July 2 Sermon and Announcements

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

July 2, 2023

Back to the Basics

Do these still apply?

Exodus 20:1-17

This morning I am going to refer back to some of what we

read last week in Jude. In the 3 rd verse of Jude we read

how he had planned on sending a letter to the church

about their shared salvation. Kind of a letter to pump

them up and help them to keep moving forward. However,

just like John, Jude became away that there were people

distorting the word of God and Jesus’ message about

righteousness and how to achieve true salvation. So Jude

changed his letter to bring the churches back to the

basics.

I would like to read again from the commentary to show

what is meant in verse 3 of de as he explains the

importance of this letter. Jude explains the important

relationship between correct doctrine and true faith.

Loving God means obeying Jesus. The truth of the Bible

must not be compromised because it gives us the real

facts about Jesus and salvation. The Bible is inspired by

God and should never be twisted or manipulated. When it

is we can become confused over right and wrong and

lose sight of the only path that leads to eternal life. Before

writing about salvation then, Jude felt he had to set his

readers on the right track, calling them back to the basics

of their faith. Then the way to salvation would be clearer.

The 4 th verse of Jude explains exactly what is happening

in the churches. It says, continuing from verse 3, “I say

this because some ungodly people have wormed their

way into your churches, saying God’s marvelous grace

allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of

such people have denied our only master and Lord,

Jesus Christ." What brought such concern to Jude was

false teachers were teaching that Christians could do

whatever they liked without fear of God’s punishment.

In chapter 6 of Romans Paul voiced the same concerns.

He went as far as to say in the final verse of chapter 6,

“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal

life in Christ Jesus, our Lord." Before we go over and look

again at the 10 commandments I would like to share with

you about what Jesus said about the laws and how

important he felt they were.

In Matthew 5, verse 17 and 18 Jesus says this, “Do not

think that I have come to abolish the law and the

prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill

them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth

disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of

the pen, will by any means disappear from the law until

everything is accomplished.”

So, we see not only what Jude was saying about what

Jesus taught and about God’s word, we see Jesus went

as far as to say that until heaven and earth disappear not

the least of what is written will disappear. The law has

always been considered to be contained in the first five

books of the Bible (the Old Testament). So when Jesus

was talking about the law he meant all the things

discussed in the history of those five books, which are

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Numbers.

So, with that setting the stage, let us take another look at

what we call The Ten Commandments. Basically, the first

4 commandments have to do with what God sees as our

relationship, honor and respect for him. The last 6 have to

do with our relationship with one another. All ten taken

together will show how much we love and respect the

Lord, not just by how we treat the first 4 commandments,

but also how we treated the people God has put in our

lives.

The first 2 commandments are closely tied together. The

1 st simply states, “You shall have no gods before me.”

There is a very simple message to this commandment.

God knows he is the only true God and there is no point

in believing there is any other God to honor. The 2 nd

commandment warns that in spite of what I just told you

in the first commandment some of you may still be

tempted to make other gods to worship.

At the time Moses was given these laws by God they had

just come out of Egypt. Egypt had many gods including

the Pharoah who himself thought of himself as a god.

God didn’t want his people confused by what they had

lived in and seen for their whole lives in Egypt. Once

again God felt it necessary to bring his people back to the

basics, especially since they would soon be ruling

themselves in the new land God was leading them to.

In the 2 nd commandment God warns about making idols

from things the true creator of all things had created. God

also then warns that he is a jealous God punishing those

who ignore this commandment to the 3 rd and 4 th

generation but blessing those who keep this

commandment to a thousand generations. The 3 rd

commandment being about misusing the name of God.

The King James version warns of taking the Lord’s name

in vain. We should only use God’s name in ways to glorify

him, never carelessly or in ways that do not show respect

to God.

The 4 th commandment talks of respect for the Sabbath. At

this time, it meant Saturday, the last day of the week. The

way to remember the Sabbath as God wants us to is to

have a day of rest and reflection on God’s goodness and

mercy. This was to apply to everyone in one’s household,

including servants.

Once again, these first 4 commandments have to do with

how we relate directly with God. The next 6 have to do

with our relationship with our fellow man or with one

another. The 5 th commandment has to do with our

relationship with our parents; it is also a commandment

with a promise. “Honor your father and mother and I,

God, will grant you a long life in the land I am about to

give you.” The 6th commandment, “Do not commit

murder." Pretty simple and straightforward. What is meant

by murder is an intentional, unjustified taking of another

person’s life. The 7 th commandment has to do with

marriage between a man and a woman. God expects men

and women to be faithful to one another. The 8 th

commandment, “Do not steal.” Once again pretty simple.

God never believes stealing cannot be justified for any

reason. The 9 th commandment, “Do not give false

testimony.” This may have meant in a court type setting,

but basically God is saying it is never good to lie. The 10 th

and final commandment is, “Thou shall not covet.” God

then explains several examples of what he means. God

knows if people are more worried and obsessed with

what others have than being content with what you do

have you will never be happy. And it could lead you to do

things that will cause you to sin against your fellow man

and that is sinning against God.

So, do these apply to us today? Were these given only to

God’s people so they would get on the right track after

leaving Egypt. Over 1,000 years after God gave these to

Moses Jesus stated they were still in effect. After Jesus

ascending back to the Father, John and Jude were

warning the people what Jesus said about God’s word

was still important to apply to your life.

