Try a Walking Prayer

Here is a spiritual discipline that may prove to be very rewarding for you, whether you are a seasoned Christian or a seeker or anywhere in between. The walking prayer is simple to perform and yet can be quite moving. To practice this form of prayer, first turn off all your electronic devices (okay, this is an ancient practice and I've added that to it for all us moderns out here). Still with me? Good. Now, pick a Bible reading related to God and Nature. The first chapter of Genesis will work well, or, if you are pressed for time, try Psalm 65, focusing particularly on verses 5-13. Read these verses over a few times, until they are settled in your memory and your mind is focused on God's creation. Now take a walk outside. Keep all of your senses open and really take in your surroundings. Look, listen, feel, smell, and taste God's world all around you. Keep your mind free of distracting thoughts as much as possible. Focusing on your senses helps keep away your myriad to do lists, as does leaving your electronics at home. As you walk, taking in nature all around you, you may discover (and this may take several tries) that suddenly the natural world comes alive all around you. The trees and grass and sky seem to glow. The manmade world appears to recede as you become enraptured by God's creation all around you. You discover God in your surroundings, moving through creation, active and alive, and you begin to rejoice. Listen to the birds, smell the world around you, feel the breeze play across your skin. For me, the experience brought to life one of my favorite old hymns from childhood, I Come to the Garden Alone (And He Walks with Me). I truly felt like I was taking a personal walk with God, just as in Genesis 3:8 it states God would come to walk with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening. I hope this works for you and you too can take a closer walk with God. God bless you on your journey.

Call to Support Our Missionary in Cuba

On April 18, Carlos Peralta gave us a moving testimony concerning his trip to Cuba to teach at a seminary there and to visit with our missionary Sue Hegarty. He told us of the great difficulties facing Christians in Cuba, the lack of resources, and the labor intensive nature of cooking a meal or traveling to work. It was a moving testimony and many were reduced to tears before it was over. I hope, if you have the chance, you will take the time to go and hear Carlos speak at his next engagement. You won't be disappointed.

Over and over again, Carlos drove home the point that Sue Hegarty needs our help to continue her work. She is spreading the good news in a country that, in the 1950s, determined that Christianity would be driven off the island in ten years. Well, Christianity persists and Sue's work continues. If you wish to be actively involved in contributing to this valuable, ongoing ministry and help Sue and the determined seminarians Sue works with, please read the following. If you choose to contribute, you can click on the title of this article and go to the International Ministries site mention below or you can use the address given below to navigate there yourself. God bless you.

What can you buy for $1.00 a day?


In Sue Hegarty’s ministry in Cuba, one dollar will provide breakfast and lunch for a seminary student. A dollar will pay for internet access for 10 minutes, or enable Sue to place a two-minute call related to her work on her cell phone.

However, a dollar a day given throughout the year will pay for:

· Three curriculum writers meetings lasting 3 days (Two meetings are need for each lesson written.)

· Printing 600 copies of most Bible study materials

· Costs to provide Christian education training and materials for two churches

· Preparation time, teaching and materials for seminary students for two courses.

Sue says, “I take very seriously the image of the body of Christ found in the New Testament. It is a blessing for me as I work with Cuban Christians, to see their commitment, how each one contributes their spiritual gifts and how they complement each other. I also am grateful to be part of this effort so that our Christian service and outreach glorifies God, and that it is the highest quality possible-- be it training pastors, teachers or Bible study lesson writers. But I could not do this ministry without other members of the body of Christ in the U.S. praying for me and providing financial support for this work. Your ministry in the body of Christ is helping another part of the body in other countries. As we all work together to bring God´s message of love, hope and salvation to our needy world, we are being faithful servants of our Lord. Is God calling you to help?”

