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Our Mission:
To become joyful disciples of Jesus Christ and to make joyful disciples of all people through Stewardship, Worship, Education, Evangelism, Pastoral Care, Service, and Fellowship.
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Our Discipleship Thought, Prayer and Scripture Memory Verse for the Week.
First our Scripture Memory Verse.
Psalm 121: 1 & 2, "I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."
Second our Discipleship Thought.
Christian disciples are not like firecracker Christians; instead, they are stargazing Christians! Firecracker Christians are all about the moment. Stargazing Christians are about the long haul - being faithful in the best of times and in the worst of times - being faithful in celebratory times and faithful in ordinary times. Firecracker Christians are all about show and dazzle, first impressions and pleasing people; stargazing Christians are about depth and always pleasing God. Firecracker Christians are about sound and heat; stargazing Christians are about light and love and life and true and authentic happiness. The challenge for us these days is how to move from being a firecracker Christian to becoming a stargazing Christians, a Christian who keeps his/her heart, his/her will, his/her eyes on the star of
Bethlehem, even our Lord Jesus Christ? The only way we can be a stargazing Christian is just that, gaze on the Lord Jesus Christ as the Psalmist reminds us when he says, "My help, my everything, comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth." So, resolve today to "Keep your eyes on Jesus / Look full in his wonderful face / And the things of this earth will grow slowly dim / In the light of his wonder and grace."
Third our Discipleship Prayer.
Father, gracious and loving Father, we love and worship you today, everyday and always. We bless you for your creation, your redemption, your sanctification and the assurance you will come back to take us home. Thank you for preparing those heavenly mansions for us. We pray that you will give us such courage, such grace and such wisdom that we will always keep our eyes, our hearts and our lives on you and you alone, today and always. That when you come to take us home, you will find in us a people whose lives are fixed on you and you alone for now and for all eternity. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen."
Celebrate a blessed 4th of July and may God Bless us and our country and all our loved ones today and always.
Fr. Desmond C. Francis+.
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Christ the King Episcopal Church - Normal, Illinois
