Elbridge Community Church

A while back I read a story of a visiting pastor who attended a men's breakfast in the middle of a rural farming area of the country. The group had asked an ol...der farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast. "Lord, I hate buttermilk", the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going. The farmer loudly proclaimed, "Lord, I hate lard." Now the pastor was growing concerned. Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, "And Lord, you know I don't much care for raw white flour". The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn't the only one to feel uncomfortable. Then the farmer added, "But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So Lord, when things come up that we don't like, when life gets hard, when we don't understand what you're saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits Amen." Within that prayer there is great wisdom for all when it comes to complicated situations like we are experiencing in the world today. Stay strong, my friends, because our LORD is mixing several things that we don't really care for, but something even better is going to come when HE is done with it. AMEN

Sunday Message Sept 6 2020 Conflict and Broken Relationships Matthew 18: 15-20 If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them ...as you would a pagan or a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be[e] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be] loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. There is more to these verses than meets the eye. Conflict and broken relationships are at times hard to mend. Join us at 10 am at the red brick church, 109 E Main St., to hear how God wants his church to handle conflict. Come and hear how a woman who survived a Nazi concentration camp mended what appeared to be an unforgivable conflict and brokenness. See you then, bring a friend, a co-worker, the kids, other family members. Or really go out of your comfort zone and ask someone who you may be in conflict with.

Sunday Message August 30 2020 Matthew 16: 21-28 No Way Lord! From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Never, Lord! he said. This shall never happen to you! Jesus turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! You... are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. Then Jesus said to his disciples, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. Good old Peter, one step forward and then two steps back. Come join us and hear what Peter told Jesus and why. Once in a while we too are like Peter. Jon us at 10 am at the brick church, 109 E. Main St. Elbridge Community Church. Bring the kids and invite a friend. See you there!

Sunday August 23 2020 Matthew 16: 13-20 Peter's Confession of Faith "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do people say the Son of Man is? They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jo...nah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven. Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah." (NIV) If Jesus asked you this question what would you say? How many folks who have sat in the church pews for years would struggle to answer such a direct question? Who do you say He is? Who is Jesus to you in your life? Ponder this question before we gather on Sunday morning at 10 am in the brick church. Invite a friend, bring the kids, see you there!

Sunday Message Matthew 15: 21-28 Faith That Won't Quit, Faith That Won't Let Go! Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly. Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us. He answered, I was sent only to the lost s...heep of Israel. The woman came and knelt before him. Lord, help me! she said. He replied, It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs. Yes it is, Lord, she said. Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table. Then Jesus said to her, Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted. And her daughter was healed at that moment." How many of you have AAA, good,. it is a wonderful organization the helps us when we have troubles along the roads we travel. Well this woman traveled from her home to find the Master, Jesus Christ. She had some serious trouble, a daughter that is demon possessed. As we explore this story we may assign a AAA designation to better understand this encounter. Please join us at 10:00 am, 109 E Main Street (the brick church) Elbridge NY to gather in praise and worship. Bring the kids and ask a neighbor too! See you there!