Bill’s Bestowals:
“The Season of Lent: Time for Change”
“‘There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven …’
I thought in my heart …
‘For there will be a time for every activity,
a time for every deed.’”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1, 17)
The Christian season of Lent is upon us! It begins on Valentine’s Day this year, February 14. That day is also known as “Ash Wednesday;” a day that focuses on repentance as it sets the stage for us to consider being increasingly in step with God throughout the Lenten season.
With the thought of being more in step with God in mind, consider:
It has been said that the greatest possession you have is the 24 hours directly in front of you. I think there’s a lot of truth to that. I have found in my own life that, when I stop thinking of the next 24 hours as being filled with potential, I tend to fritter those hours away on tasks that will benefit no one … including myself.
Dr. C. C. Albertson once wrote the following about the use of time: “It might be wise for us to take a little inventory of our time resources and review our habits of usage. There are 168 hours in each week. Fifty-six of these we spend in sleep (for the average person). Of the remaining 112 hours, we devote 48 to labor. This leaves 64 hours, of which let us assign 12 hours for our daily meals.
“We have left 52 hours, net, of conscious active life to devote to any purpose to which we are inclined.
“Is it too much to say that … just as with our other resources … God requires a tithe of this free time? One tenth of 52 hours is 5.2 hours. How much of this tithe of time do we devote to strictly religious uses?”
Dr. Albertson’s words are something to consider! Even if a person allowed an hour for church each week, s/he would still have 252 minutes per a week – enough for well greater than a half hour each day – to use for God’s purposes. Imagine what a person could accomplish with that time – study, service, mission, prayer, encouraging others, etc. – and such a person would still have more than 45 hours a week for life’s chores and personal fun!
When it comes to time for God – studying His Word, building your personal relationship with Him, and serving Him – the old excuse, “I have too little time,” doesn’t really fly if we take Him as seriously as he takes us. What is more likely the case is this: too little planning of the time we have!
The Lenten season is a great time to take on a new challenge in our walk with God. Let’s tithe our time and have a closer walk with Him!
“May the Lord bless and keep you …” always! Pastor Bill
- S. – Please note that a worship service will be held at the church on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14. at 5 p.m. The service will be over well before 6 for those who are actively making Valentine’s Day plans! (Wink!)
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February 2024 Calendar:
Sunday: Fellowship Hour at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School at 9:45 a.m.
Worship at 11 a.m.
Wednesday: GriefShare at 1 p.m. (in church parlor)
LIFT at 5 p.m.
Feb. 3: Presbyterian Women’s Meeting – 11 a.m.
Feb. 3: Tea Party at Serena Loyd’s Home – 2 p.m.
Feb. 6: Christian Education Committee Meeting – 10:30 a.m.
Feb. 6: Mission Committee Meeting – 5 p.m.
Feb. 7: Fellowship Committee Meeting – 3 p.m.
Feb. 11: Installation Service for Pastor Bill –
during worship; General Presbytery Stewart Smith will offer message.
Feb. 13: Building & Grounds Committee Meeting – 10 a.m.
Feb. 13: Membership & Evangelism Committee Meeting – 6 p.m.
Feb. 14: Ash Wednesday Worship Service – 5:p.m.
Feb. 18: Fellowship Potluck Meal following Worship
Feb. 19: SFA Committee Meeting 1 p.m.
Feb. 21: Session Meeting 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 24: Fellowship Game Day – 12 p.m.
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES:
8 – Linda Spurgin
14 – Al & Cindi Hernandez
21 – Bill Hays
21 – Chelsea Stanbro
25 – Jason Myers
SERVING THIS MONTH:
Ushers: Susan Seitz & Leon Myers
Communion Preparers: Susan Seitz
Communion Servers: Leon Myers, Garrett Lundberg, Judy Thompson,
William Edwards & Chuck Schroyer
SPECIAL COLLECTION SUNDAYS:
Feb. 4: Personal Care Collection
Feb. 25: Goodland Academy
OTHER NOTABLE NEWS:
CHURCH ELECTRONIC CALENDAR: Did you know that you can easily access our interactive church calendar at any time? Simply go to our website: www.firstchurchmena.org. Simply click on “Calendar” at the top, then click on any date or activity of interest. Arrows on either side of the current month will lead you to past or future months. This calendar will be more up-to-date than what you see above.
INSTANT CHURCH DIRECTORY: Did you also know that the church phone directory is available to all members, anytime? It may be easily placed on pretty much any device, any time. Simply go to whatever “app store” your device uses, search for “Instant Church Directory” and download it. Open it. It will ask you to create a password that you will remember. After you input a password, you are in! PLEASE NOTE: Your e-mail address is your key to accessing the directory. If we do not have an e-mail address for you in the directory, you will not be able to access it. If you do not have an e-mail address, let Garrett Lundberg, Wes Stiefer or me know; we can still get you in!