Here we are 2000 years after John and Jude wrote to the

churches, does their warnings still apply to the church

today? These 10 commandments are an overview of what

God gave Moves later in Exodus and in the book of

Leviticus in much more detail. The warnings John and

Jude gave were to the churches, not to unbelievers. They

knew before the church can make a difference n

unbelievers’ lives the church need to honor and respect

God and His word.

Does the church believe the 10 commandments and all

the laws given to Moses by God have purpose and

meaning today? What do you and I believe?

Annual Conference begins Tuesday. What does our

denomination believe about these laws and Jesus’ words

about these laws? Is Satan and this world shaping what

we believe as a church or is the word of God?

Next week we will get into the details a bit more before we

try to come up with that answer.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

NO Bible Study this week

Sunday School 9:00

July 4-8 Annual Conference in Cincinnati

July 26 Full Board (note date change)

July 31-Aug 4 VBS at Methodist Church

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for

your continued giving!

Donation Box: AC bills

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

Keep in Your Prayers

Carolyn Fansler; Iva Traughber Brunner; Nora Hanaver; Todd

Henricks; Jonah Martina; Jan Bower; Larry Traxler; Michelle

West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli Brunner; Nancy

Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Ron & Kathleen Petersen;

Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Tina Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer;

Carl and Wilma Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline

Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Shawn Cain; Robert

Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Patty Cripe; Stacie Warren;

Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; healthcare workers

and first responders; victims of disasters; victims of shootings;

shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren; Ukraine

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for Annual Conference and the

work of delegates, officers, and Standing Committee. Also pray

for safe traveling for all who attend.

Father's Day Sermon and Announcements

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

June 18, 2023

A Loving Compassionate Father

Genesis 27:30-14

To all of you fathers Happy Father’s Day! It would have been

easy to talk of the greatest father of all time. No, I must admit I

am not talking about any of you here today but maybe I

should be. I am talking about our Heavenly Father. He, of

course, has done everything he can for us, his children. Even

to the point of Jesus Christ, God the Son, paid the price for

our sins. Yes, that would have been a natural choice, but this

morning we are going to spend a few minutes to look at

another father found in scripture. Isaac – Isaac is famous for

being the son who looked like he was going to be sacrificed

for the sins of the people of that day. Isaac was the one God

had promised would have so many descendants you couldn’t

count them all. Yet it looked like that was never going to

happen for a little while. Ultimately Isaac came to understand,

as best he could, the role God had given him to carry out. It

looked like Isaac and his wife, Rebekah, were going to have

the same problem his father, Abraham and Sarah, his mother,

had.

The promise of God was to continue through Isaac and yet

when he and his wife sought to have children nothing was

happening, much like Isaacs’ parents. In chapter 25 of

Genesis, verse 21 we see Isaac praying to God his wife could

have children. God answered Isaac’s prayer and Rebekah

became pregnant, but something strange happened

throughout her pregnancy. She could feel strange movements

going on inside her during this time. She became so

concerned she sought answers from the Lord. In chapter 25,

verse 23 we see what God told her. “The Lord said to her.

Two nations are in your womb, and two people from within

you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the

other, and the older will serve the younger.” So even before

these twins were born there was some jockeying for position

going on.

Let us look at what happens at the birth of these two boys and

then what happens once the boys are growing into manhood.

Genesis 25:24-34

New International Version

24  When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.  25  The first to

come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him

Esau. [a]   26  After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was

named Jacob. [b]  Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. 27  The boys grew

up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to

stay at home among the tents.  28  Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but

Rebekah loved Jacob. 29  Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the

open country, famished.  30  He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m

famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom. [c] ) 31  Jacob replied, “First sell me your

birthright.” 32  “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

33  But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to

Jacob. 34  Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and

then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

So, we see even at the time of their birth the younger son is

trying to claim a spot with his brother. As the boys grew, we

read that Isaac had a deeper love for Esau and Rebekah had

a deeper love for Jacob. To understand how things worked at

this time in Israel’s history even though the two were twins

born at most a minute apart the first to be delivered was

entitled to all the blessings from his father, Isaac when that

time came. In the verses we read to close out chapter 25 we

see on of the things the firstborn was entitled to was the

birthright. Esau clearly did not understand the value of the

family birthright or just did not care because he basically gave

it away for something to eat and drink.

As we now move ahead to what we read for our scripture this

morning we read for our scripture we see Isaac’s health is

failing and he decides it is time to give his firstborn the

blessing that will be honored by God all that son’s days. In

the verses we did not read in the chapter 27 Isaac tells Esau,

“Prepare some food for me just the way I like it and at that

time I will give you the blessing God has for you.” What Isaac

did not know is that Rebekah, his wife, was listening to what

he told Esau to do and came up with a plan to have her

favorite, Jacob, get Esau’s blessing. Isaac was blind at this

time and after Rebekah prepared the food, she had Jacob

pretend to be Esau and take the meal into his father. After

Isaac had eaten the food, he then proceeded to give Jacob

the blessing that was supposed to be Esau’s. Jacob left Isaac

as soon as he got the blessing just before Esau got there with

the food he had prepared. Isaac was confused by what was

happening. Instantly Esau realized what had happened.

Saying Jacob stole by birthright, now he has stolen my

blessing. Esau began to beg his father, “Don’t you have a

blessing for me too?” Isaac conceded Jacob will have power

over you, what id one is done. But Esau continued, “Don’t you

have anything for me?” Finally, Isaac said to Esau, “Your

dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness, away from the

dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will

serve your brother, but when you grow restless you will throw

his yoke from off your neck.”

