Re: How was church today ?
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 8:11 pm
Today's service was excellent- brought me to tears at the end. We had a visiting minister from Scotland speak as these next few days pastors from all over are at Parkside for the Pastor's Conference- we had 3 of them, visiting our Sunday School class (we are just starting the book of Hebrews in Sunday School)
I wondered if Undershepherd may be at this??
The Sermon was on how much the Father loves us- by sending His Son, and How much the Son loves us, by His willingness to die for us. It was a beautiful sermon- I would love to share with everyone. Then afterwards we sang "How Deep the Father's Love for Us"
In Sunday School, I sat next to a younger man, who had married a Mennonite gal- he explained they had been into a Charity type church at some point- I was somewhat excited about that as we had sought out Charity too, and felt maybe there was a common belief between us- Neil was talking to people on his right- anyway- the young man explained they and the Anabaptist have a different understanding on "Salvation". Uh-oh. And he brought up the Reformers (which I am not a fan of) and when he mentioned Calvin, I felt uncomfortable- and brought up how the Reformers persecuted the Anabaptist- then he explained why, and I defended the Anabaptists and Calvin came up and oh- it was hard. I just said- well, I really don't see how Calvin could have been a Christian and persecuted/killed ANYONE, and if Jesus said to love our enemies, how can that EVER be justified?!?!
After Church & Sunday School, in the common area, I looked across the room while Neil was getting coffee & some older man was seemingly waving at me- I looked behind me- he made it clear it was ME he was waving towards- so we walked to meet one another and he asked me if I was "Eli Miller's" daughter. Oh boy- well- I was wearing my scarf and right away I knew why he guessed I might be- apparently she is a Mennonite that attends Parkside- then another lady came up and asked me the same
The young man in Sunday School mentioned keeping focus on the "Essentials" vs "Non-Essentials" when considering the different sects within Christianity at large (he also made it clear our "Pentecostal" background was vastly different- of course I am well aware of that.
I just emphasized we love Parkside, we just need a 'safe place' for awhile to not have to figure all of this out.
Bottom line- Sermon was excellent- will we fit in here or anywhere? Again realizing overexposure to too much has hurt and helped. Dear Lord have mercy on us all.
I wondered if Undershepherd may be at this??
The Sermon was on how much the Father loves us- by sending His Son, and How much the Son loves us, by His willingness to die for us. It was a beautiful sermon- I would love to share with everyone. Then afterwards we sang "How Deep the Father's Love for Us"
In Sunday School, I sat next to a younger man, who had married a Mennonite gal- he explained they had been into a Charity type church at some point- I was somewhat excited about that as we had sought out Charity too, and felt maybe there was a common belief between us- Neil was talking to people on his right- anyway- the young man explained they and the Anabaptist have a different understanding on "Salvation". Uh-oh. And he brought up the Reformers (which I am not a fan of) and when he mentioned Calvin, I felt uncomfortable- and brought up how the Reformers persecuted the Anabaptist- then he explained why, and I defended the Anabaptists and Calvin came up and oh- it was hard. I just said- well, I really don't see how Calvin could have been a Christian and persecuted/killed ANYONE, and if Jesus said to love our enemies, how can that EVER be justified?!?!
After Church & Sunday School, in the common area, I looked across the room while Neil was getting coffee & some older man was seemingly waving at me- I looked behind me- he made it clear it was ME he was waving towards- so we walked to meet one another and he asked me if I was "Eli Miller's" daughter. Oh boy- well- I was wearing my scarf and right away I knew why he guessed I might be- apparently she is a Mennonite that attends Parkside- then another lady came up and asked me the same
The young man in Sunday School mentioned keeping focus on the "Essentials" vs "Non-Essentials" when considering the different sects within Christianity at large (he also made it clear our "Pentecostal" background was vastly different- of course I am well aware of that.
I just emphasized we love Parkside, we just need a 'safe place' for awhile to not have to figure all of this out.
Bottom line- Sermon was excellent- will we fit in here or anywhere? Again realizing overexposure to too much has hurt and helped. Dear Lord have mercy on us all.