Pastor’s Message for April 2024

Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

-Luke 22:54-57

Dear Friends,

     Peter is one of my favorite people in the Bible. You never have to wonder what Peter is thinking, because by the time you start wondering he’s already told you what’s on his mind. He is brash, prideful, and sees himself as the leader among the disciples. It is no surprise then, when Jesus tells his disciples that they would all abandon him Peter informs Jesus that he would never betray his Lord, that he would be willing to suffer and die with Jesus. But Jesus tells Peter that he won’t just deny Christ, but he will do it three times!

     One might expect Peter to deny Christ because he is under intense trial or persecution. One might expect Peter to be faced with the prospect of torture before he would even think about denying Jesus. I’m sure Peter was willing to face dragons and demons before he would even consider denying Jesus. And so we are shocked and alarmed when the persecutor comes. We shudder with fear as Peter faces the one who would cause him to tremble and cower in fear as they accuse him of being connected with Jesus. Who could possibly shake the faith of the one who Jesus called ‘the Rock?’ Was it a Roman soldier? Was it a massive crowd? Was it the Emperor himself? No. . .

It was a little girl.

     That’s right, Peter was afraid of a servant girl, to the point of denying Jesus. The Rock’s mighty faith was reduced to rubble by a little girl asking a simple question, “Weren’t you with him?” This passage challenges us to consider our own prideful boasting. It’s easy to say “I would never betray Jesus!” But like Peter, we fall short. We deny Jesus multiple times a day! The depth of our sin makes it impossible to remain faithful. But through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are equipped with a faith that can withstand the toughest of challenges. Rather than boast about our own strength, let’s boast in the power of the Holy Spirit.

God loves you, and so do I,
Pastor Jim

Coming Up…

< May 2024 >
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
      1AA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
2National Day of Prayer all day
+ Google calendarBusy Hands from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Volunteer Group
Carey Community Center + Google calendarPickleball Club from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Please contact us for details
Carey Center + Google calendar
3 4AA Meeting at 10:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendarLadies Spring Tea from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
tap for details
Carey Community Center + Google calendar
5Worship w/ Communion at 11:00 am
Holy Communion Offered Church Sanctuary + Google calendarKids Sunday School from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
Starts following the children's message during worship, at approx. 11:15am. + Google calendar
6 7 8Aliquippa First "PhDs" at 6:30 pm
For "Projects Half Done" - knitting/crochet group; 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month at Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendarAA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
9Pickleball Club from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Please contact us for details
Carey Center + Google calendar
10VBS Planning Meeting from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Overflow Room + Google calendar
11AA Meeting at 10:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
12Worship at 11:00 am
Traditional worship, including prayer and the singing of traditional hymns. Church Sanctuary + Google calendarKids Sunday School from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
Starts following the children's message during worship, at approx. 11:15am. + Google calendar
13 14Food Pantry Distribution from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
+ Google calendarCommunity Lunch from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
+ Google calendar
15AA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
16Busy Hands from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Volunteer Group
Carey Community Center + Google calendarPickleball Club from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Please contact us for details
Carey Center + Google calendar
17 18AA Meeting at 10:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
19Worship at 11:00 am
Traditional worship, including prayer and the singing of traditional hymns. Church Sanctuary + Google calendarKids Sunday School from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
Starts following the children's message during worship, at approx. 11:15am. + Google calendar
20 21 22Staff-Parish Relations Committee Meeting from 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm
+ Google calendarAliquippa First "PhDs" at 6:30 pm
For "Projects Half Done" - knitting/crochet group; 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month at Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendarAA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendarExecutive Council Meeting from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
+ Google calendar
23Pickleball Club from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Please contact us for details
Carey Center + Google calendar
24 25AA Meeting at 10:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
26Worship at 11:00 am
Traditional worship, including prayer and the singing of traditional hymns. Church Sanctuary + Google calendarKids Sunday School from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
Starts following the children's message during worship, at approx. 11:15am. + Google calendar
27Memorial Day all day
+ Google calendar
28 29AA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
30Pickleball Club from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Please contact us for details
Carey Center + Google calendar
31