Blessings
Spring is April's way of saying, "Let's Bloom."
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Good Morning!
Sunday, April 6th, 2025
Courage to live Counter-culturally
Call to Worship and Prayer
Daniel 6: 25-28
Hymn #616, “ Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus”
Offering and Doxology
Hymn #598, “All The Way My Savior Leads Me”
Praise and Prayers
Responsive Reading: Daniel 6:1-12
Daniel in the Den of Lions
Leader - Even verses; Congregation - Odd verses
1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,
2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.
3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!
7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.
8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
Hymn #601, “Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us”
Special Music: “Courageous” by Casting Crowns
Sermon: “Courageous Living”
Hymn #18, “The Love Of God”
Benediction
Prayers:
Donna Glenn - caretaker, horses, Jim Glenn, hospice at home, Mary Sherwood, Wava, Don and Mike Shipley, Sherrie Thompson, cancer, Davie Warren - cancer, back, Randy Snapp - cancer, Dr. Woltemath - cancer, Harley Niles, kidney disease, Penny’s grandson Erin, Nancy Moran, Handy’s niece, Penny Warren - shoulder surgeries, Farmers in the fields
Praises:
Phyllis behind the wheel again, Magnolias ready to bloom, Johnson’s new home in Glenwood, Kelly’s 62nd birthday, Mary Zach’s sister Barb visited. So did Mike Gordon
COMING UP...
April 12th, Easter Egg Hunt at Percival Park at 10 am.
April 13th: Palm Sunday, pancake breakfast with Chef Jan, bring a side dish
April 18th: Good Friday Service 4 pm
April 20th: Easter Sunday
Members of the congregation are asked to help with buying church supplies. Look for a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Room
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Old churches must not simply stand as monuments to the past but as spiritual grandparents that have invested in the future by passing on their life to others and releasing their offspring to form new congregations. ~ unknown
Today's Sunday Church Share...
Picture via Pinterest
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Percy's Tidbit
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Have a great week!