Blog (Page 11)
Quarantined: Day 13
We have seen so many changes in the last couple of months. How we go about our day, the way we interact with others, even the way we get essential items. Before Covid-19 hit, I was feeling like I was just hanging in there. My schedule was full from 7 AM all the way to 8 PM. This time of quarantine has forced me to STOP, something that I wouldn’t be able to do in my normal routine. I believe this…
Quarantined: Day 12
As the DeerArtist: Suki Joseph Premnath Artist Statement: Nothing can satisfy us like Jesus! Nothing can fulfill us like His love. As the deer panteth for the waters So my soul longeth after you You alone are my heart’s desire And I long to worship you. TODAY’S JOURNAL REFLECTIONS What stands out to you in this painting? Read Psalm 42:1-5. What word or phrase stands out to you in this passage? How thirsty are you for God in your life right now? How has…
When Will Ashworth Meet Again?
Pastors Brent, Ryan and Amy discuss the current pandemic and when Ashworth Church might be able to meet for public worship services again.
Quarantined: Day 11
Sunday mornings have been hard for many of us the last five weeks. We love to come together and worship, hear the Word of God and connect with our church family. There’s something sacred about the coming together of God’s people in our Sunday morning experience. In this season, we’ve grieved the loss of our time together, having church in our building. Sunday mornings feel so different and sometimes strange. And yet, there’s something so right happening as well. As…
Quarantined: Extra – Virtue
The second tradition or stream guiding our Quarantined experience is the holiness tradition. Virtuous Life: Responding with integrity The Holiness Tradition emphasizes the re-formation of our hearts so that we are able to respond appropriately to the challenges of life. The word “holiness” has some negative connotations today, but the original Greek meaning of the word virtue is simply “to function well.” Virtuous Life is not about rules or judgment, perfectionism, or some kind of merit gained by good deeds.…
Quarantined: Day 10
A Prayer for Those Who Do Not Know Jesus Today we pause to pray for those experiencing the global pandemic without knowing Jesus. Our Father, The world is upside down, and this is not how you designed it or desire it to be. From the beginning of creation, you wanted those made in your image to know you. Deeply. Intimately. Times like this are challenging and even more so when trying to make sense of the world without a knowledge…
Quarantined: Day 9
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18 It’s easy during this time of social distancing…
Quarantined: Day 8
One of the things that I love about worship is the ability to sing songs of praise that remind us of the characteristics of God and what God is doing in our lives. There have been times in my life where I have felt stuck. During those times, it is difficult to see God at work, and quarantine has been one of those times for me. The song, Spirit Break Out, helps me put words in my mouth and my heart…
Quarantined: Day 7
Greatest is LoveArtist: Sukirtha Joseph PremnathArtist Statement: Doesn’t holiness often feel like an Old Testament concept? Everytime I think of holiness, I remember the Ten Commandments, the Ark of Covenant, and how the Holy God interacted with an unholy nation. Thank God we are on this side of the cross! With the covenant of grace, holiness no longer feels like an important aspect of the new covenant Christian life. At least, that is what we have come to believe. However,…
Midweek Minute for April 29, 2020
Video Transcript Hey, this is Pastor Brent, and this is your Ashworth midweek minute. Can you believe it’s the first of the month again? And this means that this Sunday, as a part of our online worship experience, we will take communion together. So as you are planning to worship together this Sunday, get those communion elements ready. Remember, what you choose to eat and drink isn’t as important as taking communion together as the community of Jesus Christ. Are…
Quarantined: Day 6
One of my favorite summer activities I most look forward to is sitting around a campfire with my family. We aren’t necessarily talking, but are just being together. I watch the flames dance. I think about what we did outside in nature during the day. I feel the peace of the moment and a deep joy and ease washes over me. In those moments, I’m not worried about DOING anything. I am simply being present, with my family and with…
Quarantined: Extra – Prayer
As you go through the Quarantined experience, you may begin to notice some recurring themes from week to week. We have chosen to use the six traditions from Christian history as a guide to help us grow in a more balanced spiritual life. These are the core characteristics of the life of Jesus. On Saturdays, we will define one of the six traditions or streams to help you better understand what you might find during the week. This week, we…