A core value of the Brethren in Christ Church

1. Thinking back to your childhood, in what ways has life become more complicated and complex?
2. What are some of the advantages of these changes?  What are some disadvantages?
3. When you see or hear the phrase “living simply,” what words or images come to mind?

As members of the Brethren in Christ Church, we value uncluttered lives, which free us to love boldly, give generously, and serve joyfully.

1. Read Mark 12:30-31.  What are some practical ways you can love God with your heart and soul?  your mind?  your strength?
2. These ways of loving God take time but time for God can be hard to find.  Why do we struggle to find significant time for God in our daily lives?
3. How can we simplify our schedules to allow for regular appointments with God?
4. Read I Timothy 6:17-19 and II Corinthians 9:6-15.  What attitudes about money and giving hinder generosity?  What attitudes inspire generosity?
5. What practical steps can Christians take to simplify their material lives enabling them to give generously?
6. Read Luke 10:38-42.  With whom do you most closely identify – Mary or Martha?  Explain your choice.
7. Reflecting on the story from Luke 10 and Sunday’s sermon, what is the “one thing” Jesus values most in our relationship with him?
8. In what areas of your life you do you need to seek Jesus first?  After you have shared your answers, pray for one another.

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I have since watched and participated this symbolic event. One time I brought a guest that was curious about the foot washing but was not ready to participate. She and I watched quietly as women, young and old, took a towel and basin and gently washed and dried one another’s feet. It did not feel awkward at all to observe, rather than participate, in this time of sharing Christ’s love.

When I have participated, I have been awash with humility. Certainly this is one of the aims of this practice. We are told in the gospel of John that Jesus requested that we continue this practice.

John 13:14-17 He instructs them, 14 “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

I would encourage anyone considering attending the Love Feast, to do so. You will not be disappointed, whether you participate or watch the foot washing ceremony, you will surely encounter our magnificent savior.

-Dee Steele
Director of Marketing & Communications at Pequea Church

New Orleans was damaged not so much by the wind and rain of Hurricane Katrina, but by the failure of the levees surrounding the city to keep out the waters of adjacent Lake Pontchartrain. Much of the city was flooded and many homes still stand empty more than four years later. MDS is repairing and rebuilding homes in various areas of New Orleans, including Gentilly, Lower 9th Ward and Upper 9th Ward. You can learn more about the New Orleans site by visiting the MDS website by clicking here.

If you are interested in going on this trip please call the church at 717.872.5679 or email contact@pequeachurch.com.

Do you desire to understand the basics of Christianity? Starting Monday February 1 at 7:00 p.m., Mike Dickert will be offering 10 sessions in Room 146 at Pequea Church. Here are some of the topics the class will cover: What is Christianity?, Who is God?, The Trinity, The Work of Christ, The Holy Spirit, The Bible, What are Spiritual Disciplines?, What is Holy Living?.

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Pequea Church exists to transform lost people into fully devoted disciples of Jesus Christ. We challenge every believer to believe, grow, serve, and share. First you must believe in Christ. Secondly we feel that as a Christian there is constant need for growth. Thirdly we feel that as Christ followers we are created to serve whether that be inside the church or in our community. And lastly it is our desire that fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ will share with others the love of Christ to all the world.

This Winter the pastoral team is offering four classes to help you learn more about the Brethren In Christ denomination, as well as what it means to be a part of ministry here at Pequea Church. The Believe, Grow, Serve, and Share classes are designed for people who want to learn more about our objective and mission at Pequea Church. These classes are a requirement for those who want to become a member of Pequea Church. Over a four week period we will offer 2 sessions of each class on either Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights. The class schedule is as follows.

BELIEVE – Sunday January 31, 10:00 a.m. OR Wednesday February 3, 6:15 p.m.
GROW- Sunday February 7, 10:00 a.m. OR Wednesday February 10, 6:15 p.m.
SERVE- Sunday February 14, 10:00 a.m. OR Wednesday February 17, 6:15 p.m.
SHARE- Sunday February 21, 10:00 a.m. OR Wednesday February 24, 6:15 p.m.

On Saturday, February 27, 2010 Reverend Ken Hoke will be leading a seminar on the objective, mission and vision of the church from 9:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. The leadership of the church is inviting each of you to participate in this public forum as we discuss together how best to accomplish our objective as a congregation.

Each person who registers between now and January 18, 2010 will be given the book “Who Stole My Church” to read. This book was written by Gordon MacDonald. Gordon was the pastor of Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts for 12 years. He left in 1984 to serve with World Vision, and then became president of a college-age missions organization, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. MacDonald also regularly teaches at Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in New England.

Gordon wrote this book to help us understand the development of the Christian Church over the past 2,000 years. He notes that through the ages any church that has not turned its face toward the younger generation simply ceased to exist.

The book will not be discussed in detail, but will help us understand that even as the church has progressed in her communication with society through the ages, it is still necessary to do so today.

If you are looking for an opportunity to hear what others are saying and want a chance to share your ideas about the Objective, Mission and Vision of Pequea Church, please sign up online below:

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From Left to right- Marshall Poe, Marlin Groff, Dottie Groff, Manuel Santiago, Kate Gerlach, Dan Krall, Daryl Rineer, Lea Miller, Geoff Rohrer, Kelly McGaw, Jeremy Denlinger

From January 2, 2010 through January 11, 2010 a team of mostly young adults will travel from Pequea Church to El Viejo Brethren in Christ Church in Nicaragua. The team will be helping the church by replacing an old deteriorating roof with a new steel roof. The team will also provide a children’s ministry program each afternoon at the church work site. While serving at El Viejo the team will spend there nights in Chinandega.

Throughout the trip you will be able to track the team online. Providing an internet connection the team will blog daily updates with stories and photos on the Pequea Church missions blog. Most of the updates and photos will come late at night when the team is back in Chinandega so be sure to check each day! Also please use the comment feature located at the bottom of each post to leave messages for the team. The team will use these comments as encouragement throughout the week!

How to stay connected with the team:

• Bookmark the blog.
• Subscribe to email updates.
• Subscribe to our RSS feed.
• Follow us on Twitter.

Use the comment feature below to post your encouraging story. Come back to this blog post to review each of the stories submitted this Christmas season.

There is such freedom in a relationship when someone truly understands you, yet challenges you to higher goals. God really does love us that much. In Psalm 139 the Bible states, O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.

So it is with the characters of Christmas: Mary, Joseph, the wisemen and the shepherds. God knew them, too. They were not just characters from a favorite story. They were real people. Take some time this Advent season to let the characters spring forth from the page and breathe new life into your faith. You will gain a better understanding of their individual struggles, temptations and triumphs. Collectively we will see how their story, God’s story, is written within our own lives.

The supporting cast of the Christmas story fulfilled their role during a part of history. God knows the main character of the Christmas story, His son Jesus. Jesus is forever typecast in History, He is the only one that could ever, or will ever, be called Emmanuel, God with us.

Join Pastor Dale Shaw as he examines The Characters of Christmas.

November 29 & December 2 - Mary: Trust God for the Impossible
December 6 & 9 - Joseph: Never Underestimate Your Influence
December 13 & 16, 2009 - Shepherds: Seize the Moment
December 20 & 23, 2009 - Jesus: The Name That Says It All
December 27 & 30, 2009 - Wise Men: Keep Your Eyes on the Goal