A worship preview from Pastor Laurel

Life and Death and Life

It is not possible to embrace life without facing death.

It is not possible to embrace faith without accepting change and transformation. As Jesus said, “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24)

We open the gift of life with excitement when it first arrives, celebrating the beginning, rejoicing in new life and new possibilities. After a while, however, it ceases to be extraordinary and loses its freshness. We start taking the presence of life for granted and assume it will always be there with us. It was true of Jesus; it is true of our own life; is true of Pencader Presbyterian Church.

Some of the changes that come along the way seem as normal as the passing of seasons and years: Jesus grew from precocious boy to rabbi; we age; the sanctuary of Pencader changes shape and appearance. Some are like a new revelation that opens our eyes to aspects of that familiar life in new ways: Peter, James and John see Jesus transfigured; a daughter walks down the aisle on her wedding day; Pencader goes back 300 years in time to life in 1710. Some changes come as unpleasant surprises. Jesus’ followers learn that he is not going to lead a political revolution; we lose a job; Pencader’s financial safety net collapses. And some come as a shock that catches us totally unprepared: Jesus is crucified; a child dies; Session announces that Pencader Presbyterian Church will close.

Somehow death always catches us by surprise. It shouldn’t. It always lies on the opposite side of birth. Yet it seems that we are never quite prepared to deal with death. Early timing may make the shock more understandable, but the finality of death always knocks the wind out of us—even when we know its time has come.

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Embracing change and transformation opens doors to new beginnings; accepting death reveals new life.

Ourform of life in Pencader will end this Sunday. Like it or not, ready or not, we will be changed and transformed. We have known it is coming, known it is time, but when the reality arrives this Sunday it will knock the wind out of us.

Still…

There is no end that is not also a beginning.

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

Words & music: Natalie Sleeth, 1986

Pencader's Vision

We answer God’s call to make disciples,
meet human needs and worship God.

Choir

Choir usually rehearses on Saturday morning at 9 A.M. with Melinda Benson in the Social Hall. See our upcoming events calendar. New singers are always welcome.

THESE DAYS

is a booklet of Daily Devotions for Living By Faith and has been made available through the generous contribution of a Pencader member. Pick-up a copy on the table at the church door. These booklets have been ordered and will be in soon.

3 RECOVERY GROUPS ARE WOVEN INTO PENCADER'S FABRIC.

Sundays, 7 P.M. AA meets in the Gathering House

Mondays, 7P.M. AA meets in the Gathering House

Fridays, 7 P.M. AA meets in the Fellowship Hall

Visit our church at www.pencaderchurch.org

Laurel Brundage, Pastor

Melinda Benson, Director of Music

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Sandy Averitt, Clerk of Session

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