I believe Isaac loved both of his sons but Esau held a special

place n his heart because Esaw the more like him. So, while

Isaac did not condemn Jacob for doing what he did, he tried to

do all he could for Esau.

To go back to what the Lord told Rebekah during her

pregnancy God made it clear what would happen between

these two boys. Unlike Jewish tradition the older son would be

subject to the younger son. Isaac was probably told this way

back at the time by Rebekah but had forgot about it until now.

Isaac knew he could not change God’s plan s. He had

experienced how God works when he was a young man with

his dad, Abraham.

As you look at this extraordinary story, I ask you fathers here

this morning, “Have you even been in a position with your

children when it looked like you favored one over another?” If

so, did it create conflict between your children, maybe even

your wife?

While Isaac did not do what he did on purpose, you can see

the regret and sorrow he felt about what had happened. Even

though I believe Isaac ultimately realized this was part of

God’s plan for His people he still felt terrible for his oldest son.

The blessings a father gave before God was binding. God

honored these blessings. So while Isaac conceded Esau

would be subject to Jacob his blessing for Esau stated there

will come a time in which he will break free from his brother.

May the love and compassion Isaac had for his son who felt

left out and one might say abandoned be part of every father,

grandfather, great grandfather here today. Sometimes those

sons and daughters, those grandchildren need our support

and encouragement that only a dad or grandpa can give. I will

say it again, “I believe Isaac truly loved both of these boys.”

But there came a time when one of those boys needed a

special word that only his dad could give. That is what God is

calling us men to do.

God is seeking men who will love and support first of all those

within our families. God wants each man to understand the

important role we have been given, to honor God and show

what that means to our families and then also to friends as

well as anyone God send our way.

Fathers, men, Happy Father’s Day. May God bless you and

your families and continue to use you in a mighty way. You do

make a difference, maybe in ways you may never know or

fully understand.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

Sunday School 9:00

June 25 4:00 Movie Night—Jesus Revolution—here

Everyone is invited. There will be popcorn!

--Thank you to everyone who helped make the Strawberry

Festival a success! It takes all of us.

--Sign up sheet for children’s message in July, August, Sept.

Please consider taking a turn for this important ministry.

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for

your continued giving!

Donation Box: VBS

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

Keep in Your Prayers

Shonkwiler family in Bement; Carolyn Fansler; Iva Traughber

Brunner; Nora Hanaver; Todd Henricks; Jonah Martina; Jan

Bower; Larry Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn

Hirsch; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick;

Ron & Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood;

Tina Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Carl and Wilma Cable; Mike and

Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug

Fansler; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo &am; Darlene Hanaver;

Patty Cripe; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; manpy unspoken

requests; healthcare workers and first responders; victims of

disasters; victims of shootings; shut-ins; the Nigerian church;

Haitian Brethren; Ukraine

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Martin Creek congregation

and the Global Missions office as it works with Brethren

communities around the world.

June 11 Sermon and Announcements

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

June 11, 2023

What an example!

Job 1:1-22

As we approach Father’s Day, we are going to look at a man

that is not credited necessarily for being a father as much as

something else. We all have probably heard the saying that has

made Job a household name. “You have the patience of Job.”

Job endured more things than possibly anyone else in the

history of the world. If it could happen to a person, it did to Job.

In the 5 th verse we see the love and concern he had for his

children. As we read his sons loved to have feasts from time to

time where they would invite all their brothers and sisters to

join in. Job apparently did not attend these parties but was

concerned about what might be going on at them. So, when he

knew the feasts were over, he would get up early in the

morning and offer sacrifices on behalf of his children to God.

These sacrifices were the type that would cover sins against

God that might have been committed during these feasts.

In the very first verse, we read he sees Job was undeniably a

righteous and upright man before God. God had blessed Job

and his family in part because of this faithfulness and Satan was

telling God, “If you allow me to take away these blessings Job

will not be such a faithful person.” The only reason, Satan said,

that he is staying true to you is because of your blessing and

protection of Job and his family. So, God said to Satan, “Do

what you want to Job but you cannot take his life.” So, on it

began. We read how Satan had all of Job’s livestock carried off

or killed. Then Satan saw to it that at one of the sons feasts the

building collapsed, killing all of his children. After he was told

the news from the one surviving person from the feast Job’s

reaction was, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and

naked I will depart. The Lord gave the Lord has taken away.

May the Lord be praised.” In all this Job did not sin by charging

God with wrong doing. Obviously, Job did not know it was

Satan doing all these things to him. It is true God was allowing

Satan to do these things to him and his family. Satan was

stunned that Job did not instantly turn from God and expressed

anger, even hatred and rejection of God but he didn’t. Satan

then said to God, “If you allow me to harm Job physically then

he will curse you God.” God said, “Very well you can take his

health but you cannot take his life.” So, Satan brought serious,

painful health problems to Job. In the midst of this trial Job’s

wife even said to her husband, “Why don’t you curse God and

die? That does not sound very nice or reassuring from Job’s

wife, but I am sure she was confused and disillusioned from

losing her children, their possessions and now watching her

husband go through these health problems. She knew there

was nothing she could do to help and felt maybe it would be

better for her husband if he could die.

