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Monthly Archives

August 2018

2018-08-26 Message- Leaving So Soon. The Tough Get Going.

By Sermons

(We apologize for a few audio glitches in this digital recording.)

Hello.
You’ve heard the adage, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” This expression may have been coined by Joseph P. Kennedy (1888-1969), father of the late American president John F. Kennedy. Strong people will hear this as a motivation to work harder and smarter when facing a difficult challenge. Another way of parsing the sentence is that you literally leave, you  “get going”, meaning you abandon the struggle and remove yourself from the predicament in which you find yourself. Of course, we prefer the former view, but Jesus’ disciples preferred the latter. Why?

The message this week is again found in John 6 with Jesus saying he is the Bread of Life, that we need to be nourished on him and his words. The disciples found Jesus’ words offensive. They grumbled. Complained. They thought it was too hard to follow him (and it is!). And the disciple of Jesus realizes while it is not easy, following is the “only” best way to lead your life. Hard to forgive. Hard to love. It’s hard to do the right thing sometimes. We could stop complaining and grumbling. While the “narrow way” feels tight and constricting, it is actually freeing and filled with possibilities, as Peter exclaimed, “Lord, where else would we go to find eternal life?”

On Sunday, August 26, we worshiped, welcomed new elders and deacon  and became  better equipped for the journey ahead.

Life can be tough. We may find lots of reasons to complain. But God invites us to remain for the blessings that come from faithful work and not leave too soon. Jesus makes a way where there is no way. Thank you for connecting.

Sincerely,
Pastor Kevin

2018-08-26 Message for Kids- When You Take A Stand, You Are Not Alone

By Sermons

Where do you stand?: With Jesus you do not stand alone!

When you see someone bullied, you have three choices:

Join In (you become a bully)

Ignore it and walk away (condone the bully behaviors)

Stand up for them, tell an adult (Change a life, bully learns, victim helped)

God showed us in creation that: Difference, Disability, Diversity are to be welcomed. There is no reason or room for bullying. Take a stand, you will not stand alone!

2018-08-19 Message- God’s Walking Words- Our Miphibosheth Mission

By Sermons

Image of footsteps in the sand. God’s walking words to us about our Miphibosheth Mission in the community.

Our “Jesus is the bread of Life” theme continues from John 6 in Pastor Kevin’s message, that connects “God’s Walking Words” from Ephesians 5:15-20 to an amazing story about a man named Mephibosheth. (Yes, its a bit hard to pronounce and even more difficult to spell!) It’s all about King David and his mission to show kindness to everyone, especially those considered to be unlovely. There are Mephibosheth’s in our lives, and what we will discover, we are all Mephibosheth’s! You will want to hear the good news about Jesus’ loving us all and inviting all of us to hear God’s walking words and join together in our Mephibosheth mission.

Cold Spring Presbyterian Church has always been and remains open to people of any faith, or no faith at all, because we believe God’s spiritual energy is accessible through Christ to everyone. Get more out of your life, and gain resources to help you put more into your life!

Ephesians 5:15-20 New International Version (NIV)

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Samuel 9 New International Version (NIV)

David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “At your service,” he replied. The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.” “Where is he?” the king asked. Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel. When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”

Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.

2018-08-19 Message for Kids- You are as unique as a Starfish. Each one helping one.

By Sermons

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a girl about your age picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the girl, he asked, “What are you doing?” She replied, “I’m throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” The man said, “There are hundreds of starfish on the miles of beach ahead, you can’t make a difference.”

After listening politely, the girl bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…” I made a difference for that one. Now, will you join me to save one more.”

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Let’s consider the worth of one another more highly than ourselves. The ancient scholars, the wisemen, followed the star to find Jesus. Let’s consider the starfish on our beaches, in our lives, that we can help get to a safer place.

2018-08-12 Music- Limestone Praise Chimes Handbell Choir

By Music, Sermons

Limestone Handbell Choir

Prelude: “Come, Now is the Time to Worship” arr. by Peggy Bettcher

Anthem “10,00 Reasons” arr. by Arnold Sherman

Postlude “When the Saints Go Marching In” arr. by Lloyd Larson

The Limestone Praise Chimes, under the direction of Linda Wardell, is in its eighth year at Limestone Presbyterian Church. They enjoy learning the wide variety of handbell music, from hymn arrangements to contemporary Christian music arrangements to original compositions. They play at the traditional and contemporary services monthly. Their annual summer retreat in Cape May always culminates in playing here. We are delighted to welcome them back this Summer!

2018-08-05 Message- Q+A with Jesus. Ask for clearer vision

By Sermons

 The Gospel lesson (John 6:24-35) continues the image of Jesus as the bread of life. This is particularly fitting for communion Sunday when we gather at the table.

Sometimes our vision is obscured. In the Gospel story, Jesus has compassion on the people because they keep looking for physical bread (what they can see), and he says “I have so much more to give!” They just don’t see it. What do you ask Jesus for? Is your vision and faith prompting you to ask for something beyond yourself? How can God use you to bless others. Feed the hungry. Quench the thirst. And remember God wants to do way beyond our wildest imaginations!

2018-08-05 Message for Kids- Clean Your Glasses To See God At Work

By Sermons, Uncategorized

Here is an eye chart. Read the row. Nice. You see pretty good. Try these goggles on! New swim goggles. Tell me what you see. Oh, not so much? Why is that? There is something on the lens obscuring your vision. Sorry. Take this lens cleaner and let’s clean them up. Now you can see clearly. You know, God is doing all sorts of great things all around us. But some of the things God does can’t be easily seen. Love. Forgiveness. Hope. Peace. Our vision is clouded, our eyes of faith are obscured. What we need is a spiritual lens cleaning cloth. Here’s a lens cleaning cloth for your glasses. The spiritual cloth is made from hope and faith. Remember to begin your day with clear vision so we see God’s love in action right in fron to you.