<a href="http://heritagecenterville.org/pages/learning-on-square/"><img src="/images/uploads/annouce-lts-post.jpg" alt="image"></a>
Beginning Tuesday, March 3rd, Pastor Lovett will begin a 6 week teaching series. It will be an informal but very deliberate time of teaching.
Pastor Lovett will begin this series by going through the Apostles Creed, line-by-line and considering both the theological and practical implications of this historic creed. The Apostles Creed contains the essentials of the Christian faith and is the oldest existing creed we have (dating back to the 2nd century), and churches of different stripes use it regularly to profess the faith of Christendom.
We will be investigating what different phrases in the creed mean, and will spend some time discussing what is perhaps the Creed’s most controversial line, “He (Christ) descended in to hell.”
This study is open to all and we hope you will join us. We will be meeting at Studio D on the Centerville Square.
<a href="http://heritagecenterville.org/pages/learning-on-square/">Learn more</a>

Learning Together on the Square

Dear Readers,
I want to let you know about a most heinous piece of legislation called “The Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA).
FOCA has many sponsors in both the senate and the house, notable (and telling) are such sponsors as Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John Kerry, Senator Joseph Lieberman, President Elect Barack Obama, Representative Rahm Emanuel, and many many more in both the senate and the house.
FOCA would establish abortion as a fundamental right (like the right to free speech) and wipe away every restriction on abortion nationwide. It will eradicate state and federal abortion laws that the majority of Americans support and prevent states from enacting any protective measures in the future.
I encourage you to contact your representative, and your two senators and ask them to oppose this heinous, God despising bill! I believe there are many more people against this than for it, but the problem we face now is the same problem we have faced on many occasions, which is apathy and inaction by Christians. There are many liberal activists for this bill, but many more who should be actively opposed to this bill that need to take a stand! Let your representatives and senators know (liberal or not) that if they vote for this bill that you, their constituents, will not re-elect them! Or if you know they are opposed, thank them, and affirm your support against this bill.
Our voice needs to be heard!
Contacting your representative and senators is very easy, and can be done online. I know they pay attention to these forms of communication because I have received acknowledgement on more than one occasion.
Here is the form for contacting your representative: <a href="https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml">https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml</a>
And here is where you go to contact your senators: <a href="http://www.senate.gov/general/contact%5C_information/senators%5C_cfm.cfm">http://www.senate.gov/general/contact\_information/senators\_cfm.cfm</a>
Please also visit <a href="http://www.fightfoca.com">http://www.fightfoca.com</a>, to sign their petition and find out more information.
And please pray for our country!

Fight FOCA!!!

I suppose this is an easy one for me to do since I really hate McDonalds food anyway and already mostly avoided it.
I know we have to pick our battles, but it looks like this boycott is gaining momentum…
<a href="http://www.boycottmcdonalds.com/">http://www.boycottmcdonalds.com/</a>
I realize that probably every major food chain has some problem or other but maybe this will send a message, and McDonalds is being very open and flaunting this one right in our faces.

Boycott McDonalds

I listened to an awesome sermon this morning by <a href="http://familyreformation.wordpress.com/">Pastor McDonald</a> that I wanted to share with you all:
<a href="http://providencepeoria.org/sermons/the-baptized-household/">The Baptized Household</a>
Go and Listen!

The Baptized Household

Here is the flyer I did for the concert:
<img src="/images/uploads/ncg-layout.jpg" alt="image">

Nathan Clark George In Concert

So, I’m not feeling particularly wordy, or in any particular mood to comment on all these photos. So I’m just going to sumarize real quick and then post the pictures in the order they were taken. BTW, all these were taken with my iPhone. Not all that bad for a cell phone.
So anyway, <a href="http://heritagecenterville.org/marionsblog/">Elder Lovett</a> is on a much needed vacation and <a href="http://familyreformation.wordpress.com/">Elder McDonald</a> came, with family in tow, to fill the pulpit. We (Heritage) were able to spend Friday and Saturday evenings with the McDonalds… Here’s the pics.
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McDonalds Visiting (pictures)

<a href="http://heritagecenterville.org/pages/nathan-clark-george-in-concert-june-2008"><img src="/images/uploads/ncg-in-concert.jpg" alt="image"></a>
<blockquote>
Over the last several years, Nathan has presented hundreds of concerts at camps, churches, coffee houses, and homes, where his music is appreciated by both the young and old. He continues to defy the contemporary/traditional distinctions, and crosses generational boundaries with ease. And this is part of the goal - to encourage a multi-generational vision for the family and the Kingdom of Peace through a truly musical presentation of the Scriptures and transparent snapshots of life that are convicting, yet full of hope.
</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.nathanclarkgeorge.com/bio.html">More from Nathan’s Bio Here</a>
Coming June 21st in downtown Centerville!
<a href="http://heritagecenterville.org/pages/nathan-clark-george-in-concert-june-2008">View the page on the Heritage website here</a>

Hear Ye, Hear Ye (a concert)

