Village Baptist Church Choir Newsletter May 2017

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Part 18 – What about summer?? As I write this, on yet another rainy day in PORTLAND, I’m not sure there’ll be a summer this year—seems much more like continuing winter. For an old guy with a convertible who’s always ready to put the top down that’s a crummy prospect, but the calendar says summer is coming! I’m enthusiastically looking forward to our June 11 concert with friend and former colleague, Benjie Harlan; we’ll all have a really great time with him! We continue our season through July 9th, when we’re officially ‘off’ until Rehearsal on September 6th at 7pm! We’re considering having a “summer choir” at least a few times during the ‘break’ weeks, which means if you’re in town, we’d like you to come at 8:10 on the appointed Sundays and rehearse for that morning when we’d have a ‘choir presence’ on the stage and a familiar-suitably simple song to sing together. We also plan to invite any ‘others’ who might like to sing with us during the summer, hopefully it will give those services a summer boost and enrich the worship.

As we look back over this year of ministry as we’ve been awaiting the selection/calling of a new lead Pastor, there are many reasons to be grateful for the ‘state of things’ at VBC! Under the capable direction of our existing Pastoral team with Pastor BILL’s oversight, and a wonderfully faithful choir and congregation, I think by any observation and indication we’ve had a GREAT year! God has been very good to us and we rejoice in His faithfulness! The sermon planning and presentation has been outstanding, and people have been faithful to attend and give of time and treasure; measured by what often happens when a loved Pastor ‘moves on’ we’ve done great and are looking to a wonderful future as a Church. We must keep praying and looking forward to what’s ahead with expectancy and optimism! From the first rehearsal in September, our choir has been faithful in attendance and effort; we’ve had solid numbers throughout the season with several new members. Some have had to drop choir for personal or health reasons, but it’s been solid, seldom have we used only three rows

Essential Re-choirments – Gordon Borror

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Village Baptist Church Choir Newsletter May 2017

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on a Sunday morning! Work, caring for ailing family members, travel and fatigue have been the apparent reasons for absence as our folks are committed and dedicated to the choir’s ministry! Praise the Lord; many churches in our area are not able to say that!!

As we look forward none of us really knows how it will go. We are admonished many times in Scripture to preface any plans with “if the LORD wills”, of course He is the ONLY ONE Who knows the future better than we know the past. I find myself continuously grateful that I don’t know what’s coming, but I do know the ONE WHO DOES! As the old gospel hymns says, “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand, but I know WHO holds the future, and I know Who holds my hand!” As we finish this season and look toward the new one this fall, let’s commit to pray for our choir and the many needs we all have that will determine our ability to participate. Thanks again for a great choir workshop day on April 22, these concentrated times of preparation are so very valuable!! Many thanks for your participation—may God grant more of these opportunities for growth! Come to think of it, every day is an opportunity for growth, whether we grow or not depends upon our response to each day and challenge that God grants to us. I thank you and love you with the love of the LORD!!

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Village Baptist Church Choir Newsletter May 2017

Grieving the Holy Spirit by Kurt Selles

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:17-32

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

— Ephesians 4:30

Most of us dislike disappointing someone or making them sad. But if we don’t like to disappoint or sadden others, we should really hate to disappoint God. Disappoint God? Yes, we can disappoint, grieve, or sadden God the Holy Spirit. That we can sadden the Holy Spirit teaches us something important about him. Although the Bible uses some impersonal images of the Holy Spirit (such as wind, or a dove), the fact that the Spirit can be grieved reminds us that he is a person and not some impersonal force.

How do we grieve the Holy Spirit? We do this by failing to live holy and righteous lives.

Paul reminds his readers—and that includes us—that they should no longer live like unbelievers in the darkness and “futility of their thinking.” All who believe have been purchased with the precious blood of Jesus, and now they are called to live in his light. Living in Jesus’ light means following him in our thoughts, words, and deeds. That we can grieve the Holy Spirit implies that we have a certain power over him. This is not power to manipulate, but to cooperate—or not.