If we were to reread all of the book of Job, you would see his

frustration and disappointment about all the things he was

going through but never would he ever truly blame God for all

his troubles. Even Job’s friends piled on wondering how he

could remain faithful to God through all the problems that

seemed to never go away. Every time someone questioned

Job’s faithfulness to God, Job would give an inspirational

answer saying, “What right do we have to expect anything from

God?” Once again Job made it clear he wasn’t happy things

were happening to him as they were but recognized God’s

sovereignty in all things. After all the things Job endured, when

his close friends tried to come up with explanations that were

not in agreement with God we see what Job said to the Lord

how God dealt with Job’s friends and what ultimately happened

to Job in verse 42 and the final chapter.

Let us read this amazing conclusion to all of the things Job

endured for such a long time.

Job 42 Then Job replied to the LORD:

2  “I know that you can do all things;

    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

3  You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’

    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,

    things too wonderful for me to know.

4  “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;

    I will question you,

    and you shall answer me.’

5  My ears had heard of you

    but now my eyes have seen you.

6  Therefore I despise myself

    and repent in dust and ashes.”

Epilogue

7  After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am

angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me,

as my servant Job has.  8  So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant

Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I

will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken

the truth about me, as my servant Job has.”  9  So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the

Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted

Job’s prayer. 10  After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and

gave him twice as much as he had before.  11  All his brothers and sisters and everyone

who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and

consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought on him, and each one gave him

a piece of silver [a]  and a gold ring. 12  The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more

than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a

thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.  13  And he also had seven sons and

three daughters.  14  The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the

third Keren-Happuch.  15  Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as

Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

16  After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to

the fourth generation.  17  And so Job died, an old man and full of years.

We see God was merciful first of all to Job’s three friends that

also did not understand what and why all these things were

happening to Job. God made it clear to Job’s friends how wrong

they were about everything and then had Job himself do the

things that brought his friends back to a right relationship with

Him. Then we see God restored everything and more back to

Job when God said to Satan, “You can now see what a

tremendous man Job is and what an amazing example he is to

everyone around him.” Job was once again blessed with 7 more

sons and 3 more daughters. We see God blessed Job’s

daughters with beauty unlike anyone else. Job even did what

was not common in that day by giving his daughters an

inheritance along with their brothers.

In the final two verses of the Chapter 42, we are told Job lived

140 years. He saw his children and their children to the 4 th

generation and so he died old and full of years. Job was a

tremendous example to everyone who knew him. After

everything he endured God make sure his children, his

grandchildren even to his great, great grandchildren learning

from this man of God. Everyone can learn from this

tremendous man of faith, this tremendous man of God.

I pray that somehow all of us men can apply some of the

wisdom and faith Job has showed us in our lives. The fact also is

shown to us in this example that God does and will reward our

faithfulness. I pray also that none of us ever have to go through

anywhere close to the things Job went through, but I would

love to be a man God was so confident in that he would

consider me to be worthy to go through some of the trials Job

did.

The book of Job is such an inspirational book. I would

encourage you to read it again when you have a chance. What

an example Job is for everyone that reads and considers his

incredible life. Men, what a challenge it is to have the patience

and faith of Job. The fact is though that Job was a man just like

us. May we strive to be fathers, husbands, friends like Job was

to all of those around him. God will be with us helping us every

step of the way.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

Sunday School 9:00

June 14 7:00 Executive Committee

June 25 4:00 Movie Night—Jesus Revolution--here

Sign up sheet for children’s message in July, August, Sept.

Please consider taking a turn for this important ministry.

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for

your continued giving!

Donation Box: VBS

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

Keep in Your Prayers

Carolyn Fansler; Iva Traughber Brunner; Nora Hanaver; Todd

Henricks; Tate Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan Bower; Larry

Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli

Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Ron &

Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Tina

Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Carl and Wilma Cable; Mike and Carol

Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler;

Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Patty

Cripe; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests;

healthcare workers and first responders; victims of disasters;

victims of shootings; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian

Brethren; Ukraine

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Woodland congregation;

for National Junior High Conference this month; for the youth of

this district.

June 4 Sermon and Announcements

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

June 4, 2023

How Far Are You Willing to Go? Part 2

1 John 3:7-24

We began this look into 1 John two weeks ago. As a quick

reminder of some of what we looked at then we know John has

been made aware of problems creeping into the churches

throughout all of the Christian world. Gnostics have come into

the churches and are sharing things that are totally different

than what had been told to the churches by the apostles. Some

of those things being told to believers were that:

(1) Jesus really did not die for your sins.

(2) Morality was not really necessary for salvation.

(3) You achieve salvation by your own efforts by becoming

more enlightened and achieving greater harmony with the

world and with yourself.

(4) Jesus was really a spirit incapable of paying the price for sins

because he really did not live like other people.

