Marysville Free Methodist Church

Jesus Changes Everything & Everyone!

Pastor Greg — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:08:42 +0000

As we re-engage with The Story in the New Testament, we are seeing how the birth of Jesus and the start of His ministry changes everything and everyone. Thinking back to when you, or someone you knew, heard they were expecting their first child, emotions were all over the planet. When the birth took place, a new set of emotions kicked in. As now, and back then, joy, doubt, uncertainty, fear, curiosity and speechlessness characterized some of those initial moments. Jesus’ birth rocked and changed everyone’s world. We have seen how expressions of joy permeated witnesses and the first visitors. His birth compelled others to tell others. Sunday, we fast forward to the initial days of his ministry. This coming Sunday, we look at his baptism, the temptation in the wilderness, how prejudice began to crumble, how people experienced healing, and the quest for meaning and purpose was fulfilled. Through theses early days of ministry we see how GOd’s Spirit empowers for service and overcomes challenges. When God’s Spirit comes upon Jesus, people are compelled to evaluate what they are seeing. We see a powerful demonstration of God’s love can overcome prejudice, and how God’s power brings hope. But one of the most foundational things we see at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, and we will see thoroughout, is how He set intentional time aside for prayer to gatehr strength, gain wisdom, and to discern what next steps were. Jesus make a huge difference in the lives of people. You and I have the privilege as we are empowered by God’s Spirit to make a difference in the weeks ahead. See you Sunday!

-Pastor Greg

Christmas In April

Pastor Vic — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:30:50 +0000

It is springtime rainy but it’s neither frosty nor snowy like December. So, why are we listening to the Christmas story in April? Well, it’s because we’re 2/3 of the way through THE STORY. We’ll be looking at the birth of Jesus story on April 29th as we start the New Testament part of our journey in the book THE STORY. I invite you to join us as we go through nine weeks of exploring the hand of God through the New Testament books.

So far, we have had a great 21 week journey through the Old Testament. Along the way we have learned to see the upper story in which God is at work in our lives even when we are not aware of how he is at work in our lower story lives. I hope you have enjoyed seeing the great lengths to which God has gone in coming toward us to rescue us and invite us into relationship with him. As, we’ve learned the story of the Bible is simple. The story of the bible is about God’s great love affair with humanity. It is not our search for meaning or religion.

If you have not been regular in your reading of THE STORY this is the time to jump on board. In the next nine weeks you can move chronologically through the New Testament events from the Gospels through the book of Revelation. You will enjoy reading the bible like a novel as you see the historic Christian church develop before your very eyes. You will also continue to see your story in God’s story, which is “The Greatest Story Ever Told.”

The 3 “R’s” Of Baptism

Pastor Vic — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 03:50:25 +0000

“For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.”

Colossians 2:12

“Reading, riting and ritmitic”, were the “3-R’s”, the educational basics, some of us learned in school. Funny, the words were not spelled out right! But, everybody knew the 3-R’s stood for the basic building blocks of education. Knowing your reading, writing and arithmetic would help you in your other studies.

I’d like to suggest 3-R’s in baptism. Three basic Christian teachings which baptism helps us understand and develop through our life. First, there is Repentance. You respond to the work of God’s grace. You accept and believe that Jesus has found you as Savior and Lord. When you submerge in the water it signifies that you believe and accept Jesus work on the cross and in resurrection is for you. You “Repent” and do a “180 degree” turn in life, desiring to follow Christ. Secondly, you are cleansed in the baptismal water and receive the Righteousness of Christ. You receive new life, new perspective, and new outlook on life. Thirdly, you have a growing awareness of the might power of God in life to overcome sin and temptation. This Revelation is a daily thing provided by the Lord’s Holy Spirit through scripture, prayer, and the church body. In newness of life you want to please and honor and glorify God.

We live in a culture which has a tendency to be an event culture. We are encouraged to bounce from one event to another event. There are studies in “event marketing” and jobs such as “event coordinators”. Living from event to event, peak to peak is not a healthy way to live for maximum impact. Baptism is not just an event in your life. It is the event which grounds our life each day. You were not just baptized in the past tense as a past event. Martin Luther spoke of baptism in the present tense, saying, “I am being baptized daily”. Every day I remember that “I have been baptized.” I live as a baptized person. I live as a person who is daily correcting my compass heading of life to keep Christ as my true north. I live in his righteous grace not in my efforts. I listen to his revelation so I can live as a person who enjoys God and honors him with my life daily. Repentance, Righteousness and Revelation are the 3-R’s of baptism, the three basics of our faith walk which the wonderful event reminds us of. If you would like to be baptized on Sunday, April 15^th, let us know right away

Grill A Christian!