Beginning April 19 and extending only through May 31, International Ministries will provide a great opportunity for individuals to go online and donate $1 a day by making a commitment of $30 a month for one year in support of Sue’s ministry to train seminary students and Christian educators in Cuba. The "360 Matching Fund" enables individual donors to see their dollar-a-day commitment multiplied to $1.50 with a monthly gift of $30 becoming $45 and yearly donation of $360 growing to $540 for missionary support. A dollar a day goes a long way with this kind of math!

Individuals who have not previously made a regular commitment for Sue’s support, or those who have given a one-time or occasional contribution to International Ministries for Sue’s support in the past but have never made an ongoing commitment-- this new matching gift opportunity is just for you.

If God is calling you to help provide for Sue’s ministry in Cuba, please visit www.internationalministries.org/drives/360_matching_fund between April 19th and May 31 to learn more and make your dollar-a-day commitment.

Together we can help reach Cuba for Christ!

The Cuba Connection - Missionary Partnership Team for Sue Hegarty

Weekly Bible Verse: John 10: 22-30

John 10: 22At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. 30The Father and I are one.”

Seeking Joy? Go Countercultural!

We all want joy in our lives, sometimes desperately. Our culture tells us that finding joy is easy. Just open your wallet and buy the latest gadget, car, home, or pill, and happiness will be yours. Happiness comes, say our advertisers, with only five easy payments! Have you tried that approach? Of course you have, we all have in one way or another. And we've all found that the happiness our culture proclaims is ours for the taking is a fleeting and fragile thing. Shiny new gadgets become obsolete, cars rust, homes need repairs or become too small for a growing family, and the pill ... well, let's not even go there. I picked up a few books at the seminary the other day. Among them was Unexpected Joy by John DeVries. In 1986, Reverend DeVries wrote, "Joy enters our life 'through the back door.' The more you search for joy and happiness, the less likely you are to find it. The more you forget about yourself and give yourself to others, the more you are surprised by joy. Joy never comes in the front door; it sneaks in the back door. True joy comes as a surprise." (p. 11)

I wasn't expecting that from a free book in a used book pile. It was a pleasant surprise. It's good advice too, biblically centered and proven sound by generations of Christians globally. So, given we've tried everything else, how about following Reverend DeVries' advice. Give yourself to others and see if joy doesn't just sneak up on you while you are busy lending someone else a helping hand.

God bless you ... and good luck!

Christianity Is About Community

I was at Palmer Theological Seminary Thursday evening preparing to deliver my second sermon before the class in Preaching Practicum. On the way there I ran into a friend, a fellow seminarian named Chris. He asked how I was doing and I admitted to having the familiar pre-sermon jitters. His instant response was, "Give me your hand." Startled, I took his extended hand. Then he said, "Let's pray." He prayed for me. It was short and to the point, and went something like this, "God, use Jeff tonight to deliver the message you intend for him to give. Amen." That brief prayer and contact with a fellow sojourner lifted my spirits more than I could have imagined. I went into that sermon with peace in my heart and God did use me to deliver the message God intended that night. It reminded me that Christianity truly is about community, about helping others along the often difficult road of life. Jesus said (and I paraphrase), the greatest commandments are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and spirit and to love your neighbor as yourself. And on God's green Earth, all people are children of God and everyone is "your neighbor."

Jeffrey B. Snyder

From the Bible: John 21:1-19: Jesus Returns to the Disciples

John 21: After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. 9When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.


15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Hear From Our Missionary in Cuba

Exton Community Baptist Church supports our own Susan Hegarty, missionary to Cuba. Here is a link to her most current report on her recent activites in Cuba. See our previous post on Sue for ways you can support her vital ministry.

http://www.internationalministries.org/artifacts/19860

Carlos Peralta Speaks at ECBC Sunday

Everyone is reminded of the presentation scheduled immediately after Church on Sunday, April 18, to see and hear about Carlos Peralta's Missionary Trip to Cuba with which we helped with financial support. As part of the trip Carlos met and worked with our own Sue Hegarty in Cuba. We are sure he will have many interesting stories to tell about his time there. There will be a potluck lunch served after Church so please bring a dish to share. Something in a Cuban theme would be great but anything will work. Looking forward to a great turnout to hear what promises to be an informative and enjoyable presentation.

