Pray for MBF, week 4

 
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Dear Partners in Mission, 
This being our last week of intentional prayer and fasting for the month of January, we want to thank you for joining us every Friday and seeking God's direction for our partners in developing countries. God is good and merciful as we wait for his answers. He loves every church and hospital we serve alongside as they share medical missions with the poorest of the poor. To learn more about this prayer focus and our partners' needs please visit mbfoundation.org/january-prayer-focus/. 
Blessings, 
E. Andrew Mayo
CEO, Medical Benevolence Foundation

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Communion Sunday

Dear Friends in Christ –

I often speak of the narrative sweep of the Bible as God’s love song to God’s people. And so this Sunday we’ll engage two texts starting with Isaiah 40 and ending with Mark 1:29-39.

The 40th chapter of Isaiah is known as the beginning of Consolation. A fresh voice speaks of comfort, of promise, of restoration by the cosmic God who is “everlasting, the creator of the ends of the earth."

We continue in Mark, continuing in the first chapter, as Jesus has returned from the desert, taught in the synagogue and exorcised a demon. He leaves the synagogue. He and his disciples stop by Simon and Andrew’s house. Simon (soon to be renamed as Peter) discovers his mother-in-law feverish and in bed. Jesus restores her. “He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up.”

Men and women, the cosmic God and the comforting God are one and the same. From across the centuries we are given hope, inspiration and evidence of the one who does not abandon, who creates, who meets us at our point of need and lifts us up.

Aren’t we in need of a little lift? Come worship our never-failing God of the ages. See your friends. Meet the recent arrivals. Welcome the seeking and hear the combined choirs of the First and Second Presbyterian Churches of Charleston!

In anticipation –

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Choir Collaboration

 
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The Kirk Choir from First(Scots) Presbyterian, directed by Ricard Bordas, will join our choir Sunday to sing two anthems by John Rutter. "This Is the Day" was premiered at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey. It was commissioned especially for the occasion by the Dean and Chapter of the Abbey. And "A Gaelic Blessing", commissioned in 1978 by the Chancel Choir of First United Methodist Church in Omaha, Neb., and sung here for the ordination and installation of Rev. Darwin in 2004. Our choir joined First Scots' to sing "This Is the Day" for the installation of Rev. Holton Siegling last fall.

UPDATE: Click the link to listen to those two anthems sung February 4, 2018

Kindergarten Sunday

Join us for Kindergarten Sunday where the children from our preschool and kindergarten program will sing and participate in the 11:15am service next Sunday, February 11th. The five-year-olds will be recognized and everyone is invited to join us at a luncheon held afterwards in the Fellowship Hall.

 
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THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH EVENT PHOTOS

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Montreat Youth Conferences

 
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Montreat Youth Conferences for rising 9th-12th graders: June 10th-16th at Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, NC. Rising 6th-8th graders: July 18th-22nd at Maryville College in Maryville, TN. For more information regarding costs, details, scholarships or questions please email Liv. Must sign up by March 1st.

The Montreat conferences are unique gatherings of young people from all over the country for a week of study, worship, and recreation. Activities include morning energizers, music, keynote, small group meetings, afternoon recreation activities, and evening worship. Come experience God’s transformative love in creative and amazing ways with friends new and old.

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Dear Friends in Christ –

There are many questions that are raised in our text for Sunday. Jesus is just coming from his battle royal in the desert. You’ll recall that immediately, as Mark would say, after his baptism Jesus was ‘driven’ into the desert, the wilderness, where the wild things are to battle hunger, heat, cold, exposure, isolation – to battle Satan.

Jesus was compelled to boot camp to condition him for the campaign ahead.

Why do I address you with such bellicose imagery? Because I believe we are at war. We’re in battle daily combating those forces that would demean, would belittle, would destroy the goodness of God’s creation. Those people, things, or forces that would rob us and all of God’s creatures of the blessings and the joy that is ours as people of the Holy God.

It being the Sabbath, Jesus comes to the synagogue (as I’m sure you will) and begins to teach. The people are astounded. He teaches “as one having authority.” Mark says, “Just then.…” Remember Mark is characterized by immediacy, urgency. Just then a man in the synagogue, seemingly possessed, shouts out at Jesus.

Men and women, this may be one of the most important texts of the year because of what Jesus does and when and how he does it – he reclaims the man for life, for his family, for his community for the reign of the Holy. He sends the demon packing!

What does this have to do with us? Everything. Jesus takes care of business. First things first.

This Sunday we baptize Lynnlee Jaffe. We commission Jessica Rodman for her work with the Peace Corp. We celebrate the life of Jim Lichty at 2:00. We are reminded through scripture that through each passage of our lives we are accompanied by the God who loves us and has promised to never let us go. What we get to do!

 

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Souper Bowl of Caring

 
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This year our money collected for Souper Bowl for Caring will go to Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation. The kindergarten will also be hosting a canned food drive simultaneously to benefit SIHA. Collection will be Sunday, February 4th following the 11:15 worship service.
 
27% of Wadmalaw residents and 15% of Johns Island residents live below the poverty level. That is nearly 4,000 people who struggle with hunger on the islands. Founded at the beginning of 2015, Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation was formed from a desire to ensure consistent and dependable sources of food to reach the people in need.
 
We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with local organizations as they seek to do kingdom work in the world. Because of volunteers like you, Souper Bowl of Caring is able to mobilize a movement to fight hunger and poverty.

THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE AN EVENT PHOTO

 
 

Pray for MBF, week 3

 
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Dear Partners in Mission, 
We are three weeks into prayer and fasting as we continue to seek God this month specifically about meeting our partners' needs. Beginning the year in a deficit position is challenging for us, but not God. He is our provider and he has the answers. Join us. To learn more about this prayer focus and our partners' needs please visit www.mbfoundation.org/january-prayer-focus/. 
Blessings, 
E. Andrew Mayo
CEO, Medical Benevolence Foundation

Goodbye Jessica

 
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During the 11:15am service this Sunday, January 28th, Jessica Rodman will be commissioned in her call to discipleship as a Peace Corps Volunteer before she deploys in mid-April to teach English in former Soviet Georgia in Eastern Europe. Georgia has a long history of invasion and is currently recovering from their recent Russian occupancy. Jessica will be a part of a woman's/girls' empowerment program since trafficking is prominent in this area.

Jessica has been an involved member of both the church and the Journey the last few years and will be missed and prayed for as she leaves Charleston.