So as John writes this letter to all the churches, he is wanting to

assure them that the message they received in the beginning is

still true and changes lives. He is giving everyone a refresher

course on what the true message of salvation is. In the first

verse we read John makes it clear, do not let anyone deceive

you and lead you astray. In verse 8 he goes on to say the reason

the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. In

verse 9 and 10 John is pointing out once we receive God’s gift

of salvation through Jesus Christ our attitudes and desires will

change. We should no longer want to continue in sin. This goes

directly to the belief Gnosticism tells you that morality has no

real value. John then goes on to point out that love should

guide everything we do. In verse 13 John wants everyone to be

aware that if you stand up for God’s laws and righteousness the

world may hate you so be ready for what that will mean. This is

the same man that wrote the gospel of John. So as we look at

1 John 3:16 it is interesting how it is similar to John 3:16. Of

course John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave

his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not

perish but have everlasting life. In 1 John 3:16 we read, “this is

how we know what love is. Jesus Christ laid down his life for us

and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”

As we, the church, continue the work Jesus began, it is our turn

to potentially make the sacrifices. John then goes on to point

out sometimes those sacrifices will be of money or goods you

have that other may be lacking but have need of. John points

out if we see a brother or sister in need but are not willing to

help, is the love of God really living in us. Then he is telling the

believer about two different attitudes of our hearts. Sometimes

we may not find peace in our heart but God really knows our

hearts better than us. There will be other times we may be truly

at peace in our hearts about our relationship with God.

What is the difference John is trying to point out? In the first

case John is reminding everyone Satan is going to try to steal

the believer’s joy and confidence in Christ. Maybe you have

been a long way from the Lord but you have asked for

forgiveness and God’s word tells us God is faithful and just to

forgive us of our sins. Satan will continue to lie to you and tell

you God can never forgive you. Of course, Gnostics are trying to

tell the believers that Jesus cannot forgive your sins because he

was not able to pay the price for your sins anyway.

In the second case, your heart is in tune with God to the point

you know you have been forgiven. John is reminding the first

group God’s promises are real and you can trust God’s salvation

through Jesus Christ. John closed out these verses with this

final reminder, “Believe in the name of the Son of God, Jesus

Christ and love one another as he commanded us.” He goes on

to say those who obey his commands live in him and he in

them. And this is how we know that He lives in us. We know it

by the spirit he gave us. The Holy Spirit has been given to all

who believe to give us power to overcome Satan’s lies.

As we see the concerns John has for the church in his day, can

we see the parallels in today’s churches? Are there factions

trying to dilute the righteous laws of God today? Is the church

willing to point out that sin separates us from God? That if we

really love another as God through Christ loved us, we will lift

up God’s holy standard because that is the only way God’s

word tells us we can receive forgiveness and salvation. John

points out the contrast between love and hate by pointing out

the difference between Cain and Abel. Cain’s attitude was evil

but Abel’s desires were God’s righteousness. Again, John points

out if we stand for God’s righteous laws the world will probably

hate us. If we are willing to take a stand with God, it could cost

us everything. Are we being told that may be the cost or are we

being told there is a painless way you can get everything you

want. If we are not walking with God, Satan will try to tell us

everything is fine. God loves you. Then at other times when we

are walking with God Satan will try to tell you God can never

forgive you, you are worthless and unworthy. John wants

everyone to know, go back to the basics I told you to begin

with. The basics the other apostles may have taught you as

well. You can trust in the risen Savior Jesus Christ. God loves

you and has forgiven you of your sins, but we must continue to

lift up God’s holy standard. We must expose sin, not to be

mean or to try to say we are better than others but out of love.

Just like God we want everyone to enjoy and receive God’s

forgiveness and salvation. That is why we continue to believe

and share God’s word.

Again, the question is as we look at the world today, as we look

at what is happening in our nation as well as the church’s in

America, are God’s standards being lifted up? Or is the church

caving to the pressure of the new social standards? That is what

John was concerned about when he wrote this letter to the

church of his day. What would John say to the churches today if

he was here seeing what is happening not only in America but

also in the churches in America? Would he have a similar

concern today?

May we seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s

truth to us today. May we stand for God’s truth and be used by

God to lift up His righteousness just as John sought to

encourage the church to stay strong.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

Sunday School 9:00

June 10 9:30 Stem strawberries, arrange tables

June 11 4:00 – 6:00 Strawberry Festival

Sign up sheets are in the back for Strawberry Festival needs.

These include supplies, pie shells, workers.

Sign up sheet for children’s message in July, August, Sept.

Please consider taking a turn for this important ministry.

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for

your continued giving!

Donation Box: VBS

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

Keep in Your Prayers:

Iva Traughber Brunner; Nora Hanaver; Todd Henricks; Tate

Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan Bower; Larry Traxler; Michelle

West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli Brunner; Nancy

Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Ron & Kathleen Petersen;

Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Tina Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer;

Carl and Wilma Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline

Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Shawn Cain; Robert

Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Patty Cripe; Stacie Warren;

Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; healthcare workers

and first responders; victims of disasters; victims of shootings;

shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren; Ukraine

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for Camp Emmanuel and the

campers this summer as it celebrates its 75 th year.

Sermon and Announcements May 21

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

May 21, 2023

How Far Are You Willing to Go?

1 John 3:7-24

For a couple of different reasons, the Lord led me to this message. The

message title implies I am asking you this question. When in fact it is

the Lord asking this question to all of his followers who are willing to

honestly look at the relationship we have with the Lord and also the

relationship we have with one another. Before we get into it this

morning, ironically after I felt led to share on this question, some of

these same situations were part of the Sunday School lesson today and

I am using the almost same verses as was in the lesson. Cathy and I

went on a 4-day cruise Monday thru Thursday. It was somewhat of a

repeat of a cruise we took for our 25 th wedding anniversary. While on

the cruise we celebrated our 48 th anniversary. I mention the cruise

because as I observed the people on the cruise, I realized people of all

colors and from many different nations were on the cruise. I didn’t

notice any arguments or problems of any kind during our time on the

ship, which leads me to ask this question. Why is there so much

disagreement and even anger and hatred it seems highlighted on the

news virtually every day. I am not implying everyone on the ship was a

devoted Christian. One reason there seemed to be harmony from most

onboard is because most everyone was doing something they wanted

to do. Going on a cruise! As a result of me observing this led me to ask

the Lord why? Why is so much of America and in all honesty the rest of

the developed world fighting with one another? You can’t watch the

news without reports of threatened violence or actual violence being

highlighted every day, which leads us back to today’s sermon title. How

far are you willing to go?

