WOW, who would have ever thought we could one day walk into a bank with a face mask and gloves to ask for money and not get arrested? Conflicting isn’t it?

Such has become our life during this COVID-19 pandemic with its social distancing and face mask requirements. It would seem we have been forced to become more like the Lone Ranger with the trappings of anonymity.

The other day, while I was waiting in a long line at Walmart, a question popped into mind for this article: Have you ever felt alone in a crowd? I think we all have. When it comes to being around others, do you feel a part of or a part from? When it comes to seeking fellowship, do we desire to be in or out? So many questions and so little time to ask and ponder them. But no matter, these are interesting questions, aren’t they? It would seem that COVID-19 and social distancing with face masks has either answered, solved or exacerbated the answers to them. Perhaps, in pre-pandemic times, we have convinced ourselves that we just don't have time for fellowship. We don’t need or want fellowship, its just not that important. Its just another thing to do and our time is already precious and cluttered.

But God knows that is just not true. Scripture tells us that we were created for God and to serve Him with each other in community. While we are grateful for modern technology and the ways we have tried to stay connected during this troubled and frustrating time, we still have that innate hunger which God has created in us for person-to-person contact. Think about it, even the Lone Ranger had his white steed Silver and his sidekick Tonto! Tonto had his pinto horse “White Feller” along with the masked ranger and his horse, they all had and needed each other. “Hi, Ho, Silver! Away!” Did that bring a smile to your face and Saturday morning memories? Yes, I hope! It also raises for me another question: Is it possible that God, in the midst of this forced isolation, this unwanted distancing and discomfort, has put us in a rare position to speak?

C. S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Are we listening?

The Greek New Testament uses two words for “church,” “koinonia” and “ecclesia.” Koinonia is the fellowship and ecclesia means the “called out” community. As Christians, we are uniquely both.

As the church, we are the “called out” of God for fellowship, the koinonia aspect of church. In fact, we always need to nurture koinonia, the fellowship of believers and always understand what it means to be the church, those who are “called out” by God from the world to be uniquely His people in the world (1 Peter 2:4-12).

When I look back at the early church through the eyes of Scripture, Acts 2:41-47 highlights for us God’s design for His Church, the community of believers.

“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching [steadily learning], and fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

PHYSICAL ADDRESS 13 Hermit Thrush Drive Buxton, Maine 04093

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Pastor’s Pondering

“… a deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”

God desires a relationship with us, so much so that He sent Jesus to bring us back to Him and to make it possible for us to have the rich reward of eternal life with Him. When you think about it, a part of the beauty of God's fellowship with us is how it is accomplished by our interaction with other people.

Not only does God desire the most intimate relationship possible with us, He also has the power that enables us to live life to the fullest together. As soon as we stray even the slightest bit from Jesus and the Holy Spirit, then we are relying to some extent on our own knowledge, our own power, and our own resources. Compromise and consensus are always a subtle and deadly decline from the will and purpose of God (Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Corinthians 2:16;

1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 105:4; Matthew 28:20).

Therefore, a major key to Christian living is to stay solidly connected to God and to each other, in good times and bad. No wonder we are instructed to rejoice always, give praise and thanks and to keep our eyes on Jesus.

So, don't be a part from. Be a part of.

Blessings!

Pastor Chuck

sermons4kids.com

A Father's Wisdom Theme: Father's Day - Listen to your father's teaching. Scripture: Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. Proverbs 4:1 Our Bible verse for today says, "Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding." How many of you listen to the wise things that your father says to you? After all, your father is older, has far more experience, and is much wiser than you are. To prove my point, I have made a list of the top ten sayings of a wise father. I am sure that you have heard many of these wise sayings from the lips of your very own father.

10. Why? Because I said so, that's why! 9. Just wait 'till you have kids of your own. 8. What did I just get finished telling you? 7. This is going to hurt me more than it does you. 6. Do I look like I'm made out of money? 5. Not now, I'm watching the game. 4. When you break your leg, don't come running to me! 3. No! We are NOT lost. 2. Be quiet! Can't you see I'm trying to think?

And number one on the list of the top ten sayings of a wise father is...

1. How should I know? Ask your mother!

Well, maybe your father doesn't always have all the right answers, but God has blessed most of you with a Godly father, and he has commanded you to show him honor and respect. You should also remember to pray for your father and ask God to give him the wisdom he needs to train you in the way that God wants you to grow.

