Just what is hospitality? When we think about hospitality and the bible, we generally think about Martha and Mary hosting Jesus. And, we generally believe that Mary got it right. The truth is, neither one of them got it quite right! Why you might ask? It is helpful to remember the origin and definition of biblical hospitality.… Continue reading Hospitality: A Relationship of Giving and Receiving
Tag: practices
Gratitude: Giving Thanks Activites
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5: 17-18 Last week we talked about how hard praying without ceasing might seem… especially when we are tied to a particular form of prayer. This week, we are looking at gratitude…… Continue reading Gratitude: Giving Thanks Activites
Prayer: Tuning In Activities
Sunday we talked about the many ways to pray. Often, we are very good at talking, or making requests, but not so good at listening.Here are some ways to practice tuning in to God: As a family: Take a walk, a hike or just find a comfortable place to sit outdoors with the idea of… Continue reading Prayer: Tuning In Activities
It takes a little practice…
“Practicing the Presence” can sometimes seem like an elusive thing. Often, that is because we have certain expectations about the outcome… what the divine will look like in our lives. Other times, it is because there is no real formula for success. It is more about practice than perfection. For some of us that is… Continue reading It takes a little practice…
Multiply Groups Underway
The Multiply Small Groups are underway! If you are interested in checking out a group or the series of studies, you can still do so. Multiply was the brain child of Frances Chan and David Platt, authors of the book Multiply. The goals of the Multiply material, which are simple, practical, and Biblical, are to… Continue reading Multiply Groups Underway
Weekend of Service Update!
T-Shirts are here. If you are able, please stop by the church today (Thursday 8/20) or tomorrow (Friday 8/21) and pick up your T-shirts. Contributions toward the cost of the T-shirts is voluntary. We suggest a donation of $8.00 per T-shirt for adults and $5.00 for children. There are extra T-Shirts in case you forgot… Continue reading Weekend of Service Update!
Weekend of Service
Service – Fun – Fellowship August 21-22, 2015 Ready to put your faith to work? First Church is planning a Weekend of Service where individuals can experience a community service project for the first time. The projects are designed to be short and simple, and get us out into the community to meet our neighbors.… Continue reading Weekend of Service
For my friends at Harrisonburg First Church of the Brethren… the sermon we missed twice in a row.
Since I missed preaching this sermon twice in a row, I thought I would share a few important excerpts with you. It is my prayer that God will somehow use these thoughts on paper to prepare us for our spiritual journey during Lent. Blessings, Pastor Beth Today’s story is about John the Baptist whois also preparing… Continue reading For my friends at Harrisonburg First Church of the Brethren… the sermon we missed twice in a row.
sacrifices and offerings and tithes…oh my!
When our church began a sermon series a few Sundays ago, I shared about the significant correlation between a church’s spiritual health and the health of a church’s giving by using the example of giving as a spiritual thermometer. Our giving says something about our faith and our relationship with God. The story of the widow’s… Continue reading sacrifices and offerings and tithes…oh my!
the grace of giving
In May of 2000, I lost someone very dear to me… my stepfather, Daddy Bill. He died about three weeks before we returned from Italy. Daddy Bill was in a very real sense my father… he provided security, stability and love for me as a teenager desperately needing a father. One thing I loved about… Continue reading the grace of giving