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Prayer is the heart of Worship

Posted by Kris Bartelt on July 10, 2017

Pray–

Prayer is at the heart of Worship. Prayer may be spoken, sung, offered in silence, or enacted. Prayer grows out of the center of a person’s life in response to the spirit. Prayer is shaped by the Word of God in Scripture and by the life of the community of faith. In prayer we respond to God in many ways.

Adoration = praise God for who God is
Thanksgiving = we express gratitude for what God has done.
Confession = we acknowledge repentance for what we have done and left undone.
Supplication = we plead for ourselves and the gathered community
Intercession = we plead for others, on behalf of others, and for the whole world
Self-dedication = we offer ourselves to the purpose and glory of God.

If you are not sure where to start in prayer, pray the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, pray the Lord’s Prayer.  It has been referred to as the perfect prayer. It has all the above-mentioned pieces.

Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name,  (adoration)
thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (self-dedication)
Give us this day, our daily bread. (supplication)
And forgive us our sins (confession)
as we forgive those who sin against us (intercession)
For thine is the kingdom and the power and glory forever. Amen. (thanksgiving)

Matthew 6:9–13, Luke 11:2-4

Thank You for Your Support of the Feed My Starving Children MobilePack

Posted by jenniferz on April 3, 2017

Feed My Starving Children MobilePack Event – April 1, 2017

The community wide MobilePack event  was a grand success.  15 churches in Fond du Lac stood together in raising funds and packing food for the poor in far away places.  Thank you to all who participated either with your prayers, donations, or helping hands.  God has shown His faithfulness through you.  Thank you.  Final numbers: 221,832 meals packed, (our goal was 200,000) by 945 volunteers.  That will feed 607 children for a whole year.  Our fund raising goal was $44,000 and over $50,000 came in. You heard God’s call and responded in an overwhelming way. We praise God for this. Thank you!

You can see a great video from The Reporter here: http://www.fdlreporter.com/videos/news/2017/04/02/200000-meals-bagged-starving-children/99927834/

Watch for the 2018 MobilePack Event details coming soon!!

 

 

 

 

Forgiveness: A Lenten Study

Posted by Deb Zorn on February 15, 2017

Forgiveness:  A Lenten Study

 

Using the book and study guide by Marjorie J. Thompson (Author of “Soul-Feast”) we will walk through the experience of forgiveness together. Far too often we think of forgiveness as an impossible act of forcing ourselves to feel things that we are not able to feel. Other times we see forgiveness as something we wish we could do, but cannot see how it can make a practical difference in our lives. Through this brief study we will see how forgiveness can be a gift we give to ourselves: to release the control that past events and hurts have over how we think and feel today.

 

This study will be using the book “Forgiveness: A Lenten Study” which is available through the church office for $9.00.  You do not have to have read the book to participate in the class, however, those who read the book will appreciate, in greater detail, how forgiveness functions in our lives to heal our hearts and free us from the past.

 

The class will be led by Pastor Jack following our Lenten Observances.

 

03/01/2017 7:30-8:00 Beginnings: A Kinship Appeal
03/08/2017 7:00 – 8:00 Self-Examination: Prelude to Forgiveness
03/15/2017 7:00 – 8:00 Engaging the Inner Struggle
03/22/2017 7:00 – 8:00 Repentance: Getting a New Mind
03/29/2017 7:00 – 8:00 Forgiving: Embracing Freedom
04/05/2017 7:00 – 8:00 Beginning Again: Reconciliation and Restoration

Song Wrkshps

Posted by Kris Bartelt on February 9, 2017

NEW SONG WORKSHOP I UPDATE

Our first New Song Workshop was help Sunday, January 29th with great success! 36 people attended. The goals of the workshop were threefold: 1) develop a greater understanding of why music holds such personal meaning for us, 2) develop a favorite-music profile for the church, and 3) begin constructing the lyrics for a song that encapsulates our LMPC journey over the past two years. To create a framework for discussion, we used Jeff Todd Titon’s Music Culture Model (from World’s of Music). This model is on display in the Fellowship Hall, inviting YOU to add your thoughts to our church-wide discussion. We also revealed the results of our favorite-song survey. A total of 104 people responded to the survey. 52 people chose a favorite song in the style of a pre-1900s hymn. 32 people chose a favorite song in the style of a song from 1900-1980s, and 17 people chose a song in the style of music from 1990s to the present. The next phase of our workshop will be held during the Sunday School hour on February 26th. We will choose a song-structure that can be played equally well with organ and our Praise Band. We will also flesh out more details of our song, and begin putting it to music. Once again, this workshop will be presented in a way that anyone can participate, not just musicians. Don’t worry if you missed the first workshop—you can still join us on February 26th. This is a COLLECTIVE effort to shape the future of who we want to be as a congregation, and we want YOU to be a part of that. And, of course, thanks to everyone who attended the first workshop and shared your inspiring stories!

Kristina Arellano
Facilitator

Sing a New Song Part 2, February 26, 2017
In Deuteronomy 27, right before Israel is about to enter the Promised Land (after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years), Moses reminds Israel about the covenant that God made with them on Mt. Sinai (back in Exodus). He reminds them how God took them out of a period of suffering and slavery, a very terrible period in the history of Israel, and freed them. However, Israel was quick to forget God’s commands and His salvation (which is why they ended up wandering for 40 years). So Moses reminds Israel that if they follow after God, loving Him, and keeping His commands, that God will bless them as they enter the Promised Land. Even though they are entering the Promised Land, the work is not done yet. They still have a lot to accomplish, but God will stand by them and help them on their journey, and as long they don’t stray away from Him, God will bless them, but if they do stray away from God, they will end up experiencing a lot of suffering all over again. So Moses tells them in Deut. 27:2-3 “2 When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. 3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.”

These large stones were set up to remind Israel about this covenant from Mt. Sinai. So in our church, we’re not going to use large stones. Instead we are going to write a song that will help us remember how our church went through a dark time. This song is going to represent our covenant with God. We still have a lot of work to do as a church, but God will help us on our journey as long as we follow Him.

And then in Ephesians 5:8, 15-20
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is…18b Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

So our church went through a dark period, but we have come out of the darkness, and must remember to make wise choices, being filled with the Spirit. God commands us that rather than living foolishly, we should spend our time “19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So our song that we are going to compose will help us to remember to make wise choices, and to live in a spirit of thankfulness that God never left our side during this experience.

 

Kristina Arellano
Facilitator

Souper Bowl of Caring-Raised $575 for the Fond du Lac Food Pantry

Posted by jenniferz on January 30, 2017

On Sunday, February 5th, millions Americans tuned in to the Super Bowl football game.  There were parties with abundant food, friendship and fellowship. At the same time, there were people worrying about staying warm, finding shelter and a warm meal.  We joined young people around the country as they demonstrated God’s love by loving their neighbors through the Souper Bowl of Caring.  Since the Souper Bowl of Caring began in 1990, more than $110 million has been raised for local charities across the country through Souper Bowl of Caring. It has become a powerful movement that is transforming the time around the Big Game into the nation’s largest celebration of giving and serving.   Thank you for your support  of their efforts.     This year we donated 123 food items and $575 to the Fond du Lac Food Pantry.

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