In last week's Friday Feature News, we began introducing those who will become members of Stillmeadow on May 21st. We provide a face and a name - and information about each new member. So far it has been a real blessing to understand how these special people came to know Jesus and how they found their way to Stillmeadow. We continue with more introductions in this week's Friday Feature News.
As you can see by the title of our post, we liked one response so much we decided to change the name of the church! Read on.....
WELCOME TO THE STILLNAZ FAMILY!
John: HOW DID YOU FIND JESUS?
"I found Jesus in 1970 at Susquehannock High School in Glen Rock, PA. One Saturday night, I attended an event and thought it was just a chance to hang out, not realizing it was an evangelistic service. There was an altar call and at that altar I met Jesus."
HOW DID YOU FIND STILLMEADOW?
"I found Stillmeadow when I was invited by my future wife, Trish, to attend."
Trish: HOW DID YOU FIND JESUS?
"I was raised to know the Lord and accepted Jesus as a 10-year-old girl. In 1990, after living a life independent of Christ, I became frightened by world events and knew I needed to come back. By then I had a daughter and wanted to be a godly mother. It was during that frightful time that I made Jesus Lord of my Life."
HOW DID YOU FIND STILLMEADOW?
"I found Stillmeadow in the early 90’s (the new building) and began to attend when my children were youngsters (they called it “the church of the nectarine”! I left in ’96 to attend a different church, but could not find the same depth of love from its members that I had known while at Stillmeadow. In 2008, I returned with my future husband, and we’ve been attending ever since."
Lou: HOW DID YOU FIND JESUS?
"I grew up in a "strict legalistic religious home " so I kinda' knew who Jesus was all my life. But it wasn't until I got labeled with anxiety disorder and my best friend invited me to church with her that I became saved and started a personal relationship with Jesus."
HOW DID YOU FIND STILLMEADOW?
"Our friend Christina Howett is a Stillmeadow member and invited us."
HOW DID YOU FIND STILLMEADOW?
"Our friend Christina Howett is a Stillmeadow member and invited us."
"I was raised in a Christian home. When I was nine yrs. old we
attended Harmony Grove Church in Dover, Pa. It was just after the
children’s worship class. I raised my hand wanting to learn more about being
saved. A nice lady named Franny prayed with me. I
strayed at times throughout my life, but that seed was planted AND took
root. I’ve always come back and HE made it very clear he never
left."
HOW DID YOU FIND STILLMEADOW?
"My son, Kyle Beichner started
going to Stillmeadow Daycare back around 2003. I went to the service a few times. At
first it was a bit different to me. I wasn’t used to not singing out of a
hymnal and it just didn’t feel like a fit. A few years later I decided to go back on a regular basis. (I’m pretty
sure God had something to do with it). What stood out to me
the most was Pastor Bud’s preaching. It was like every time he preached, it
correlated with my life at that moment. There is not one time I’ve ever doodled
on paper during his preaching! Secondly, and just as important, I appreciate Stillmeadow's continued growth in Outreach Ministries."
Unique Wheels Car Shows have started for the season. Click HERE for update.
SERMON SERIES "UNDERDOGS"
Last month Stillmeadow began a sermon series called "Underdogs". Since then we've provided a brief recap of each sermon. Here are some takeaways from Pastor Bud's sermon last Sunday (Easter) - about the ULTIMATE underdog.
All the underdogs God chose to use for His glory did not set out to become underdogs. They became underdogs because their circumstances; their environments put them in the position of underdog. Not today. Today we will look at an underdog who chose to be one. It was intentional and His name is Jesus.
It was Jesus' intention to become an underdog. And He accomplished it. The sovereign Lord of the Universe . . . the Alpha and Omega . . . the beginning and the end . . . the Lord of all Creation . . . The External Logos . . . The Son of God . . . The Creator of us all . . .
Paul writes: Philippians. "He “emptied Himself . . . he made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant . . . being made in human likeness . . . he humbled himself . . . by becoming obedient to death . . . even death on a cross.”
This still amazes me. This reduction of Himself . . . this incarnation . . . was voluntary and intentional.
Once this decision was made within the community known as the Trinity, there was no turning back. In order to redeem the world the world witnessed what Thomas Oden and others have called "The Descent of God".
- The Descent of God was predicted by the Hebrew Prophets. Isaiah 9:2-7
- The Descent of God Continued When Jesus Was Conceived in the Womb of his mother Mary. Matthew 1:18-25
- The Descent of God Went Lower Still When Jesus was Born. Luke 2:1-7
- Went into exile and became a refugee? (Matthew 2:13-23)
- His parents raised him in Nazareth. Small town. Poor. Uneducated. They were an excluded people. (Luke 2:39)
- Jesus began His ministry by being baptized by His cousin who identified with sinners. (Matthew 3:13-17)
- Jesus suffered and was publically beaten and humiliated. (Luke 24:25-26)
- Jesus became sin and was punished for the sins of the whole world. (II Corinthians 5:21)
- Jesus was crucified. (Matthew 27:32-56)
- Jesus died (Matthew 27:50)
- Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb. (Luke 23:50-56)
- Was that the bottom? No. He went lower still! I Peter 3:19-20 – “Jesus descended into hell.”
And then the Ascent of God began.
- The Resurrection (Luke 24)
- The Ascension to the Right Hand of the Father – (Mark 16:19)
- The Promise of His Return (Matthew 24)
- And His Glorious Return - His Ascension will continue forever. (Rev. 19)
On this resurrection Sunday we encourage you to begin your ascent.
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