Press On

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Philippians 3:4-14 NIV

though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

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In Person Worship 10/4/2020

After careful consideration the Unified Committee has decided that we will return to in person worship beginning next week, Sunday October 4th.  This will of course be with some differences.  

  •     We will only use every other pew, 

  •     Members from different households are to maintain six feet separation 

  •     Everyone wear a mask.   

  •     There will be no fellowship food served after the service.

If you are health compromised in some manner it is highly recommended that you not attend.  As always, we will continue to offer our services live each week via Youtube. Should you still want to come and the weather cooperates, we will offer the audio of the services outside to the yard directly beside the sanctuary.  We are also working on setting up the television so you could watch the live stream of the broadcast should you want. This is a phase one step to returning to weekly services and we will continue to evaluate the situation and make changes as needed.  I know we all want to see each other again but we need to remain vigilant in caring for each other.  

I am thankful for the way God continues to look over us as we navigate these strange and difficult times.  I am excited to see many of you again as we gather in gratefulness for the Grace we have experienced.   

God Bless,

Robert

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God Enables

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Philippians 2:1-13

Lexham English Bible

Humility and Unity

2 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 complete my joy, so that you are in agreement[a], having the same love, united in spirit, having one purpose[b]. 3 Do nothing according to selfish ambition or according to empty conceit, but in humility considering one another better than yourselves, 4 each of you[c] not looking out for your own interests[d], but also each of you for the interests[e] of others.

Christ’s Humiliation and Exaltation

5 Think this in[f] yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, existing in the form of God,
    did not consider being equal with God something to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself
    by[g] taking the form of a slave,
    by[h] becoming in the likeness of people.
And being found in appearance like a man,
8 he humbled himself
    by[i] becoming obedient to the point of death,
        that is, death on a cross.
9 Therefore also God exalted him
    and graciously granted him the name above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
    of those in heaven and of those on earth and of those under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Holding Fast to the Word of Life

12 Therefore my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For the one at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure, is God.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:2 Literally “you think the same thing

  2. Philippians 2:2 Literally “thinking the one thing”

  3. Philippians 2:4 Some manuscripts have “each one of you”

  4. Philippians 2:4 Literally “the things of yourselves”

  5. Philippians 2:4 Literally “the things”

  6. Philippians 2:5 Or “among”

  7. Philippians 2:7 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“taking”) which is understood as means

  8. Philippians 2:7 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“becoming”) which is understood as means

  9. Philippians 2:8 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“becoming”) which is understood as means

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God Sent Me

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===> Link to all Hymns, Prayer list and Bulletin <===

Genesis 45:4-8

New International Version

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[a]

8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

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What will you draw from the water?

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Exodus 2:1-10

Lexham English Bible

The Birth and Early Life of Moses

2 And a man from the family[a] of Levi went, and he took a descendant of Levi.[b] 2 And the woman conceived, and she gave birth to a son, and she saw him, that he was a fine baby, and she hid him three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a papyrus basket for him, and she coated it with tar and with pitch, and she placed the boy in it, and she placed it among the reeds on the bank of the Nile. 4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. 5 And the daughter of Pharaoh went down to wash at the Nile, while her maidservants were walking alongside the Nile, and she saw the basket in the midst of the reeds, and she sent her slave woman for it and took it 6 and opened it and saw him—the boy—and it was a lad weeping, and she had compassion for him and said, “This must be from the boys of the Hebrews.”[c] 7 And his sister said to the daughter of Pharaoh, “Shall I go and call for you a woman from the Hebrews who is nursing so that she will nurse the boy for you?” 8 And the daughter of Pharaoh said to her, “Go.” And the girl went, and she called the mother of the boy. 9 And the daughter of Pharaoh said, “Take this boy and nurse him for me, and I myself will give you wages, and the woman took the boy, and she nursed him. 10 And the boy grew, and she brought him to the daughter of Pharaoh, and he became her son, and she called his name Moses, and she said, “Because I drew him out from the water.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 2:1 Literally “house”

  2. Exodus 2:1 Literally “daughter of Levi”

  3. Exodus 2:6 Each instance of the implied “she” in verses 5 and 6 is the daughter of Pharaoh

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The Word is Near You

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Matthew 14:22-33 New International Version

Jesus Walks on the Water

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said. Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

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Topic: Morgan's Chapel UMC & Stapleton UMC After Church Fellowship Time: Aug 9, 2020 10:30 AM Central Time

Morgan's Chapel UMC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Morgan's Chapel UMC & Stapleton UMC After Church Fellowship
Time: Aug 9, 2020 10:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/4265458247?pwd=L0FzQ0FISkpSckFlTnBZMXo1dGhvUT09

Meeting ID: 426 545 8247
Passcode: mcumc
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,4265458247#,,,,,,0#,,576570# US (Chicago)
+19294362866,,4265458247#,,,,,,0#,,576570# US (New York)

Dial by your location
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
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Meeting ID: 426 545 8247
Passcode: 576570
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acd6tuzQIc

If you have a smart phone or tablet,  download and install the Zoom App before this meeting to share your camera and microphone.

 

The Phone numbers listed are for folks who do not have access to a microphone on their computer.  They can still communicate to the gathering via the phone.

 

You can test connect before the meeting to make sure your settings will work.  Let me know if I can help with this.

