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My life cup overflows, Filled with the abundance Of God’s love and blessings And grace unmerited. The blessings of good health, A home filled with comfort An abundance of love Of friends and family Meaningful ministry With opportunities To reach out to others With God’s goodness and grace Secure in God’s great love That brings peace in my soul Quiet and solitude All help to make me whole. May the light of Jesus Shine anew in my heart Rekindled, rejoicing, This holy Christmas day
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Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name. Psalm 100:4 The month of November ushers in the season of thanksgiving. The hymn writer calls us to count our many blessings, and when we do that, we indeed are often surprised at what God has done for us, and is doing in the midst of our lives. The psalmist invites us to enter into God’s gates, into our worship sanctuary, with thanksgiving. Many of us come to this place of worship weighted down with the struggles, the trials, and the tribulations that face us on our life’s journey. We are challenged to focus our minds and thoughts on the things of God because of the burdens we carry. God invites us to take our burdens to the cross and leave them there. God does not promise to keep us from experiencing difficulties but he does promise to be with us as we go through life’s struggles. And God puts people in our lives who can encourage us and lend a helping hand from time to time. Sometimes we will be on the receiving end of this help and at other times we will be the one reaching out to help our friend or neighbor. As we pause to count our blessings, let us also ask God to show us ways in which we can bring blessings to others. It is by being a blessing that we bless God. Out in the highways and byways of life, many are weary and sad . . . Make me a blessing, make me a blessing, Out of my life may Jesus shine . . . That is my prayer in this season of Thanksgiving. Will you make it yours? Joyously, Pastor Joyce Surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord,
plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Jeremiah 29:11 What a joy it is to look forward to welcoming four new members into a covenant relationship with us at Tabernacle Baptist Church. We have been blessed as these people have joined us for worship and willingly shared their gifts and talents with us. The welcoming of new members gives us a future with hope. May we continue to grow in God's grace as we worship and serve together. As a community of faith we rejoice with one another at the birth of a new baby in the Sylvia family. And as a community of faith we grieve with one another at the death of loved ones. We rejoice in the memories of those who have gone on before us, confident in the faith that assures eternal life. We lift up in prayer those in our church family who are faced with decisions about terminal life care, continuing to trust in God's plans for our welfare. We rejoice in hope and pray for discernment for those exploring God's call to serve in new ways. We willingly say, Here I am, Lord. May we just as willingly respond to God's calls to us for service. Where is God calling you to serve? Serving with grace, Pastor Joyce June 2014
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Matthew 19:14 We at Tabernacle Baptist Church are intentional about including our children and youth as an integral part of our worshiping community. We take seriously the words of Jesus when He says, “Do not stop them.” We take their educational opportunities for granted. Do you know that in the sugar cane bateys in the Dominican Republic many of the children are stopped from attending school because they lack the required uniforms? During the summer months our Sunday School classes will be working together to help buy school uniforms for Sugar Cane Kids in LaRomana. We have an opportunity to live out Christ’s love in the world. Will you partner with our children and youth as we live out Christ’s love by helping these in need? Serving with Grace, Pastor Joyce “Who’s Who?” . . . “To make the best of my long commute to work, I like to play the song Morning Has Broken while the sun is rising.” Stay tuned to our September Tabernacle Times to learn more about this member of our church family. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2
When I am faced with difficult times I often need to be reminded that the Lord is my rock and my fortress. As an independent person, I am often prone to rely on my own strength – only to find that I am unable to do that. When trials and tribulations come I am strengthened by the prayer support and encouragement of others. I am especially appreciative of the love and support of our congregation as I have been through the valley of the shadow of death grieving the untimely loss of my granddaughter. Are you able to take refuge in God in the midst of your life struggles? Is God your stronghold? How does your faith community support and encourage you? How can we as a faith community be more responsive to the needs of others? Sometimes our Here I Am, Lord is an awareness that we are standing in the need of prayer. Let us faithfully pray for one another as we share in our faith journey together. Our website page A Praying People provides an opportunity to list your prayer requests. Please be mindful of confidentiality if you post a prayer concern for another person. Serving with Grace, Pastor Joyce For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Did Mary really get it? What was Joseph’s response when the angel told him, “She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people” (Luke 1:21). Did they know the cost of this salvation? Did they understand that the child they loved and reared would one day hang on the cross? Or that the day of resurrection would come? We do not know what pain or loss awaits us but we have the assurance that God will not abandon us in the midst of our pain. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit carries us through the difficult days. Mary witnessed the crucifixion of her first born. But she lived to also witness his resurrection. I think, then, perhaps, she got it! It takes time for us to experience grace in the midst of our grief and pain. We rest in God’s resurrection plans, the God who says, I have for you plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Let us rejoice in the resurrection promise together. Serving with Grace, Pastor Joyce The one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