Do you want to work with the Holy Spirit in the world today? Don’t grieve him. Instead, work with him by living in holiness and righteousness as a witness for God’s glory.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, please forgive us when we grieve you. Help us to follow Jesus today in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Amen.

Guest Devotional

Foundations Of Faith

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He Lives

Alfred Ackley's father taught him music and he also studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1914. He wrote around 1500 hymns.

An incident provided the spark for Ackley's inspiration: a young Jewish man asked evangelist/musician Ackley, "Why should I worship a dead Jew?" To which Ackley replied,

But Jesus lives! He lives! I tell you. He is not dead, but lives here and now. Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as by the testimony of countless thousands.

Mr. Ackley's forthright, emphatic answer, together

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with his subsequent triumphant effort to win the man for Christ, flowered forth into song and crystallized into a convincing sermon on "He lives!" . . . The scriptural evidence, his own heart, and the testimony of history matched the glorious experience of an innumerable cloud of witnesses that "He lives," so he sat down at the piano and voiced that conclusion in song.

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Village Baptist Church Choir Newsletter May 2017

Main Adult Choir Website: http://vbc-choir.weebly.com/

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Village Baptist Church Choir Newsletter May 2017

The Weight of Glory Part 5b There are, of course, many obstacles to the process of "transformation" described by St. Paul in this passage. Our own sin nature, Satan and his adversaries, and of course the world (culture) in which we live, continually work to negate the glory of God in our lives.

As we have mentioned over the past weeks, the word "glory" is everywhere in Scripture and it always is connected to God. Although the word seems to have lost much of its meaning in the contemporary church, it is one of the most significant words in Scripture.

The word "glory" (doxes) from which we derive the word, "doxology", refers to the incredible, awe-inspiring, presence of God Himself. We often tend to think of "glory" in terms of brightness or radiance, but it is more than that: it is utter perfection, or completeness.

Of course, in the Old Testament, Moses would have to cover his face whenever he returned to the Israelite camp because He had been in God’s presence. His face shone so brilliantly that the people were afraid to face him.

Today, we have that same brilliance working in us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. As we sing each Sunday, may the brightness of God’s spirit be reflected in our song of praise and worship.

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Village Baptist Church Choir Newsletter May 2017

Elton Bost Elton used to sing tenor, but has settled down to a Baritone/Bass. Like many of us, Elton started singing in Sunday School, and he had a blast singing in the churches 4th-6th grade choir. With Marylou, Elton has been at Village for just over a year, after 36 years of missionary service in Japan. While in Japan, Elton played for gospel choir. He and Marylou joined the choir soon after coming here. Just as you would expect a pianist to say, one of Elton’s favorite hobbies is playing the piano. Elton’s favorite hymn is “I Know that My Redeemer Lives”. His favorite Bible verse is Colossians 2:9-10, “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. And you have come to fullness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”

Marylou Bost

Marylou started singing Alto when she was a small child in her mother’s Sunday School class. She’s always had a love for singing, starting with singing in the churches children and youth choirs. That led to singing in the college choir and ensembles. God used this gift and Marylou started children’s and adult choirs while on missionary service in Japan. Her Piano Man, Elton, was always there using his gifts playing the pianist. Marylou and Elton have been regulars at Village for just over a year. It’s hard nailing down Marylou’s favorite hobby, as her interest range from pot plants, reading, cooking, crafts, and I think that’s just to start with! Due to her father’s influence, her favorite hymn is “The Church’s One Foundation”. Her favorite scripture is Matthew 7:7-8.

Choir Member Spotlight

May 2 – Gene Wyttenberg, 3 – Vita Fritts, 6 – Ron Henricksen, 6 – Joanna Moxley, 9 – Tim Howrey, 30 – Larry Ngai