Pastor Vic — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 03:48:35 +0000

Grilling Christians actually happened in history as followers of Jesus like William Tyndale, who is known for translating the bible into English in 1525 AD, were burned at the stake. The plan for this grill event is a no holds, no question bared, all comers, any concerns and any challenges welcomed. On Sunday May 6^th between 5 and 7pm Craig Hazen, Ph.D. and J.P. Moreland, Ph.D. , both faculty in the Christian Apologetics and Philosophy Departments at BIOLA University will answer any questions about the Christian faith in an open forum.

This Grill-a-Christian Q & A event is where you and your seeking or skeptical friends can ask the tough questions about the Christian faith in a truly open forum with experts. This Sunday evening event is free and a free BBQ dinner will be part of the deal. Agnostics and Atheists are very welcome.

On Saturday the Holding Your Own, Faith Under Fire is an Apologetics seminar to help equip you to give a reason for the hope you have in Christ. Topics to be explored at the seminar are the following:

Christianity Among the World Religions
Arguments for the Existence of God
Evidence for the Resurrection
Christianity and the Nature of Science

The event will be held at Allen Creek Community Church in Marysville and registration cost is $40 before May 1 and $55 at the door. Students age 14-18 register for only $10. You can register online using PayPal at www.holdingyour own.info

Scholarship help for students and members of Marysville Free Methodist Church is available. Please contact Pastor Vic or Pastor Greg as before May 1, 2012.

The presenters are well known working scholars in this area of study. You will not want to miss this unique opportunity to grow in your learning as a disciple of Jesus Christ right here in Marysville.

Here is some information on the seminar presenters.

Craig J. Hazen, Ph.D.

Founder and Director of M.A. Program in Christian Apologetics
Director of the M.A. Program in Science and Religion
Professor of Comparative Religion and Apologetics

Ph.D., M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara

Dr. Hazen is the editor of the philosophy journal, Philosophia Christi. He is also the author of the monograph The Village Enlightenment in America, the acclaimed apologetics novel Five Sacred Crossings, and dozens of articles and chapters in various books and journals. He is a recipient of the Fischer Award, the highest faculty honor at Biola and has lectured across North America and Europe on key apologetics topics—including lectures on Capitol Hill and in the White House. He is a popular church and conference speaker and former co-host of a national radio talk program.

J. P. Moreland, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor of Philosophy

Ph.D., University of Southern California; Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary; M.A., University of California, Riverside

He has authored or co-authored books including Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, Christianity and the Nature of Science, Scaling the Secular City, Does God Exist?, Immortality: The Other Side of Death, and The Life and Death Debate: Moral Issues of Our Times. He is co-editor of Christian Perspectives on Being Human and Jesus Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents the Historical Jesus. His work appears in scholarly journals throughout the world. Find him on the web at www.jpmoreland.com

Easter Goes Beyond Digital Death and Digital Afterlife!

Pastor Vic — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:29:34 +0000

“Christ has indeed been raised…” 1 Corinthians 15:20

Tech words and phrases update each day, who can keep up with them. “Digital Afterlife” is a new phrase for me. Following the death of a good friend I wondered what would become of his Facebook account. Would it be archived automatically after a period of no use? Does digital content float around in a digital limbo or does someone bury it? How would his wife access his digital accounts? Do our digital properties pass on to our heirs or estate? Do we also have a digital legacy? Who actually owns our digital properties? Does our digital content die with us when we die or do our “digital remains” remain “forever”?
Death has become digital and to some extent life is becoming more digital each and every passing day. Something to think about and the website www.yourdigitalafterlife.com as well as the book by the same name may be helpful in this regard. Turns out that our “digital remains” need to be managed and archived just like our physical remains. Well, one more thing to add to the check off list of life. Manana (tomorrow)!