As we enter into this Lenten Season let us be mindful that it is God who is doing a good work in our midst. We are invited to yield ourselves more fully to the working of God’s Holy Spirit that God’s mission might be accomplished. God is not waiting for us to clean up our act. God is not waiting for us to achieve perfection. God invites us to say “Here I am, Lord” just as we are. Our invitation is to accept God’s grace to do what is necessary for us to become all that God has created us to be. Sometimes we need to let go of the reins of control. Sometimes we need to slow down enough so we can hear God’s voice. Sometimes we need to open our Bibles and read what God has to say to us. Sometimes we need to step up and be willing to risk reaching out to do that which we sense God is calling us to do. What is God inviting you to do during this Lenten Season? What steps are you willing to take? How will you open yourself up to let God do a good work within you? Will you join me in prayerfully considering God’s invitation? Joyously in Service, Pastor Joyce Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here I am, Lord.” Isaiah 6:8
Isaiah responded to God’s call with the words, Here I am, Lord. During this past year we have been exploring the concept of Called to Serve. Many have stepped up and responded to God’s call. I trust that you have been blessed as I have been during these shared experiences. What is your response at this time? Are you willing to say with Isaiah, Here I Am, Lord? Some of us want the road map laid out ahead of us. Some of us depend on our GPS system to guide our steps. As we set our GPS let us ask ourselves if we are truly God’s path seekers – or do we prefer to plan our own way. Are we ready to set aside our own agenda and relinquish ourselves to God’s direction? Where will God’s path take us? We ask this question both as individuals and as a covenanting body of believers. Are we willing to wait on God? Are we able to accept some mystery as we continue along our journey? Are we prepared to sit in the presence of God, content in just being in that holy presence? Are we willing to sit with one another and wait? Are we prepared to share the gift of presence with one another? Can we trust our anxieties and fears of the unknown to our Great Creator? Let us listen to one another. Let us learn from one another. Let us rest in the confidence that God will guide our steps as we relinquish our desires to the Holy One. Joyously in Service, Pastor Joyce Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain. Psalm 127:1 As members and friends of Tabernacle Baptist Church we are all called to work and serve together to help build God’s kin-dom. We recognize that our labor is in vain if we fail to discern God’s plan for our church. Our church governance empowers all covenanting members of our congregation to be a part of this discernment process. Decisions are made by consensus, or when necessary by vote, of the membership. Adoption of the church budget, policy approvals, and election of the church leadership are among the items that require a formal vote. Most other decisions are made by consensus of the congregation following discussion, discernment and prayer. One of the distinctives of the Baptist Church is the autonomy of the local church. We serve in association with other American Baptist Churches but neither the Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of RI or the General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches–USA exercise any authority or control over the local church. They do provide guidance and help us collaborate on our mission outreach. Our annual meeting will follow worship on Sunday January 26. Your voice is important. Please plan to participate, and please pray for God’s direction in all we do. Joyously in Service, Pastor Joyce “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" - which means, "God with us." (Matthew 1:22-23) Immanuel ~ God with us As we enter this Advent season I invite us to focus on the meaning of Immanuel – God with us. How are you experiencing God’s presence with you? We have families facing difficult economic times. We have families facing end of life issues. We have families coping with the challenges of mental illness. Our families come in all shapes and sizes and configurations. We rejoice that we serve a God who loves each of us as we are where we are. Will you welcome the Christ Child into your family this season? Is there room in your inn for this child who is called Immanuel? Is there room in your heart to embrace the one who came in love?
Christ was born of Mary that we might experience the presence and reality of God here on earth. My heart is filled with joy as I reflect on the depth of God’s great love for you and for me. Let us share that love today. Joyously in Service, Pastor Joyce |
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