 

Ron Taylor

251-609-2780


--

Morgan's Chapel UMC

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The Struggle Is Real

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Genesis 32:22-31

Jacob Wrestles with God

22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children,[a] and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,[b] for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel,[c] saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

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Give thanks, sing praise & remember

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Psalm 105: 1-11  

1 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.
2 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.
3 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.

5 Remember the wonders he has done,
    his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,
    his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
7 He is the Lord our God;
    his judgments are in all the earth.

8 He remembers his covenant forever,
    the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant he made with Abraham,
    the oath he swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
    to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
11 “To you I will give the land of Canaan
    as the portion you will inherit.”

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Letter from Pastor Robert

Dear Morgans Chapel,

    As you know, last week I learned that I had been exposed to a Covid patient.  On Monday I was tested and my results were positive.  The blessing in all of this is that the only symptoms I have experienced have been no worse than normal allergies.  Even so, I have quarantined myself for the next week. That being said, even with the extra precautions in masking and distancing that were taken during last weeks service, the Unified Committee has decided that we not have any other gatherings in the sanctuary until it has been thoroughly  cleaned.  This does not mean that we will not have an on line service, only that it will not originate from the church.  That means no FM broadcast to the parking lot. Ron and I have been working on other options to be able to offer a service in spite of this setback.  Tammy and I will stream a worship from the house.  It will be different (we're really having to get used to different, aren't we?) but it will be a service none the less.   

    I think the biggest take away we get from these events is that you cannot be too careful. When you cannot see the threat, it is so easy to fall back into the old ways.  I urge all of you to take all the precautions you can.  Wear a mask, keep your distance, remember you are safer at home, stay away from groups of people, especially those who do not wear a mask.  These are some strange and stressful times, but I remember, God is with us.  And God is for us.  The church has weathered worse storms than this and we will do so again.  Keep checking on each other, find ways to connect in spite of the situation.  Keep the faith.

God Bless,

Robert

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Pleasing God

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Romans 8:1-11 Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Set Free from the Law of Sin and Death

8 Consequently, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what was impossible for the law, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did. By[a] sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the requirement of the law would be fulfilled in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are living according to the flesh are intent on the things of the flesh, but those who are living according to the Spirit are intent on the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mindset of the flesh is enmity toward God, for it is not subjected to the law of God, for it is not able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him[b]. 10 But if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ Jesus[c] from the dead will also make alive your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you.

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You can't please everyone

==>click here to watch sermon on YouTube<===

==>click here for bulletin, prayer request and hymns<===

““To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: “ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:16-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/mat.11.16-19.niv

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Letter from Pastor Robert and Sermon Prophesying Peace

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June 27th, 2020

A Letter from the Pastor.

               Well, here we are again, just at the point when we think that we will be able to worship in person again, only to see the number of cases going up and we find ourselves disappointed. In case you have not heard, the Bishop has asked that we continue with our current arrangements for the foreseeable future.  Of course, we will continue to offer our joint services with the congregation of Stapleton as we have been.  We also have our FM broadcasts continuing as well.  That means if you really want to get out of the house, you can drive to the church and listen to our service live on 91.7 FM.  I must admit, the news of not gathering in person is a disappointment. I miss seeing all of you but have no desire to see anyone become sick because we were in to much of a hurry to get back together.   Despite this latest setback, we still know that God is in control.

               So, we wait.  Our scripture is full of stories of people who were asked to wait.  But in every case, the waiting turned into blessing.  I have no doubt that such will be the case this time.  We have already seen some of those blessings.  Our Bread Day ministry has seen growth and blessing.  Our services are now streaming and reaching more people than we would have ever been able to reach before.  Every time we seem to bump up against an obstacle, God has provided a way for us to overcome. We have all been stretched to step out of our comfort zones and do new things.  In all of this, God continues to show us that there is a ministry for us, that we are called, and God will provide the resources and talent we need to do that work.  Each day I am reminded that there is a bright future for this family we call Morgan’s Chapel.

               With that being said, I have a request.  This is actually something that was growing in my mind before the pandemic struck.  I would like to ask each of you to reflect on this time and what it has meant to you, specifically how it has changed your relationship with God.  Would you write them down so they can be shared with the church? When I was younger, the church had a tradition called “testimony time.” It was when people would stand in the sanctuary and share some moment, some experience, some way that God had helped them grow in their faith.  I know this might sound a little scary, but it is when we share, that all in the faith are strengthened.  So, I ask that you send these to myself or Katie or Lee and we will then share them with the congregation. Let’s have a good ‘ol testimony time. 

               To close, let me just say again how blessed I am to be a part of this congregation.  You are a special group with a special call.  I look forward to seeing what God accomplishes through you.  May God bless.

 

Robert

June 27th, 2020

Jeremiah 28:5-9 New International Version (NIV)

5 Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord. 6 He said, “Amen! May the Lord do so! May the Lord fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the Lord’s house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon. 7 Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: 8 From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms. 9 But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true.”

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Wandering in the Wilderness

==>Sermon YouTube Link<==
==>Bulletin link<==

“So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba. When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush. Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears. But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.” Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink. And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer, and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭21:14-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬ https://www.bible.com/116/gen.21.14-21.nlt

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