha identified Jesus as “the Son of God.” The only other person to say that so plainly in John’s gospel was John the Baptist.

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Wait, What?

“Wait, What?” – Rev. Benjamin Wines

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
For my hope is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress;
I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
My mighty rock, my refuge is in God.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion;
In the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.
Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery;
If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this;
That power belongs to God,
And steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.
For you repay to all according to their work.

We invite you to join us for Morning Worship, starting at 11:00AM. Rev. Benjamin Wines continues our study of Jonah and will be bringing the message, “Wait, What?”. We will be reading from Jonah 3:1-10, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 65.

Bulletin for July 9Download
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Doing the Right Thing

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
And my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;
My foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
But I trusted in your steadfast love;
My heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
Because he has dealt bountifully with me. from Psalm 13

We invite you to join us for Morning Worship, starting at 10:00AM – both online and in-person. Today’s Call to Worship comes from Psalm 13. Our sermon text comes from Jonah 1:1-17. Rev. Benjamin Wines brings the sermon entitled, “Doing the Right Thing”.

Questions for Further Reflection:
The story of Jonah is about how we respond to a difficult call from God.
How does Jonah respond when faced with adversity?
How do the sailors respond? How can we meet difficult calls faithfully?

Bulletin July 2, 2023Download
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A Quick Reminder

“A Quick Reminder” – Rev. Benjamin Wines

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
For I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;
Save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; be gracious to me, O Lord,
For to you do I cry all day long.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
For to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
Abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth;
Give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
And I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me. – From Psalm 86

We invite you to join us for Morning Worship, starting at 10:00AM – both online and in-person. Today’s Call to Worship comes from Psalm 86. Our sermon text comes from 2 John 1:1-13.

Questions for Further Reflection:
Augustine, one of the earliest and most influential Christian theologians, once asked, “What kind of face hath love?” Ponder that question considering what John says. What kind of “face” does love have? Do others see the love of God through your actions?

Bulletin for June 25, 2023Download
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The People of God

“The People of God” – Rev. Benjamin Wines

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion;
And to you shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come.
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
You forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom you choose
And bring near to live in your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
Your holy temple.
By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
O God of our salvation;
You are the hope of all the ends of the earth
And of the farthest seas. from Psalm 65

We look forward to sharing in Worship with you – either in person or via livestream. Our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 65, and we will be reading from Joel 2:21-32.

Questions for Further Reflection:

In this passage, all of Creation is restored and the spirit of God is poured out on all people.

  • How does this speak to your understanding of God’s love?
  • Where can we seek inspiration from the Lord?
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A Call to Worship

“A Call to Worship” – Rev. Benjamin Wines

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
According to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
And done what is evil in your sight.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
And do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
And sustain in me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
And sinners will return to you.
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

We hope that you will join us for Worship at 11:00AM, either in-person or via livestream. Today, Rev. Benjamin Wines brings the message entitled, “A Call to Worship”. We will be reading from Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, with our Call to Worship coming from Psalm 51.

Questions for Further Reflection:
The prophet Joel is calling the people of Judah back to their source of life, God.

  • How does God speak to you during worship?
  • In what ways does God fill you back up?
Bulletin June 11 2023Download
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“Words of Challenge and Hope”

“Words of Challenge and Hope” – Rev. Benjamin Wines

O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark,

To silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

The moon and the stars that you have established;

What are human beings that you are mindful of them,

Mortals that you care for them?

Yet you have made them a little lower than the angels,

And crowned them with glory and honor.

You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;

You have put all things under their feet,

All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,

The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,

Whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! – from Psalm 8

We invite you to join us for Worship on Sunday – either in-person, or via live-stream. We will be reading from Matthew 28:16-20. Our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 8. Rev. Benjamin Wines will being the sermon, “Words of Challenge and Hope”.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus gives the Great Commission to his disciples—even those that doubt what they’re seeing.

  • Why is that important?
  • How does that fact challenge your understanding of Jesus?
  • How can it give you hope?
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What’s His Name?

Brothers and sisters,

I wanted to give you all a little insight into our up-coming summer sermon series. At this point in the church calendar, we’ve got a huge swath of time in which there are no major Christian holidays. That means that we’ve got a little more freedom over the next few months to explore some really interesting parts of the Bible. This is the time of year when we get to experiment some with different ideas, different passages, different books and authors.

So, as part of that, we’ll be starting a sermon series on June 11 entitled, “What’s His Name?” Now, writing the name of the series down doesn’t quite do it justice. To really understand the title, you need to imagine you’re having a conversation with a friend or a family member. As you’re talking, you say something about someone you know or know of — a friend of a friend, an old coworker, a famous person—but you can’t quite remember their name. So, you sit there, snap your fingers repeatedly, and say, “Oh, what’s his name? What’s his name?!” That’s the title of the sermon series — the snapping of the fingers, the feeling that you know this, and the question, “What’s His Name?”

For this sermon series, we’re going to be looking at more obscure books of the Bible or more obscure passages from famous books (we’ll end with a passage from Luke’s gospel that almost never gets preached on). The idea behind this is pretty simple—there are some really interesting texts that don’t often get preached on. In prepping for this series, I ran across some interesting numbers related to which parts of the Bible get preached on and which ones don’t. These numbers are based on the passages chosen by the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). For those that may not know, the RCL is a three-year cycle of verses that cover most of the Bible. In other words, if you read through every passage selected by the lectionary, you’ll read most of the more famous passages from the Bible. In that sense, it can be a wonderful tool!

However, the RCL has some glaring gaps in the passages it chooses, with some books of the Bible being completely ignored (books like Nahum or Jude). To give you the numbers, the lectionary covers 72% of the entire New Testament. But when you break that down, the lectionary covers 90% of all four Gospels and only 54% of the non-Gospel parts of the New Testament. But, are you ready for the most glaring gap in the lectionary? If you exclude the times the RCL recommends one of the Psalms, the lectionary only covers 13.5% of the Old Testament. 13.5% of all those sacred scriptures! This summer, I hope we can remedy that. And I hope that by looking at some of these more obscure passages, you’ll be inspired to go and read some of the books of the Bible that maybe you haven’t thought of before!

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben