Virtual Worship Extended into May

Last week we were informed by the Handke Center that, due to the Governor’s updated guidelines, we will not be able to meet there through at least May 4 which means that May 11 is the first Sunday we could meet together again for worship. Because the Governor’s guidelines also include entertainment and event facilities like the Elk River Theater and the Holiday Inn in Otsego (which has a large enough meeting room for our church), it looks very doubtful that we’ll be able to secure a venue for worship before May 11, and who knows, maybe longer.

In light of this reality, I want to encourage you to redouble your resolve to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ in every season of life. Whatever you think about this crisis, it’s way beyond our control and there’s nothing any of us can do about it. But what we can do is bow our lives before Jesus Christ and say, “Our hope is in you, our lives belong to you, and we’re gladly devoted to worshiping you and serving you and loving the lost no matter the circumstances. So, Jesus, help us to live as a kingdom of priests in this world right now."

Beloved, our gathered life together has been put on hold, but the Kingdom of God has not been put on hold.

Therefore, be encouraged in Christ and resolve to live as his children, as members of his body, and as a kingdom of priests in this world. In the coming days, Pastor Kevin and I will be posting some blogs and videos about how to live as disciples in this unique season of life, but for now I want to say this: it begins with resolve.

May the Lord richly bless us as we resolve to live for the glory of Christ in every season of life. God be with you all!

Comments

Worship Songs, October 15, 2017

We post these worship songs leading up to the worship service so that parents may listen to them in the house or in the car within the days leading up to the worship service. Our hope is that children will hear the songs prior to and it will prepare them to participate in worship on Sunday mornings. My Redeemers Love Hope Has Come I Will Glory In My Redeemer Blessed Be Your Name Here In Your Presence Your Glory Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest) -- Sermon Text: John 11:1-16 That the next generation will set their hope in God and not forget the works of God (Psalm 78:7).

Deacons - How They Serve and Strengthen the Church (Part 1)

One of the next important priorities for GCF is to establish deacons in the life of the church. On March 14, 2021 we were able to establish an elder team. Currently, we have a team of four elders overseeing the congregation of GCF. However, there is more work to be done. I have come to see that establishing an elder team was the bare minimum that needed to happen for GCF to survive. I believe GCF now needs to turn our attention to raising up a team of qualified and willing deacons to serve the congregation so that it will not only survive but thrive. I would like to begin a series of blogs on deacons to help us understand who they are and what they do in the life of the church. In this blog let me provide three reasons why I think deacons should be near our top priority. Number 1: It is Biblical. Paul instructs Timothy to install elders who will help him pastor the church. For whatever reason, it seems the churches in our circles treat the installmen...

The Secret of all Failure is our Failure in Secret Prayer

“We may be assured of this—the secret of all failure is our failure in secret prayer” (12). So writes the anonymous author of the classic little book on prayer entitled, The Kneeling Christian (Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids: 1971). He means that the reason we so often fall into sin or live in discouragement or fail to bear fruit is because we do not cling to God in Christ above all things. We do not diligently seek him or lean on him or plead with him or draw on his strength. We give ourselves to busyness over communion with God and in this way we seek to accomplish in our flesh what can only be accomplished in the power of the Spirit. Giving first place to what our dear author calls “secret prayer” is indeed a key to the Spirit-filled life but let’s be clear: prayer is not magic, rather, it’s a relationship. It’s not as if we simply have to file requests with God, being careful to use just the right words so that we can get him to respond as we wish. God is not a vendi...

Glory of Christ Fellowship

Search This Blog