I’m a husband, dad, friend, and pastor. –S. I’m a wife, mom, friend, and homemaker. –M.
If we leave a worship service on any given Sunday, even the second service, with the attitude that we can now check “worship” off our to-do list, then the Church Order mandating 10 services per Sunday won’t help us!
As Jesus rides the donkey into Jerusalem, a crowd gathers—ordinary citizens waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna!” The crowds probably mean “Save us from the Romans." But Jesus has his eyes on a bigger enemy.
I don't see coming to the table more often as a threat to our historic and enduring emphasis on the centrality of Scripture. If anything, I’d suspect this may actually help the congregation more deeply comprehend and embrace the Word.
What’s stopping us from inviting Jesus to open our eyes and speak to our hearts by gathering around the Lord’s Supper table more frequently?
I see a church community as a place to experience the contagiousness of courage. Surrounded by fellow hikers on the path, we hear and see people cheering us on while we in turn do the same for others.
Our church (Trinity CRC) is considering changing to the model of having a Senior Pastor and an Associate Pastor. Do you use this model? If so, would you be willing to share job descriptions for BOTH positions?
Why do we sing in worship services? Why not simply use spoken words? For one thing, songs give us language to describe our experiences. We cling to them like life preservers when our faith is challenged.
I was once told that worship is like orange juice. Sunday worship is the concentrate but you need to add water to week experience it all week. Do you ever have days you don't want the concentrate?
What is it that drives people to do something out of the goodness of their heart with no expectation of reward?
This welcome statement challenges me to reconsider whether there are people I’ve labeled as beyond God’s reach and therefore not truly welcome to worship...
Hi Andrew,
Have you tried Rochester CRC to see if they still have some? network.crcna.org/church-libraries/psalter-hymnals-available
But why aren't you getting Lift Up Your Hearts??...
Hi! I think we can help you out. I'll send you an email.
~Stanley Groothof, Trinity CRC, Rock Valley IA
Just read this in the Dordt Voice that people might also appreciate: https://voice.dordt.edu/2019/06/07/on-civil-discourse. It asks what our first priority should be in conversations on divisive...
Bob captures why I sometimes feel more satisfaction after mowing the lawn or vacuuming than in preparing a message – I can see the rows in the grass or in the carpet! A file stored in my computer...
Trinity CRC Rock Valley (IA) held a blue Christmas service just this past Sunday evening. It involved a candle lighting and times of reflection. I provided a meditation on Mt 2:16-18 (Herod's...
Hi Bryan! Something the leadership at Trinity CRC often hears is how it's hard (impossible, actually) to know everyone in a large congregation. The newsletter will not enable us to know everyone;...
Trinity CRC's newsletter here in Rock Valley IA, called "News & Views," is published every other month. It typically includes:
:: a couple articles/reflections on Christian living in...
These aren't devotionals but our kids (and we as parents, too) have appreciated these over the years:
:: Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago (highly recommended)...
I, too, wish to express appreciation for you sharing your story. I pray it encourages others and empowers more people to seek help via medical professionals, friends, prayer, and whatever other...
Thanks, Colin! I don't address it in this series of articles, but sometime I'd like to blog about the CRC's preparatory forms and being "ready enough" to partake. In part 2 of this series, I talk...