I think it would also be a good thing to say a word of thanks to your fathers. Thank him for providing for your physical needs -- the house you live in, the food you eat, the clothes you wear. Thank him for the wisdom he shares --even though he may not always have all the answers. Finally, thank him for living a Godly life and setting a good example for you to follow.

Let’s Pray: Dear Jesus, we thank you for our fathers and we pray that you will bless them with the wisdom needed to be good fathers. Amen.

Bible Study

As you grow spiritually, God’s desire is that you increasingly know Him as Father and His Father-heart in your life each day.

One of the great declarations of the Bible is that God is Our Father. The Bible tells us of the amazing closeness, intimacy, warmth and tender-heartedness of God, Our Father. When received through faith in Jesus Christ and acted upon, this truth gives amazing freedom and power in our lives as believers.

Unfortunately, in societies around the world today, there are many “fathers” but few “good fathers.” This lack of knowing what a father signifies has led to many believers rejecting, or not fully receiving, the Father-heart of God. Do not let the devil steal away the joy of knowing your true Heavenly Father. Remember that even if you had a poor worldly father you can know and experience the amazing love and care of your Father in Heaven.

As you start to read, I want you to pray this prayer:

“Loving Heavenly Father, the Bible tells me of Your abundant love and care for me. Please forgive me for

any wrong ideas I have about You as my Father. Renew my mind and correct my thinking, so that I might

delight in Your love as much as You delight in loving me. Amen.”

Now, we are ready to begin looking at what the Bible says about the Father-heart of our Father in Heaven.

1. God as Our Father is Revealed in the Bible

The New Testament is full of passages declaring God to be Our loving Heavenly Father. Allow me to quote three important aspects of this:

• One of the best-known pictures of God as Father is seen in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). Here, the son runs away from his home and family, wasting his time and money in sinful rebellion. When he realizes his foolishness, the son returns expecting shame and condemnation from his father. Instead, the father is shown to have been looking every day for his son to come back, and upon seeing him, the father runs to him, lavishing him with extravagant love and gifts. Never forget this picture of the Father’s love for you: God will never forget you, reject you, and always desires that you will come home to Him.

• Jesus taught us to pray to God as Father (Matthew: 6:9). Prayer is time spent in the presence of the Father. It is not only talking to Him but listening to His voice; it is a two-way conversation. Our Father wants you to spend time in His presence; praising, worshiping and communing with Him. He never ignores you, and He loves to hear your voice.

• Jesus and Paul both declared that God is not just Father, but Abba. Abba is an Aramaic word which has no simple explanation in English, but is often said to mean “daddy” (Mark: 14:36, Romans: 8:15). One person put it like this:

It is easier to explain Abba using the Italian language by looking at the word “Papa”. This is a real word very young children use for their Fathers and is pretty easy for them to say and is a term of great love and endearment. However, the very same word “Papa” is used for the Pope, someone the Italians particularly hold in great esteem. The word Papa therefore holds huge honor and a magnificence and reverence in that context and one of great intimacy and familiarity in the other.

God wants us to know the intimacy of Him like a small child does with their dad, but also to understand that Our Dad is the Creator of the universe. He is mighty, powerful, awesome living God. Allow God to soften your heart so that you can call Him “Dad” and know that He looks upon you with favor and listens to your voice with delight.

2. Living Out the Father-heart of God

Knowing that God is Our Father is much more than just knowing some verses from the Bible; it is a truth that should change our lives. Below are five out-workings of the fact that God’s Father-heart is constantly towards us.

– It means we are constantly loved by Our Father

Resting securely in the love of God is a birthright of every believer. You can be confident that your Father loves you constantly with an unchanging love (Romans 8:39). God declares that in His love, He wants to be involved in every area of your life. There is nothing you do that God does not care about.

– It means we will be provided for by Our Father

Becoming a part of the family of God means that your Father provides for you in many ways, for example:

• Your daily food – Jesus taught us to pray in faith – “Give us this day our daily bread” – knowing that Our Faithful Father will provide as we ask (Matthew 6:11).