The verses we read this morning talks of a concern John has about what

is creeping into the church. Gnosticism was being taught to many

believers and some were apparently buying into its beliefs. At the heart

of this belief was that Jesus did not actually die for the sins of creation

(men and women, past, present and future). That morality of any kind

is of no real value and is necessary to live by. Salvation is not achieved

by believing in God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ; instead,

salvation is achieved through being enlightened by one’s own efforts. A

greater understanding of the world and greater harmony with the

world and with yourself. To make one thing clear, Gnostics did not

believe Jesus truly lived and died like every other human who has

walked the earth so salvation couldn’t be achieved through his sacrifice

of living a perfect life, then being the perfect sacrifice. The fact is, they

did not believe that’s how you would achieve salvation, even if Jesus

did live and die as most Christians believe.

When we look at what had crept into the church way back in John’s

time can you see any similarities to what is happening today? In the

verses we read this morning John is giving everyone who will listen a

refresher course on what Christians should believe. John is one of the

original disciples and observed firsthand everything Jesus did. He also

observed Jesus’ death for the sins of the world.

Last week when we looked at Mary, Jesus’ mother’s life, it was this

same man Jesus put in charge of caring for his mom for the rest of her

life. John was there through all the ups and downs of Jesus’ ministry.

John understood and believed Jesus was God and could and did do

everything he (Jesus) promised. That is why John continued to preach

and teach salvation through Jesus alone until the day he died. John had

become aware that false teachers were coming into many of the

churches everywhere. It wasn’t an isolated case here and there. It is

quite possible John was the only original apostle alive at this time. John

is the only apostle who died of natural causes. Every other apostle was

killed for their faith. God allowed John to preach and teach even from

prison until the day he died.

We will go into detail about what was happening in the church when

John wrote this letter to the churches of his day ands see if any of this

looks similar to what is happening in our churches and in the world

today.

Next Sunday is Memorial weekend so we may not pick this up again

until the first Sunday of June. I ask for your patience as we seek the

Lord’s guidance and his wisdom to be directing our time together. The

overall message God wants the church to bring to all people is that

salvation is real and available through Jesus Christ. The message God

wants every Christian to know is that we are called to be different in a

good way and we are called to make a difference in the world. At times

that means we must go against the flow. When we pick up on John’s

message to the church that we read in the verses today, I pray we will

better understand what we are up against and what we are called to

do.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

Sunday School 9:00

June 4 Council Meeting immediately after worship

If you would like to contribute to Heifer International through the

church in order for the 10x match to happen, write a check to

the church with “Heifer” on the memo line (or give cash with a

note that it’s for Heifer Int) by next Sunday, May 28. Ron will

then be able to write a check from the church.

June 10 9:30 Stem strawberries, arrange tables

June 11 4:00 – 6:00 Strawberry Festival—Please look at the

donation needs in the back and sign up to donate something.

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for

your continued giving!

Donation Box: VBS

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

Keep in Your Prayers

Chris Wright; Iva Traughber Brunner; Nora Hanaver; Todd

Henricks; Tate Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan Bower; Larry

Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli

Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Ron &

Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Tina

Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Carl and Wilma Cable; Mike and Carol

Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler;

Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Patty

Cripe; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests;

healthcare workers and first responders; victims of disasters;

victims of shootings; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian

Brethren; Ukraine; Hope Welty Library

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Rockford congregation

and for the Part-time Pastor/Full-time Church program.

Church of the Brethren vision statement:

Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately live

and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus

Christ through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To

move us forward, we will develop a culture of calling and

equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.

Our Mission Statement:

Love God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost,

find peace.

Sermon and Announcements April 23, 2023

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

April 23, 2023

Are We Like Sarah?

Genesis 12:2-3, 10-20

Genesis 17:15-22

Genesis 18:1-2, 9-15

This morning we are going to spend a little time looking at what

the Bible says about Sarah. She is the firs woman really talked

about in the Bible. Eve, of course, is actually the first woman

discussed in scripture but Sarah is a woman who for several

reasons has a very important part to play in God’s plans for His

people. We read several portions of scripture, some set the

stage for what will happen in the future for God’s people, some

show how Sarah dealt with things happening to her and around

her.

The first scripture we read doesn’t mention Sarah, however, we

will see she is in the middle of what is said in these verses. The

promise made to Abram has meaning long after his life is over.

The promise made to Abram one can easily say also applies to

Sarah, his wife, as well.

Verse 3 is such a powerful and important verse. “I will bless

those who bless you and whoever curses you, I will curse and

all people on earth will be blessed through you.” Abram and

Sarai seemed to always be on the move. Soon after they were

married, they left where they had lived. Sarah went with her

husband and his family to a new place.