The public is welcome to hear about Carlos Peralta's mission experience.

Seekers: Let Me Make an Introduction

This is for anyone who wonders who it is we Christians follow or anyone seeking faith. I'd like to make an introduction. Please follow this link: http://hubpages.com/hub/Meet-My-Friend and see what all the fuss is about. I hope you'll find my friend intriguing and wish to know him better. If so, please stop by the Exton Community Baptist Church on Sunday and join us for worship and fellowship. We'll be happy to answer your questions and make a more detailed introduction. If you don't live close by, leave us a question in the comments section and we'll get back to you soon!

God bless you in your search for answers!

From the Bible: John 20:19-31: Jesus Is Risen and Returns

John 20: 19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”


26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Prayers for Families in Montcoal, West Virginia

We are praying for the coal mining families in Montcoal, West Virginia, and the surrounding communities, as they struggle and grieve with the tragedy of the coal mining disaster there. We also prayed for the safety and strength of the rescuers. Bless you for the risks you took. May God grant all of you strength for the difficult days ahead.

Psalm 139:7-12: Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol [the underworld], you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.

You are not alone. God is with you and we stand by you.

Order of Business

The planned ECBC quarterly business meeting has been moved from April 25 to May 2 to avoid having back to back luncheons/meetings after worship, as Carlos Peralta will be with us on April 18. Please note this in your schedules! See you there.

Personal Witness: Peace That Changed a Life

Spiritual seekers, or anyone else interested in matters of faith, may follow this link: http://hubpages.com/hub/Peace-That-Passes-All-Understanding and read about an experience of being touched by God that changed a life forever.

From the Bible: Easter Sunday: John 20:1-18

This reading is from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. This is why Christians celebrate Easter and consider it one of the holiest days of the year.

John 20: 1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples returned to their homes.


11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Exton Community Baptist Church wishes everyone a blessed Easter and invites you all to our Easter services.

From the Bible: Good Friday: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9

Hebrews 4:14-16: Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 5:7-9: In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him ...

Open Communion Today, Good Friday

Interim Pastor Reverend Jay Van Horn is throwing the ECBC church doors wide this afternoon. All believers in Jesus Christ are welcome to drop by and have communion with the pastor from 12 noon until 6 p.m. today. All seekers are welcome to stop by and have your questions answered and spend some time in the church in meditation.

We hope to see you there.

From the Bible: Maundy Thursday: Mark 14: 43-52

The mob has come to take Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane. This passage is taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible:

Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived, and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled." All of them deserted him and fled.
A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. The caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.

[Brief commentary on this reading from The New Oxford Annotated Bible (NRSV): Verses 43-50: Emphasis is on the excessive force used by the Jerusalem rulers in their covert action to capture Jesus, as if Jesus were a violent bandit-chieftan. Jesus mocks their reluctance simply to seize him when he had been teaching in the Temple courtyard, which betrays their lack of "authority" and political impotence with the people.
51-52: Young man ... naked, presumably symbolic in the narrative, of the disciples now standing exposed as unfaithful deserters and of Jesus as defenseless before the rulers. The "young man" appears once more in the narrative in 16:5-7.]

Maundy Thursday Order of Service, 2010

Prelude - Donna Dunn

Hymn - #145 ("Were You There?")

Responsive Reading - Isaiah 53:1-6

Choir Anthem

Scripture Reading (Mark 14:43-52) - Pastor Jay

Devotional Message - Pastor Jay

Hymn #136 ("O Sacred Head Now Wounded")

Communion

Scripture Lessons and Tenebrae

Three Minute Monologue: Judas - Pastor Jeff

Hope to see you all at the church tonight ... no foolin'! All are welcome.