March 27th, 2017

Spring Has Sprung

After a strange winter of balmy temperatures in February and a late snow in March, spring has definitely arrived in this past week. The air is warm, and the mornings still a little chilly. The first bulbs have flowered, and the grass is starting to be in need of mowing. The birds are welcoming us with their morning songs, and it is just time to get out into the beautiful days given to us. We will likely have a cold snap or two still, but spring has sprung!

One of the joys (or burdens if it's not your kind of thing) of spring is to get out, clean up the fallen branches, stray leaves, and mess of winter, and begin to prepare the yard for spring planting, mowing, and pruning. It is a lot of work, to be sure, but it has a great payoff when summer fully arrives. Then we can enjoy the beauty and fruits of our labor. It is not something that happens overnight, and it may even be a few seasons before we see the full results of our work. But the truth is that our work now leads to fruitfulness later. 

The same is true for our faith lives. There are no easy ways to grow in faith today. It takes work and preparation over the seasons to see the fruitfulness that can come in God's time. Spending time in prayer, reading Scripture, worshiping, and serving others may give us a little boost today, but the true fruitfulness is seen in time as we are shaped and grow to be the people God has made us to be. What will you do today to prepare the soil of your faith for tomorrow's fruitfulness?

Blessings on the journey, Jim

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Lurking at the Door

As we continue to journey through the season of Lent, our focus on how sin affected the family of Adam and Eve turns to the rivalry between their two sons, Cain and Abel.

​Sunday's Sermon Snippet: Lurking at the Door (Genesis 4:1-16)
​After Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, they had two sons, Cain and Abel, who became a grower of crops and a shepherd, respectively. When they brought offerings from what they had produced, God was pleased with Abel's but not with Cain's. There are different thoughts about what made one acceptable and the other not, but regardless of the reason Cain grew very angry over the way that his offering was received. God spoke to Cain warning him that if he did what was right he would be accepted. If he did what was wrong, however, sin would be lurking at his door ready to claim him. God's warning reveals to us a few things about how sin in our lives. First, God has given us the ability to resist sin in our lives and expects us to resist temptation. Second, sin is a dangerous thing that waits for when we are most vulnerable to strike and claim our lives. Third, when we are starting to face the temptation of sin in our lives, God is there with us to call us back to who we are called to be and the good we know we should do. God helps us to be vigilant against the sin waiting to claim our lives.

Living in Community

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This Week at Port Church

Tuesday, March 28
​9:00 - 11:45 am - Office Hours

Wednesday, March 29
6:00 - Wednesday at the Port
Menu: Ham with Mac & Cheese

Thursday, March 30
9:00 - 11:45 am - Office Hours
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Sunday, April 2
9:30 am - Worship with Communion
"From Garden to Garden: Living in a Mess"
11:00 am - Sunday School
4:00 pm - Confirmation Class at Ciro's
​6:30 pm - Financial Peace University

Looking Ahead

April 13, 7 pm  - Maundy Thursday Service
April 14, time tbd - Good Friday Service
April 16, 6:45 am - Easter Sunrise Service
April 23 - Youth Sunday
​June 26-30 - Vacation Bible School