In verse 10 of chapter 12, we see that a famine has occurred in

the land they were living so Abram pulled up stakes and took

his wife and their possessions to Egypt. Sarah faithfully went

with her husband to yet another new land. But there was a

concern that her husband had. Because his wife was so

beautiful, he was concerned the Pharoah would kill him if he

knew she was his wife so he told Sarah to tell them she was his

sister. Sarah faithfully did as her husband asked. God honored

Sarah’s faithfulness by bring a disease to the Pharoah’s people,

which led Paroah to realize Abram and Sarah’s God was

warning him not to take her as his wife. For the time they were

in Egypt God blessed Abram with livestock and servants. Once

Pharoah realized what was happening, he told Abram and

Sarah to leave but they could take everything they had gained

while in Egypt with them. So, in a way you could say God

blessed Sarah for her faithfulness and Abram got the benefit of

having such a faithful wife.

The verses we read in chapter 17 show how everything God

had promised to Abraham would happen. We did not read

what was said in the 11 th chapter, verse 30 but early on we are

told Sarah was unable to have children. As we look at the

promises made to Abraham and also Sarah it seems to be

impossible. Going back to what is said in chapter 17 God is

making it clear to Abraham his wife Sarah will be the mother of

nations and that kings will come from her.

Because of time we are skipping several things but Sarah and

Abraham did not believe God could do what he was promising

so they took matter into their own hands and Abraham had a

son through one of Sarah’s servants.

In chapter 17 God is making it clear Sarah will have a son. She

will be the mother of nations. In chapter 18 we see the Lord

appears to Abraham and clearly states that one year from

today I will visit you again and Sarah will have given birth to a

son. We read that Sarah heard what was said and one might

say sarcastically laughed that with Abrahm 100 and Sarah 90

finally she would have a son? The Lord questioned the laughter

of Sarah’s and said to them, “Is anything too hard for the

Lord?” Sarah claimed she had not laughed but, of course, she

had.

Let us move on to the last verses we read this morning in

Chapter 21. The first verse says, “Now the Lord was gracious to

Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had

promised.” Exactly when the Lord said it would happen, Sarah

gave birth to Isaac. In verse 6 Sarah says, “God has brought me

laughter and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.

She goes on to say, “Who would have aid to Abraham that

Sarah would nurse children yet I have borne him a son in his old

age.”

As we look at Sarah’s life, we see a woman who had reason to

be angry and frustrated with her husband and one might say

God as well. Her husband put her in difficult position after

difficult position but she stayed faithful to her husband when it

would have been easy to say, “Enough is enough!”

Even though she was wrong to do so, she even came up with a

plan to help Abraham see God’s promise would come true

about having a son when it seemed she would never have a

son. She did this out of love and devotion for her husband.

Actually, through much of this Abraham let his wife down as

well as showing a lack of faith in God. One could say Sarah was

a very conflicted but faithful woman. Someone who sought to

help her husband by doing things she should have never been

asked to do. But also was a “take charge” woman who sought

to make things happen when things did not seem possible on

their own.

As we looked at this special woman God used in a powerful way

how many of you women would have gone along with a

husband who asked so much of his wife? To the point of

compromising her values to do what she thought needed to be

done. To flip it to the men her today, Abraham clearly showed a

lack of faith in God despite the fact early on God promised

great things would happen through him. Are we men lacking in

faith too much of the time when we are faced with difficult

decisions. Despite the many ups and downs Abraham and Sarah

had they fulfilled what God had promised would happen

through them? Even though Sarah clearly doubted God could to

through her what had been promised, in her own way she

stayed faithful to God by staying true to her husband. Sarah has

become the mother of many nations. Sarah came to realize

what God had said to her was true. Is anything too hard for

God? Sarah had two sides that she wrestled with, the faithful

trusting side and the one full of doubt and a lack of self-esteem.

Which are you and I most like? Are we like Sarah feeling one

way one day and the other way the next.

God honored Sarah because when it was all said and done, she

showed she truly believe and trusted God. God wants us all to

take to heart those words we have read and said a couple of

times already today. Just as Sarah saw they were true, God

wants us to know it as well, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

Sarah will always be one of the most important people in God’s

story. Sarah never backed away from a challenge. In spite of her

shortcomings God used Sarah in ways that still are impacting

God’s people and this world today.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

April 29 9:30 – 10:30 Food Distribution at Kirby Medical Clinic,

CG

May 1—deadline for submissions for the May newsletter

May 7 will be a hymn sing. Please offer suggestions on the list

on the east bulletin board.

Camp Emmanuel schedule is posted on the bulletin board. Most

camps are in June.

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for

your continued giving!

Donation Box: Camp Emmanuel

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

To keep up on Church of the Brethren news:

Denomination: www.brethren.org/news Sign up for Newsline by

clicking link on left side of page.

District: iwdcob.org (click on newsletter link) and on facebook

Our pages: cerrogordocob.com (printed sermon,

announcements, & calendar) and on facebook

Keep in Your Prayers

Tina Martina; Iva Traughber Brunner; Sue and Terry Grabb; Nora

Hanaver; Todd Henricks; Tate Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan

Bower; Larry Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn

Hirsch; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick;

Ron & Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood;

Tina Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Carl and Wilma

Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim

Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo &

Darlene Hanaver; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren;

Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; healthcare workers

and first responders; victims of disasters; victims of shootings;

shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren; Ukraine; Hope

Welty Library; Florida; Puerto Rico; Turkey/Syria earthquake

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Milledgeville congregation

and for the youth Christian Citizenship Seminar.

