A Thought for Labor Day

From the Internet I took this thought: Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long, and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world.

Have a wonderful week. Diana

The Good We Find in Loneliness

Jesus knew the value of being alone with God and nature. Recall the occasion when he sent the disciples on a boat trip to the other side of the lake? Then Matthew writes, "After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray"(Matthew 14:23). Being alone with God can help us focus on the mission God has for us. It can also enable us to find the stren gth needed to carry out the work God would have us do. Carl Sandburg once said "A person must get away now and then to experience loneliness. Only those who learn to live with loneliness can come to know themselves and life." God bless your week, Diana

The Bible in 50 Words

I enjoyed this writing by an unknown author:
God made.
Hope died.
Adam bit.
Love rose.
Noah arked.
Spirit flamed.
Abraham split.
Word spread.
Joseph ruled.
God remained.
Jacob fooled.
Bush talked.
Moses balked.
Pharaoh plagued.
People walked.
Sea divided.
Tablets guided.
Promise landed.
Saul freaked.
David peaked.
Prophets warned.
Jesus born.
God walked.
Love talked.
Anger crucified.

Blessings this week, Diana

Knowing God

Dear Bloggers,
The Stephen Ministry program is alive and well at Rockport. A Stephen Minister is a caring Christian friend who walks beside a hurting person. A Stephen Minister is a lay person who has received 50 hours of training in how to provide distinctively Christian care. We have 18 such people in our church. If you are in need of someone to talk to, call the church office and ask to speak to me about possibly receiving a Stephen Minister.
Sometimes the troubles and trials around us can seem overwhelming from our viewpoint, but as we grow closer to God and focus more on God's Kingdom, we begin to see that God is much larger than any of the problems we face, and we begin to understand that God is indeed able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Here is a prayer out of my daily Upper Room: Dear Lord, help us to see our world the way you see it. When troubles arise, help us to remember that you are greater than anything that may happen to us. Amen Have a wonderful week, Diana

Family of God

From Mark 3:35..."Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister." Obedience to God, therefore, makes us the family of God. Let us at Rockport try to fulfill the promise. Have a blessed week.
Diana

Communion at Home

Hi All,
I thought I would remind everyone that Stephen Ministers can give communion at home to anyone who is unable to get to church on Communion Sundays. All Stephen Ministers have gone through training by Rev. Gordon and have portable communion kits to administer the elements. These elements have been consecrated at the communion service each month just as is the communion served at the worship service. Call the church office if you would like this service. Communion is this next Sunday, August 1st at church. Gods Blessings, Diana

Stir Up a Hunger

So many wonderful things are going on at Rockport. We have free ice cream on Wednesday nights drawing big crowds, trail groups going on theatre trips, bike trips, book study group, and golf outings, and always outdoor worship each Sunday this summer. Spread the word and watch us grow.
At worship yesterday we had a "Ministry Through Music" sermon. Marty Miller sang beautiful worship songs and one song in particular touched me and I would like to repeat it:
Day into night
You can turn the dark into light
You can take a soul that was lost
And turn it around
Lord on my own
My heart can turn as hard as a stone
But You can make it tender again
With Your love
Chorus:
Stir up a hunger, stir up a hunger in my heart
Nothing will satisfy me, nothing else will do
Stir up a hunger
A hunger in my heart
Stir up a hunger in my heart for more of You
Have a blessed week. Diana