Pentecost

Romans 5.1-5

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Reflection

In the New Testament, there are two accounts of how God gives us the Holy Spirit.

  • First, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, today’s celebration.
  • But in John’s gospel, on Easter day itself, with the disciples locked away like so many of us have spent the last year locked away, Jesus breathes on them and gives them the Spirit. (cf John 20.22)
  • Both accounts have important things to say. But with all the challenges we face, and knowing what lockdown has done to many and how many have slipped from the practices of faith, I am holding onto a picture of Jesus coming to each of us and breathing his life and goodness into us. “Receive the Holy Spirit.” he says. My spirit of peace.
    And then He sends us into the world.
    Praying for others.
    And serving them in the name of Christ.

Prayer

Overflowing God, breathe the spirit of Jesus into me and into all those who long for peace, especially those who have drifted from your way, got stuck in their faith, or who have not yet found a way to believe. You believe in them. Renew them by your Spirit. And today may your Church be filled with joy. Amen.

May 23 service 1 Peter 3:1-7

welcome

We continue to meet on-line only, and will be for the next several weeks.
It looks like 11 July might be the earliest date we can meet in person.

In this confusing, wearying time, when we are not sure what day it is, we know that in the midst of all this, God is with us.
We remember that no matter what people say, no matter what people post on social media…

  • as followers of Jesus, we are called to be different and to live differently in this world;
  • as followers of Jesus, we are called to live lives that are empowered by God’s Spirit and so be signs and a foretaste of what the Jesus life is like.
  • On this Pentecost Sunday, we remember that the Spirit of the Living God is at work.
  • Whenever new regulations are passed and new laws come down, we are reminded by Paul in Galatians 5 that there are some things against which there is no law. As followers of Jesus, we exercise our freedom – our freedom to live out love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Those are the things against which there is no law. This is what it looks like to live as one who is truly free.

As you prepare to watch our service video, we encourage you to take a few moments…

  • get your coffee or tea, settle in, be still…
  • take 2 or 3 deep breaths… in and out… breathe,
  • invite the Lord to make himself present with you as you watch – he is with you – it’s just that often we are not aware that he is,
  • Read 1 Peter 3:1-7 as come to the service together.

teaching

Here is the service for Sunday 23 May.
The Adams: Dan, Sue, Sophia & Casey lead us in worship.
Pastor Mike’s message is from 1 Peter 3:1-7

The LIFEGroup notes can be found on our sermon page.

OCCkids is meeting online at @9:30am

There is also an OCCYouth zoom class lead by Neil & Barb Fox @9:15am

prayer

On this Pentecost Sunday, join us tonight @ 6:30pm as we pray together for one another, our city, our world.
zoom prayer https://zoom.us/j/99544541247?pwd=cU9idG1RNzB3bjdZS3RUdThOalQydz09
Meeting ID: 995 4454 1247
Passcode: 4LKzLR

LIFEGroup

Get connected to a LIFEGroup – it’s one of the best ways to grow in Christ.
The details are here.

giving

In this new way of being the church, we don’t practice giving by placing our offering in a basket as it is passed. OCCers are generous people. Thank you for your gifts.

  • Many give online – etransfer or paypal
  • Others mail or drop off cheques

You can find all the ways you can give here.

Orillia Pregnancy Resource Centre

May 23 Praying

In Psalm 139:23-24, David cried, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me.” Pray that all who are connected to OCC will have hearts that are just as open to the convicting and cleansing scrutiny of God’s Holy Spirit.

May 22 Praying

Pray that God will teach us to number our days so that we may be able to present to Him hearts of wisdom

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Moving towards in-person gathering

The Province of Ontario’s reopening plan is not the easiest to figure out (& I have a BSc, MDiv, ThM).
Here’s what I think it means for churches (including OCC) we can gather indoors at 15% capacity no earlier than the beginning of Stage 2 which is 21 days after Stage 1.
Stage 1 begins 14 June
Stage 2 begins 5 July (at the earliest)
which means the earliest we can meet indoors in person is 11 July.
Watch for announcements about some outdoor gatherings.
Be gentle and kind with each other as we navigate this difficult season. As I have reminded us all along, we need grace and imagination to be and act as God’s people in this time.

May 21 Praying

In Psalm 78:18, the Hebrew people were described as putting God to the test by selfishly asking for meat while they were in the wilderness. Realizing that God has given us much, pray that our hearts will be protected from making selfish requests of God or speaking evil of His graciousness.

They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved.
Psalm 78:18

May 20 Praying

The psalmist says that God is good to those who are pure in heart. Pray that we will be committed to walk in God’s righteousness and the purity that comes from oneness with Him.

Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
Psalm 73:1

May 19 Praying

Since God gives much grace to those who have humble hearts, pray that we will lay down our selfish pride and every self-exalting attitude that stands in opposition to our developing humility and the mind of Christ

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
James 4:6, quoting Proverbs 3:34

May 18 Praying

Pray today that followers of Jesus in our community will…

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22.

VIRTUAL ART AUCTION

VIRTUAL ART AUCTION TO BENEFIT THE LIGHTHOUSE

Meghan Sawatsky and the Students of Hope committee are hosting an online Art Auction on May 27 to 29 to raise money for the Lighthouse’s Building Hope project.

Students from Orillia and the surrounding area have donated paintings, baking, artwork, jewellery, etc.

See the link below for more information and to register. You can encourage Orillia’s young artists and help raise funds for The Lighthouse.
To view items see:

The Lighthouse Soup Kitchen & Shelter | BiddingForGood Fundraising Auction

To register to bid see:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1EaZNWeXjURSdphEimm3CDXtYZxFGXCveWjgEvJpC06s/viewform?edit_requested=true