But, today, this month, brings Easter and the thought of the Real Life Day instead of a Digital Death Day! Easter Sunday is known as Resurrection Sunday, and each Sunday in fact, reminds us that death, the grave, and digital purgatory issues are each all temporary problems. Actually, they are problems, which God has already solved. No one wants to be forgotten. The truth is even with a digital afterlife the memories of our life will fade. But the greater truth is that God never forgets us. As followers of Christ we are part of his eternal forever.

Interestingly, without the resurrection of Jesus, he would have been long forgotten. Perhaps, seen as a just another revolutionary at worst or an idealist at best who got nailed to a Roman cross. Indeed, without the promise of resurrected life we would indeed be eventually forgotten. We know that the Internet cannot guarantee a forever legacy. But God can! Take a look at 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and see how resurrection is what makes forever possible. In this passage of scripture you will see how the resurrection of Jesus shaped the life of the apostle Paul. How it shapes us, his followers, today.

Jesus himself never wrote sermons, books, notes or anything down for his legacy as far as we know. We know he never blogged, tweeted or friended anyone! Yet, his story isn’t just preserved in print or on the digital web. It’s preserved in the hearts and lives of people who have experienced this resurrected life for themselves. An experience of eternity which helps us live life that is truly life today (1 Timothy 6:19). Alleluia! Christ is Risen. Christ is Risen Indeed! Come join us for Easter worship services to encounter Jesus the Risen Lord and celebrate REAL LIFE DAY.

Remembering Good Friday, Preparing For Resurrection Sunday

Church Staff — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:28:17 +0000

Our Good Friday Service, Friday, April 6, 2012, at 7 pm, promises to be a time of worship, celebration and personal reflection. The Lord’s Supper will be served and Pastor Vic Rodriguez will offer his reflective thoughts. Our Worship Team, under the leadership of Pastor Harv Vander Griend, and our Choir, under the direction of Belle Miller, as well as our instrumentalists, will present selections from the Cantata “Lamb of God”.

Chuck Neighbor’s Encounters With Jesus

Church Staff — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:53:24 +0000

Imagine…the time when Jesus walked the earth.

Imagine… the place of his birth, his death, his resurrection.

Imagine… the people who encountered Jesus in the flesh.

Encounters is some of their stories. Men who knew Jesus from his birth to his death, resurrection and beyond. Some are familiar; others are characters who “might have been,” including a blind man, a soldier, a slave and more. Each brings a fresh insight to enrich our understanding of our own encounters with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Connecting With The MFMC Family

Church Staff — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:34:55 +0000

Discovery 101 is our introductory class to who we are and what we believe. If you have wondered what being a Free Methodist is all about, this class will help answer those questions. The class will be held on Sunday, March 25th from 6 – 7:30 pm. Attendance to the class does not obligate you to join. We you discover our core values, vision, historical ties, and community connections. If you would like to participate in the class, please call the church office, (360) 659-7117, or email churchoffice@marysvillefmc.org. Please let us know if childcare will be needed.

Easter Sunday

Church Staff — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:42:00 +0000

Easter Sunday this year is April 8th. This Sunday is a phenomenal highlight in the life of the Christian church worldwide. We will celebrate Easter with three services at 8, 9:30 and 11 am. Running concurrently from 9 – 11 am is our Family Easter Brunch located in the fellowship hall downstairs. Children up through Kindergarten will have a dedicated time as a part of Kids’ Zone during the 9:30 service. School age children will meet with their families in worship with a special moment geared for them.

Family Easter Egg Hunt Event

Pastor Greg — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:34:34 +0000

Easter Egg Hunt

All children through age 12 are invited to participate in the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 31st from 10 am—11 am at Justin & Becky Haney’s home in Snohomish. For the hunt, children will be divided up based on age. Please bring your grandkids, kids, neighbor kids or adopt some kids. Please see the sign up board in the lobby for directions. Egg hunt will start promptly at 10:15 am followed with doughnuts, fruit, coffee/juice and fellowship. To help make this event special, please help with easter candy donations and stuffing eggs. See the articles below.

Easter Candy Donations

We will be accepting donations of wrapped/packaged candy, stickers, small erasers, etc., as well as plastic eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt planned for Saturday, March 31st. You can place your donations in the collection bin located in the church foyer. Deadline for the candy donations is Sunday, March 25.

Easter Egg Stuffing Party

Will meet on Thursday, March 29th at 7:30 pm at Kim Priest’s home. Please bring a bag (or two) of candy and a snack to share. No need to RSVP, just show up.