• His Presence – God does not leave you to walk alone but gives you the Holy Spirit, the living presence of God within you.( Luke 11:13), “…how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”

• Gifts – In order to do the work the Father calls us to do, He equips us, giving us gifts so that we can do His work, in His power, for His glory (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).

– It means you are forgiven by Our Father

You must live each day knowing that God is ready and willing to forgive your sins (1 John 1:7-9). Yet, living in the forgiveness of God is at times tremendously challenging. We feel down because of the mistakes and sin in our lives. But failing to ask for and not receive God’s forgiveness can be crippling to your walk with God. When you sin, remember you have a Father who loves you unconditionally and is waiting for you to turn back to Him. He loves to forgive you.

– It means you will be disciplined by Our Father

In (Hebrews 12:5-11), the Scripture talks about Our Heavenly Father loving us so much that He will discipline and correct us at times. Our earthly fathers corrected us so that we would live in the best way possible. Likewise, God disciplines us so that we might become more and more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). This takes place in various ways: As you read the Bible and realize you have been walking in some way that is displeasing to God; as a conviction or thought placed in your mind by the Holy Spirit, etc. In fact there are all sorts of ways our Father speaks with us to make sure we live the abundant life He has promised (John 10:10). If you are ever in doubt here, then ask someone who is older and more experienced what they think. Based on the Bible, they will be able to guide and advise you.

– It means there is a hope and a future

There is no need to fear the future, or to fear death; for through our faith in Jesus, God our Father declares that there is an eternal home for us in Heaven. When this life ends, we shall be welcomed into Heaven! This gives our hearts great peace and security, for we know that we have believed and trusted our Father while living here on Earth. As we move on to Heaven, we can be sure that Jesus has prepared a place for us (John 14:2) and He will welcome us.

In Closing

Knowing the Father-heart of God is a source of great peace and great power in your walk as a believer. The devil will try to convince you of all sorts of rubbish; that God doesn’t care at times; that your sins are too great to be forgiven; that God doesn’t love you…

I could go on but what is important is that you know and take hold of the fact that God’s Father-heart reveals all those things to be lies. God loves you and is calling you to greater intimacy; to a deeper knowledge of Him and His ways; to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Father, come and invade my heart with Your loving Presence. Heal my hurts; cast out my anxious thoughts. Let Your peace reign over all my life. Fill me afresh with Your wonderful Spirit so that I might live each day knowing the Father whose heart is always towards me. Amen.

Discussion: Has there been any challenges in understanding and experiencing the Father-heart of God in your life? What has the Lord taught you about your relationship with Our Father in Heaven?

1. John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever____________________ in him should not perish, but have ever lasting life.

2. John 1:1

In the beginning was the _____________________, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

3. John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the _______________, but by me.

4. Matthew 28:19

Go ye therefore, and teach all___________________, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the Son, ad of the Holy Ghost.

5. Romans 3:23

For all have _______________, and come short of the glory of God.

BIBLE QUIZ

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Bar Mills Community Church

P.O. Box 424

Bar Mills, Maine 04004

Or drop it the offering basket at the drive-in service Sunday morning.

Dear church family,

I am writing to let you know the status of the Search Committee. Due to the recent onset of the

coronavirus pandemic that started in March, the committee has been on hold. At our meeting

previous to the virus, we had narrowed our search to a handful of qualified candidates and we had

also planned to schedule a meeting with Al Fletcher from The American Baptist Conference of

Maine (ABCOM) to guide us with the next steps with our search but that meeting has been put on

hold until we can meet person to person again. As committee chairperson, I reached out to several

of the candidates by phone and email to learn that their lives have also been on hold due to the

pandemic.

The committee decided to resume meeting again with practicing the appropriate guidelines put in place by the governor. We met on May 19th by ZOOM and in person with masks in place and sitting six feet apart (which I guess will be our “normal” way for a while). We were informed of Pastor Chuck Reed’s resignation as our interim pastor at this meeting. His last Sunday to preach will be June 28th. We all wish Pastor Chuck and his wife Barb the best as they follow God’s leading in the future. Their ministry to our church family has been a tremendous blessing.

We plan to meet as a committee frequently throughout the summer. In the meantime, local pastors are being enlisted to serve our church.

We ask for your continued prayer for our church. May God lead us to our next full-time minister in the near future.

Sue Dunn, Chairperson