Church of the Brethren vision statement:

Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately live

and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus

Christ through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To

move us forward, we will develop a culture of calling and

equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.

Our Mission Statement:

Love God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost,

find peace.

Sermon and Announcements April 16, 2023

 CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

April 16, 2023

It’s Really You!

John 21:1-14

Easter was last Sunday. All of the Christian world celebrated the

fact that death and the grave could not hold Jesus. This

morning we have read of this encounter several of Jesus’

disciples have had with the risen Savior. We do not know

exactly how much time has gone by since Sunday when Jesus

first appeared from the tomb. Maybe it has been a week,

maybe just a few days. We cannot be sure.

We read this is not the first time that Jesus has spoken to these

disciples since he came out from the tomb. Instead of the

disciples staying with Jesus and seeing what is next. we see

these disciples fishing. Many of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen

before they had been called to be a part of Jesus’ team. In spite

of the fact these disciples had seen Jesus at least two other

times, they were not with him looking forward to what was

next. We do not know what was going through their minds. Did

they really believe the unbelievable had happened? Did they

believe Jesus was really alive again? They had been there when

Jesus had been arrested. Even though most of them scattered

they knew Jesus had been killed on the cross. In spite of all the

miracles they had seen Jesus perform, did they believe he had

been raised from the dead? Jesus had raised Lazarus from the

dead but who would bring Jesus back to life? Could a dead man

bring himself back to life?

Yes, they had seen Jesus alive on two different occasions but

did they really believe what they had seen? Were they saying to

themselves, “We do not want to believe Jesus died and that’s

the end but are we dreaming this up or is it real?” Probably all

of us have had things happen in our lives or in the lives of

friends and family that we prayed would come out different

than they appeared to be headed. It might be a health crisis or

financial problem, maybe relationships have been broken or

maybe we have been hoping and praying for someone to

receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, change their life in some

way. If you have been praying for a miracle like that, I hope that

at least occasionally a miracle has happened. If your prayers

have been answered, what was your reaction?

There was a very gifted speaker named Anthony Campolo who I

heard many years ago on a radio program called Focus on the

Family. Tony is a Christian man who had been praying for years

for his father to accept the Lord as his Savior. His dad’s health

was getting worse and Anthony got a phone call from a brother

or sister telling him that their dad had accepted the Lord as his

Savior. Anthony Campolo, being a man of faith who had been

praying for years for this day to come reacted by saying, “I

knew it would happen!” Right? No Anthony admitted that his

first reaction was, “You are kidding!”

How many of us when the Lord gave us the answer we had

been praying for responded much the same way Anthony

Campolo did? Were you in a state of shock the answer you

wanted actually happened?

When we look at these disciples the first thing that struck me

was they are out fishing. It is as if the past three years had not

even happened. They reverted back to what they were

comfortable doing. This in spite of the fact we read in the 14 th

verse that this encounter with Jesus was the third one they had

had.

We see in verse 12 that is said none of the disciples dared ask

him, “Who are you?” It said they knew it was the Lord. Really?

They sure were not acting like they knew Jesus was alive. It is as

if they just could not believe it was possible for Jesus to be

there in the flesh again. Obviously, we know what ultimately

happened. All eleven of the remaining disciples came to see it

was really true. They came to realize it was not a vision. It was

not a dream. It is really you Jesus!

Before long they would be ready for what was next for them. In

fact, they would be more energized than ever before as the

Holy Spirit empowered them for the work before them. But on

this day, they had trouble believing everything they had prayed

for, everything they had hoped for was really coming true. God

is asking all of us to accept his will. Sometimes amazing answers

to prayer happen. Sometimes what we are praying for does not

happen quite like we hope. God wants us to know he sees our

situation and simply asks us to stay strong, keep believing and

know God is with us no matter what.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

April 22 8:30 District Potluck at the Dixon church

Spring Work Day at Camp Emmanuel, work week follows

April 29 Food Distribution at Kirby Medical Clinic, CG

Camp Emmanuel schedule is posted on the bulletin board.

Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for

your continued giving!

Donation Box: Camp Emmanuel

First Sundays: food donations for food banks

Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362

To keep up on Church of the Brethren news:

Denomination: www.brethren.org/news Sign up for Newsline by

clicking link on left side of page.

District: iwdcob.org (click on newsletter link) and on facebook

Our pages: cerrogordocob.com (printed sermon,

announcements, & calendar) and on facebook

Keep in Your Prayers

Mike Fleenor family; Iva Traughber Brunner; Tina Martina; Sue & Terry Grabb; Nora Hanaver; Todd Henricks; Tate Sawyer; Jonah Martina; Jan

Bower; Larry Traxler; Michelle West; Michelle’s mom; Carolyn

Hirsch; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick;

Ron & Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood;

Tina Wilhelm; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Carl and Wilma

Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim

Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo &

Darlene Hanaver; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren;

Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; healthcare workers

and first responders; victims of disasters; victims of shootings;

shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren; Ukraine; Hope

Welty Library; Florida; Puerto Rico; Turkey/Syria earthquake

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the District Ministry team and

the Potluck Experience on April 22.

Church of the Brethren vision statement:

Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately live

and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus

Christ through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To

move us forward, we will develop a culture of calling and

equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.

Our Mission Statement:

Love God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost,

find peace.