Avoid Self-Rejection

One of the greatest dangers in the spiritual life is self-rejection. When we say, "If people really knew me, they wouldn't love me," we choose the road toward darkness. Often we are made to believe that self-deprecation is a virtue, called humility. But humility is in reality the opposite of self-deprecation. It is the grateful recognition that we are precious in God's eyes and that all we are is pure gift. To grow beyond self-rejection we must have the courage to listen to the voice calling us God's beloved sons and daughters, and the determination always to live our lives according to this truth

Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey

Weekly Bible Verses: John 3:14-12: For God So Loved the World...

John 3:¹⁴And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. ¹⁶“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ¹⁷“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ¹⁹And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. ²¹But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

A Challenge For Us All

Religion declined not because it was refuted, but because it became irrelevant, dull, oppressive, insipid. When faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit; when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendor of the past; when faith becomes an heirloom rather than a living fountain; when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion, its message becomes meaningless.

Abraham Heschel

Jewish Rabbi, Theologian

Choose to be faithful, worshipful, loving, engaged with the crises of today, and all the rest mentioned here. Let all who meet you know you for the joy and life your faith brings to you and that you extend to them. Have a blessed day!

Weekly Bible Verse: John 2:13-25: Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!

John 2: ¹³The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. ¹⁵Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” ¹⁷His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” ¹⁸The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” ¹⁹Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ²⁰The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” ²¹But he was speaking of the temple of his body. ²²After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
²³When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. ²⁴But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people ²⁵and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.

ECBC Missionary Sue Hegarty's Birthday Is Coming and YOU Can Make It Happier!

As you know, Sue’s birthday is coming up on April 8^th… Easter Sunday!  Your greetings can be sent to her c/o International Ministries, Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851.

 Once again, we will be celebrating with a fun food fundraiser.  We plan an all-day fundraiser on

           

            Monday, April 9^th  at the Bob Evans Restaurant in Exton, PA. 

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner sales will qualify for the fundraiser.  Bob Evans will give 15% of the value of sales to our participants on that day to Sue’s ministry.  Look for the coupon for this event with the March issue of Sue’s News.

Weekly Bible Verses: Mark 8:27-38: Who Do You Say That I Am?

Mark 8: ²⁷Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” ²⁸And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” ²⁹He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” ³⁰And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
³¹Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³²He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
³⁴He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. ³⁶For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? ³⁷Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? ³⁸Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Come Celebrate Easter With Us: Our Easter Services Schedules, 2012

April 1 - Palm Sunday - 11:00 AM worship with baptisms
April 5 - Maundy Thursday - 7:00 PM service with Communion
April 6 - Good Friday - 

• The sanctuary will be open for prayer from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You are invited to stop by anytime to pray for personal needs as well as the needs of others.
• 7:00 PM - Good Friday Service.

April 8 – Easter Sunday

• Sunrise Service at Millers Park – 8:00 AM
• Pancake Breakfast at the church.
• Easter Worship - 11:00 AM

Please extend an invitation to your family and friends to attend these services. All are most welcome.