Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
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On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5) The verses above happen after Jesus’ resurrection and before his ascension. He makes clear that what he had told them was about to happen. The Holy Spirit is coming, and in just a few days; and the Holy Spirit is a gift from the Father. On the day of Pente...
John 2:1-5 - On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Jesus’ ministry and life on earth was made up of two primary actions: teaching and miracles. The Scripture text listed above tells the story of...
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 Happy New Year! I pray that your Christmas celebrations were filled with comfort and joy – comfort from the one who came to be with us in good times and bad, and joy at the gift of love and peace that is Jesus. And now, as a new year arrives, it is time for NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS! Did you make any this year? Why or why not? And if you did, how is it going? Many people find New Year’s resolutions to be a depress...
For the past eight weeks, I have shared with you all about a nightly faith practice called FAITH5. I’ve invited you each week to “Huddle Up in Faith” with your family to share these five simple steps: 1. SHARE your highs and lows 2. READ a Bible verse or story 3. TALK about how the Bible verse might relate to your highs and lows 4. PRAY together 5. BLESS one another with the sign of the cross I’ve tried to make the case that investing just a few minutes each night to connect with your family and with God, will reap benefits in the present an...
Over the past weeks, I’ve shared about a simple five-step nightly faith practice called FAITH5. FAITH5 is a nightly ritual that helps families grow closer to one another and to God, one night at a time. All that benefit and it only takes just a few minutes! Each night at bedtime, families “Huddle Up” to check in. Here are the five steps of the FAITH5 Home Huddle: 1. SHARE your highs and lows 2. READ a Bible verse or story 3. TALK about how the Bible verse might relate to your highs and lows 4. PRAY together 5. BLESS one another with the sign o...
Over the past weeks, I’ve shared about a simple five-step nightly faith practice called FAITH5. FAITH5 is a nightly ritual which helps families grow closer to one another and to God, one night at a time. All that benefit, and it only takes just a few minutes! Each night at bedtime, families “Huddle Up” to check in. Here are the five steps of the FAITH5 Home Huddle: 1. SHARE your highs and lows 2. READ a Bible verse or story 3. TALK about how the Bible verse might relate to your highs and lows 4. PRAY together 5. BLESS one another with the sign...
Over the past weeks, I’ve shared about a simple five-step nightly faith practice called FAITH5. FAITH5 is a nightly ritual that helps families grow closer to one another and to God, one night at a time. All that benefit and it only takes just a few minutes! Each night at bedtime, families “Huddle Up” to check in. Here are the five steps of the FAITH5 Home Huddle: 1. SHARE your highs and lows 2. READ a Bible verse or story 3. TALK about how the Bible verse might relate to your highs and lows 4. PRAY together 5. BLESS one another with the sign o...
Over the past weeks, I’ve shared about a simple five-step nightly faith practice called FAITH5. FAITH5 is a nightly ritual that helps families grow closer to one another and to God, one night at a time. All that benefit and it only takes just a few minutes! Each night at bedtime, families “Huddle Up” to check in. Here are the five steps of the FAITH5 Home Huddle: 1. SHARE your highs and lows 2. READ a Bible verse or story 3. TALK about how the Bible verse might relate to your highs and lows 4. PRAY together 5. BLESS one another with the sign o...
Over the past weeks, I’ve shared about a simple 5-step nightly faith practice called FAITH5. FAITH5 is a nightly ritual that helps families grow closer to one another and to God, one night at a time. All that benefit and it only takes just a few minutes! Each night at bedtime, families “Huddle Up” to check in. Here are the five steps of the FAITH5 Home Huddle: 1. SHARE your highs and lows 2. READ a Bible verse or story 3. TALK about how the Bible verse might relate to your highs and lows 4. PRAY together 5. BLESS one another with the sign o...
This is the second article in an eight-week series by Rev. Amy Kippen, First Lutheran Church Last week, I shared with you a simple, five-step, nightly faith practice called FAITH5. If you missed last week, no worries. Let me catch you up! FAITH5 is a nightly ritual that helps families grow closer to one another and to God, one night at a time. All that, and it takes only a few minutes! Each night at bedtime, families "Huddle Up" to check in. Here are the five steps of the FAITH5 Home Huddle:...
Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 These verses from Deuteronomy have been a guiding Scripture for my ministry with children youth, and their parents over the past two decades. It names the importance of parents in the faith formation...
My recent days have been filled with planning for Advent, the church season that begins on November 29 and continues for four Sundays. Advent is a time of preparation and waiting for the Christ child to be born at Christmas. Our Advent theme this year is “It’s True!”, based on the song of the same name by Christian artist Sara Groves. This song captivated my heart several years ago when it came out. As I listened to it again and again, my heart swelled and ached at the truth contained in the lyrics. On Christmas Eve of that year, I had the oppo...
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 118:1 I have been sitting here in front of my computer for over an hour, and the only thing I have typed is the Bible verse above. I keep typing a sentence or two and then deleting it. About 30 minutes ago, it felt like I was on a roll, having written a couple of paragraphs... and then I deleted that too. With Thanksgiving approaching, my desire is to write a beautiful and inspirational sermonette about being...
“I don’t have any.” “None.” “I think I understand, so no questions.” These were some of the answers I got on “Sermon Note Forms” recently turned in by our 7-8 grade Confirmation students. The prompt was as follows: One question I have is:_______________________________________________ Sermon Notes are a required part of Confirmation in most Lutheran churches. Students are expected to give a short report on the pastor’s sermon. The idea is that it promotes active listening, and it challenges the hearts and minds of young people to wonder— w...
Do you have a favorite Bible verse? John 3:16 is always a top pick, as is Psalm 23. Other top picks include Micah 6:8, Isaiah 41:10, Hebrews 11:1 and Philippians 4:7. Each verse, in fact all of Scripture, is chock full of promise and grace. I discovered my favorite Bible verse around 20 years ago, and it has captured and challenged my heart and imagination since then. Here it is: From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace - John 1:16 When I think back to my discovery of this verse, I am pretty sure that at the time, I was feeling...
Peace. It’s a thing. It’s not nothing. It comes from God and it’s real. Sometimes I have it in my heart. And sometimes I don’t. And when I don’t I feel its absence. When it’s gone I long for it. Peace is a settled rest, a grounded root. It surpasses understanding, the Scripture tells. And it does. Paul didn’t lie. How do I know? Because time and again, when all hell is breaking loose, when all hope seems gone,I sense a voice in my soul. Peace be with you, it whispers. Peace… be still. Peace. Peace peace peace like a blanket… How do I know? Be...
