Connections | July 2019
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ConnectionsJuly 2019 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Psalm 107:14 Contents 02 Feature Spiritual Freedom Pastor Corey Laughary 02 03 Feature Changes at the Parsonage Tina Laughary Lamp & Light Journey 04 Feature Psalm 23 Series Pastor Corey laughary 05 Growth Bible Study Schedule Church on a Hill Podcast Youth Ministry News 03 Mental Health First Aid Training 06 Feature Outreach Grants Tracy Lee Sievers Car Wash Fundraiser for Camp 08 Feature Palouse River Run Registration 09 Prayer Requests 04 10 Worship 05 Sermon Schedule Palouse Federated Church 635 N. Bridge St. 09 Palouse, WA 99161 (509) 878-1509 www.palousechurch.org Corey Laughary, Senior Pastor Cell | (509) 336-9154 [email protected] Tim Sievers Connection Director Cell | (509) 595-2778 [email protected] Spiritual Freedom Pastor Corey Laughary What does it mean to have freedom as a Christian? Our old master, sin, is abolished in Christ. “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace,” Romans 6:14. We don’t live by the “law” to please God. By the gift of God (a.k.a. “grace”), Jesus Christ has set us free from sin and its penalties. We are free to be who God created us to be. We are free to enjoy all the spiritual blessings He has made for us (Ephesians 1:3 - look it up). God is our freedom-giving Master. We worship and serve our God, not out of obligation, but, rather, out of love for Him. We freely choose to love God and love others. The Bible is not a rule book, and Christian faith is not about “legalism” or following rules to impress God. The Bible does contain rules and laws that teach us much about what is good and what is not. BUT, learning the rules and following them will not make us righteous and free - only Christ can make us righteous and free. Our new life in Him will lead us down a new path where VBS | AUGUST 5-9 ________ the Holy Spirit will be present to guide us into freely following good laws and freely seeking to obey “Our identity is a Jesus and His teachings. REGISTER TODAY! settled matter to God. We are no Following Christ should not feel like PALOUSECHURCH.ORG/VBS longer slaves to a burden. Following Jesus should feel like freedom! But it is not all sin. We are freed about feelings! Our faith in Jesus is WANT TO VOLUNTEER? CONTACT: children, sons established on “facts,” not feelings. and daughters of We have the “fact” or reality of God!” freedom in our soul because we SARAH ANDERSON ________ believe in the fact of Jesus Christ’s [email protected] sacrificial death that paid the wages (509) 481-7913 of our sin. In faith, we trust that we no longer owe God. He paid our debt. He ransomed us. We owed a toll, He paid it. We stand ARIEL SCHULZ before Him completely spiritually freed. For the one who trusts/believes in Jesus Christ, His saving work is fact. And [email protected] because His saving work is fact, our freedom is a fact. Our (509) 850-8811 freedom is real, even on days we don’t feel like it is real. On days where we feel bound up with anxiety, or tempted with lust, or struggling with anger - the fact still stands that Jesus Christ has freed us from the power and penalty of sin. Our identity is a settled matter to God. We are no longer slaves Join the VBS Prayer Team to sin. We are freed children, sons and daughters of God! To believe you have freedom in Christ means believing that God We are setting up a daily prayer team for Vacation Bible has welcomed you into His House, His Family, His Body. You School, August 5-9. If you want to join, here’s how: are absolutely free to claim your identity in Christ, no matter your past or reputation. His radical grace has set you 1. Add your name to our team’s list and you will absolutely spiritually free! If you are feeling bound, but receive daily prayer requests, reminders and believe in Christ, there’s something amiss. We need to figure prompts via e-mail for the theme of the day. that out. Are you trying to put the chains back on? Are you using your freedom to live in the feelings of the flesh? Are 2. If you wish, join the opening of VBS each morning you putting on a burden of legalism trying to impress God or at 9 AM and be blessed by the singalong praise maybe some parent figure in your life? Are you wounded and time with the kids. At 9:30 AM, prayers will begin not daily reminding yourself of your beautiful freedom in in Pastor Corey’s office with others on the prayer Christ? team. Let me end by saying this clearly: Brothers and Sisters - in You can come every day to pray at the church, or and through Jesus Christ you are completely set free to be whenever you can, or use the e-mail each day at home. the best version of yourself that God will lead you to be. How much do you believe in the work God is doing in you? If you want to be a part of the VBS Prayer Team, use the Connection Card on Sunday morning to let us know, or e- Depending on Jesus, mail Betty Sawyer: [email protected] Pastor Corey Prayer is powerful! Our youth, leaders and volunteers will be blessed! 2|Depending on Jesus to Restore our [Imperfect] Lives July 2019 Lamp & Light Journey Changes at How you can participate the Parsonage Tina LaugharyTim Keller: The Prodigal Prophet Join us this summer as we strive to hide God’s word in our (Available at PFC for $15) hearts through the Lamp & Light Journey! You can It was May 2, 2004, and Corey and I participate both at church as well as at home or even decided to run Bloomsday together. when you’re on the road! Here’s how: There was a lot of compromise involved because I was not a runner At Church | Each week, outside the sanctuary, we will back then, and Corey had never post a new verse to memorize. On the resource table “walked” Bloomsday. I don’t there will be 4x6 postcards of the same verse that you remember what our finishing time was, but we finished may take with you as a reminder or send to a friend. happy and sunburnt. Later that day, we packed up 11- Additionally, there will be coloring sheets available for month-old Danny and made our first trip to the town of kids (or adults). Palouse. We spent a couple of hours at the home of Ralph and Carol Heinlen meeting with the Pastoral Search At Home & On the Committee, answering and asking questions. Afterward, we Road | The verse also ________ toured PFC for the first time and walked to the lot behind it will be featured in our to see…nothing. There was no parsonage to see - only a weekly e-mails, and on Lamp and Light concrete foundation awaiting the delivery of the house that Facebook. If you’re had been purchased but not yet delivered. interested in downloading Journey the images for your Summer Scripture Focus For 15 years now, we have called that house our home. That computer desktop or June 2 – Sept. 15 first year, a driveway, sidewalk and three rock gardens mobile device, we were installed. The next year, grass was planted. Due to generous church members, both a sprinkler system and a encourage you to visit ________ www.scripturetype.com, fence also were put in. Our yard has been the playground and click “Resources.” not only for our kids, but numerous neighborhood and church children. Our yard has seen bats, balls, bubbles, If you memorize all 16 verses and water balloons, sidewalk chalk and lots of laughter (and a Encouragement | few tears). recite them to Tim Sievers by the end of September, you We love our will receive a leather embossed bookmark to home. We commemorate your achievement and encourage you to love our continue on the journey to hide God’s word in your heart. little corner on the hill. This summer, may we all turn to the scriptures as a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths – to guide us on the Last fall, journey! however, I began to wonder what it would be like to change the landscape a bit, to add some color and make the area more inviting. I decided to consult the amazing Nicole Flansburg who is a master gardener and landscape designer. Nicole donated her time to prepare amazing pictures of the design she had planned and presented that plan to the church board last fall, and they gave the project a thumbs up. The plan was for Nicole to provide the expertise and do the shopping, I would do the labor and the church would pay for the plants and materials. This Spring has been a real learning experience for me. Nicole is a very patient teacher, and together we have transformed the plain rocks into gardens filled with colors and life as many varieties of plants have been added. I also learned the skill of sod removal as we have lined our driveway with a new flower bed.