September 24th, 2018

See You Saturday!

Our 225th anniversary celebration is finally here! This Saturday, we will gather at the Grottoes Fire Department hall at 3 pm for children's games, dime toss, music, food, silent auction, and cornhole. Please be aware that we are not to park in the reserved spots along the front of the building. See the schedule below for all events. At 6:30, we will begin clean up and then move to the sanctuary at the church for worship filled with music and a message from our District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Victor Gomez. Worship will begin around 7:15 as everyone makes their way from the fire hall. 

3-5 pm - Children's Games
3-5 pm - Dime Toss hosted by Port Republic Ruritans
3-3:15 pm - Registration for Cornhole Tournament - $10 per team
3-5 pm - Silent Auction to benefit Youth Mission Projects
4-6 pm - Music by Big City Band
5-6:30 pm - Food: Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Green Beans, Cole Slaw, Hot Dogs, Homemade Cakes!
5:30-6:30 pm - Silent Auction checkout - items must be paid for during this time!
7:15-ish pm - Revival Service at Port Church!

This promises to be a fun day! Come out and join us as we look back over the last 225 years and prepare to move forward into the next 225!

Looking Back, Moving Forward: As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us-eternal life. ~1 John 2:24-25~

Blessings on the journey, Jim

Sunday's Sermon Snippet

​Conflict: To the Victor Goes... (2 Samuel 19)
We left David last week grieving for his son Absalom who had died in a rebellious battle against him. His general tells him it is time to get up and start acting like a king to reclaim his crown. David begins the journey back across the Jordan and up to the heights of Jerusalem. As he does, he is confronted by many of those who had insulted and badgered him as he made his escape earlier. Now they come to grovel and beg for their lives. No one could blame David if he decided to solidify his control by eliminating all the enemies that have been outed in this unsuccessful coup, but he has one last surprise in store for us.

First, he sends word to Absalom's general Amasa that he now wants him to be his own general in place of Joab who had killed Absalom. A man named Shimei, a man loyal to the previous king Saul, had insulted and condemned David in his escape but now comes to apologize. David forgives him and pledges that he is not to be killed for his treason. On his escape, a servant from the household of Saul had come to report that Saul's last heir Mephibosheth was planning to claim the throne for himself in the midst of the turmoil. Mephibosheth comes to dispute this rumor, and we have no way of knowing who has told the truth. David doesn't know either, but he also doesn't care. He is not worried whether the servant has lied or Mephibosheth has betrayed him. He forgives them both. In each encounter, David could take revenge but he chooses mercy. He is the king - victorious - and it is up to him to rebuild his broken nation. Finally, Barzillai, a man who provided for David and his army as they prepared for battle comes to see David off. David tried to bless him to thank him for his hospitality, the old man comfortable in his own riches refuses it and instead blesses David on his way. Just as the old prophet Samuel had blessed David to be king at the beginning of his journey, Barzillai now blesses him to become king - a better king - again. 

What we learn from these encounters is that our conventional wisdom is wrong. We say, "To the victor goes the spoils." David understood that he had won more than the crown and the power to punish his enemies through his defeat of Absalom. He had won the responsibility to reach out to the defeated and be reconciled to them. It was not up to the losers in the conflict to grovel and ingratiate themselves to him for fear of their lives. As the winner, it was up to David to rebuild what had been broken by eleven years of conflict with his lost son. David shows us that winning a conflict faithfully means showing mercy to those who have lost. Sometimes a conflict has no clear winners or losers, but as people of faith we claim a greater victory than any mere conflict so it is up to us to show mercy and reconcile in such cases. To the victor goes the responsibility to reconcile!

Living in Community

Thanks again to everyone who has worked so hard over the last two weeks under the threat of flooding and to prepare for our anniversary celebration!

It's not too late to join the choir for our cantata!
Come to practice on Wednesday after the meal or on Sunday after worship.
Talk to Linda for more details.

This Week at Port Church

Wednesday, September 26
9:00 - 11:45 am - Office Hours
6:00 pm - Wednesday at the Port
Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Beets
6:45 pm - Cantata Practice
Thursday, September 27
9:00 - 11:45 am - Office Hours
Saturday, September 29
3:00 pm - 225th Anniversary Celebration at GVFD
7:15-ish pm - Revival Service at PRUMC Sanctuary
Sunday, September 30
9:30 am - Worship: "Legacy: Blessed to Be a Blessing"
11:00 am - Sunday School
Join us for our Philippians Bible Study during Sunday School!

1. Wednesday, October 3

9:00 - 11:45 am - Office Hours
6:00 pm - Wednesday at the Port
6:45 pm - Cantata Practice

Looking Ahead

Harvest Table to benefit Food Pantry coming mid-October
Nativity - December 14 & 15