Sermon: Praise, Prayer, and Life In Between by Jacqueline Lynch

Pastoral Welcome: Darold Retzer

Pathfinders: Bez Rengifo

Child Dedication: Reagan R. Massey - Shirley Ponder

Baptism: Jacqueline So Patzer - Rob Mohr

Children’s Feature: Caitlin McCulloch

Scripture Reading: Psalm 34:1–6, TNIV - Izabel Regnifo, Rafael Molina, Jr.

Note: Child dedications and baptisms are in the extras section of the DVD

PASTOR'S PAGE Have you ever encountered the cliché: “Cultivate an attitude of gratitude”? These words are often recited among people of faith in response to life’s difficult challenges. It has been said that for the Christian this “attitude of gratitude” is a significant key in perfecting and maintaining an emotional and spiritual state of well being. If you are anything like me, and I dare say like “most” Christians living in these difficult and uncertain times, you will agree with me that this trite, although well- meaning expression, is easier said than done! There is another well-worn expression that can be applied to a variety of life situations and/or challenges: “Practice makes perfect.” It is one which I am more inclined to embrace in both its validity and practicality. The positive merits of this cliché have been tested and proven to be true. And, it makes good sense to me! However, the juxtaposition of these two clichés is where my cognitive self sometimes wars with my spiritual, faith-driven self. And, this human dilemma warrants asking the question: “Is it plausible for Christians to practice the cultivation of a grateful attitude until such gratitude is perfected?” I Thessalonians 5:18 admonishes: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”. How, then, do we reconcile this and other biblical principles with the inordinate amount of grief, sufferings, emotional despair and other of life’s challenges that we experience from day to day? No one can argue the fact that these biblical directives and examples have been given so that we might, also, know how to experience God-given joy and gratefulness in spite of our trials. Again, I say without reservation: “Easier said than done." Nevertheless, moment by moment, I find myself willing to give it a try and put into practice this prescription of Scripture: “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalms 34:1). Won’t you join me? After all, “what do we have to lose?”

Jacqueline Lynch
Associate Pastor
Community Services and Outreach

MEDITATION “Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.” – Psalm 113: 2, 3. “Man’s chief work is the praise of God.” – Augustine. “You don’t learn to praise in a day. But you can begin today, and practice tomorrow…until it becomes part of you.” – Erwin Lutzer.

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