June 30th, 2016

Fill the Ark

This week at Vacation Bible School, we are learning about Noah and how God saved him by having him build the ark and fill it with animals of every kind. As a part of our time together, we are challenging our kids to "Fill the Ark!" with animals to help hungry families around the world. Our mission offering this year is going to Heifer International - an organization that provides farm animals and training to people living in poverty so that they can have a reliable source of food and extra income from selling what they do not need. Our goal this week is to buy two flocks of chickens, two goats, two sheep, and two cows to send them to help those in need. If you would you like to support the goal of raising $1,500, please talk with me, Dinah, or Susie!

​Blessings on the journey, Jim

Summer Book Club

For the next few weeks this summer, we are going to be reading some of the lesser known books or overlooked parts of books in the Bible. 

Sunday's Sermon Snippet: Zerubbabel's New Job (Haggai)
About three centuries after the Temple was first built in Jerusalem, the kingdom of Judah was conquered, Jerusalem captured, its people taken into exile in Babylon, its king deposed, and the Temple destroyed. After a few generations, the people were freed from Babylon and allowed to return to their homeland. They rebuilt their homes, built a city wall for protection, planted crops for food, and began to return to life as normal. In the midst of all this rebuilding and simply living lives, the Temple still lay in ruin even 18 years later. Haggai the prophet spoke to Zerubbabel the governor, Joshua the priest, and all the people to remind them that God's house needed attention. Unlike many prophets who spoke of coming judgment, Haggai did not condemn them for this failure but pointed out how fruitless their lives were without a place to worship God. These were not bad people; they were just people who had forgotten about the work that God wanted done. So Haggai gave Zerubbabel a new job - to rebuild the Temple! Like Zerubbabel and his people, we too sometimes forget about how urgent the work of God is. We are busy simply living our lives and we put off the things God wants done for another day. After all, there will always be another opportunity to help someone, another Sunday to worship God, another day to pray. So we forget about how urgent the work of God is. Sometimes it is a matter of life and death for someone, and the opportunity may never come again. May we remember how urgent the work of God is and commit to doing what we can each day!

This Sunday in Worship
We all remember the story of Jonah and the Whale and the second chance God gave him to do what was right, but there's more to Jonah's story than that! What happened when Jonah actually went to speak as a prophet to the people in Nineveh that he hated? What did he learn about the ways of God? Join us this Sunday as we hear the story of "Jonah and the Worm"!

Living in Community

Thanks to Ralph for reporting to us on Sunday about what happened at Annual Conference this year!

If you are interested in singing as a part of a Christmas Cantata this year, please talk with Linda. 

This Week at Port Church

Monday - Friday
6 - 8:30 pm - Vacation Bible School at South River Elementary School
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Sunday, July 3
9:30 am - Worship: "Jonah and the Worm" 
11:00 am - Sunday School

Looking Ahead

100th Anniversary Celebration of Sanctuary - July 24