The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama . Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama ! The judge’s poem sums it up quite well.
<blockquote>
America the beautiful, 
or so you used to be. 
Land of the Pilgrims’ pride; 
I’m glad they’ll never see.
Babies piled in dumpsters, 
Abortion on demand, 
Oh, sweet land of liberty; 
your house is on the sand.
Our children wander aimlessly 
poisoned by cocaine 
choosing to indulge their lusts, 
when God has said abstain
From sea to shining sea, 
our Nation turns away 
From the teaching of God’s love 
and a need to always pray
We’ve kept God in our temples, 
how callous we have grown. 
When earth is but His footstool, 
and Heaven is His throne.
We’ve voted in a government 
that’s rotting at the core, 
Appointing Godless Judges; 
who throw reason out the door,
Too soft to place a killer 
in a well deserved tomb, 
But brave enough to kill a baby 
before he leaves the womb.
You think that God’s not angry, 
that our land’s a moral slum? 
How much longer will He wait 
before His judgment comes?
How are we to face our God, 
from Whom we cannot hide? 
What then is left for us to do, 
but stem this evil tide?
If we who are His children, 
will humbly turn and pray; 
Seek His HolyFace 
and mend our evil way:
Then God will hear from Heaven; 
and forgive us of our sins, 
He’ll heal our sickly land 
and those who live within.
But, America the Beautiful, If you don’t - the one you will see, 
A sad but Holy God 
withdraw His hand from Thee.
—Judge Roy Moore—
</blockquote>

America the beautiful

Yes, Frank Pavone is a Roman Catholic Priest, and I’m a protestant. So sue me!
This is a very good video and I recommend you watch it, however, discretion may be advised for younger children.
I was made aware of this video thanks to <a href="http://familyreformation.wordpress.com/2008/05/04/why-i-am-pro-life/">Pastor McDonald’s post here</a>. Speaking of Pastor McDonald, I have been blessed by his vigilance as he posts the abortion statistics for Peoria every week.
The wholesale slaughter of these human beings is certainly one of he biggest blights upon our nation today and I fear and tremble at the judgement God must surely deal to this nation!
Watch the video!

To view this video you must have <a href="http://www.apple.com/au/quicktime/download/">Quicktime 7</a>. View <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/FrFrankPavone">Frank Pavone’s YouTube Homepage here.</a>

Dismemberment Abortion

Have I ever mentioned how blessed our family is to be part of such a <a href="http://www.heritagecenterville.org">wonderful church</a>? I’m sure I have, but I was particularly blessed today by the care the folks showed for me today in asking about the status of my health and just the concern in general that I am not completely whole yet (I had a really bad ear infection last Lord’s Day you see, and a fairly bad cold… the ear infection lingers and I still have a cough that’s becoming a dry cough, yeck!).
But more than that, I was blessed today by the Liturgy (thank you <a href="http://www.heritagecenterville.org/marionsblog/">Pastor Lovett</a> for your dedication to put that together each week for us). Even though I couldn’t sing that well today, and am having trouble with my ears, I was still able to come and worship the Lord today in this covenant conversation we have each Lord’s Day.
I want to share a little bit about Heritage’s liturgy. Now, for those of you who don’t know, the definition of liturgy according to the American Heritage Dictionary is:
<blockquote>
A prescribed form or set of forms for public religious worship.
</blockquote>
Liturgy is simply an order of worship which we follow on the Lord’s Day for our Worship. At Heritage, our liturgy is very purposeful and deliberate.
In a somewhat abbreviated fashion, this is the basic structure of our Liturgy.
——————————————————————————————————-
Prelude
As the appointed time approaches for our worship, the pianist plays a hymn arrangement to both let us know worship is about to begin so we can find our seats, and to aid us in preparing our hearts for worship.
Meditation
After the prelude, the Elder (currently our only Elder, we are actively seeking God’s council and wisdom for leadership) will ask us to meditate on a passage of scripture as the musician plays a meditative piece.
Call to Worship
After the meditation, the Elder calls us to the worship of God almighty. This is typically responsive as the Elder leads us and we respond.
Invocation
After we are called to worship, the Elder asks for God’s presence in our worship.
Hymn of Praise
We respond to God’s presence in our worship with a Hymn of Praise and thanksgiving!
The reading of the Law
The Elder then reads the Law of God to the people. This is to remind us that God is Holy and we are transgressors. We serve a Holy God and we are sinful creatures.
Confession of Sin
We respond to the reading of God’s Law in corporate confession of our sin.
Assurance of Pardon
After the confession, the Elder proclaims God’s pardon of His people from His Holy Word, to which we corporately respond, “Thanks be to God.”
Psalm of Response
We then respond to God’s assurance of pardon with an appropriate Psalm from the Psalter.
Confession of Faith
After our Psalm of response we confess our faith. For some months this has been by means of the Heidelberg Catechism where the Minister asks the question and we respond with the Catechal answer.
Pastoral Prayer
At this time, the Elder will pray for God’s people as the Lord leads him.
Psalm of Praise
We then sing a Psalm of Praise to the Lord from the Psalter.
Reading of the Text
The Elder now reads the text for his message
Prayer for Illumination
Without the Holy Spirit we cannot understand spiritual things. This is the prayer for the Illumination of the Holy Spirit as the Word is expounded unto God’s people.
Message
At this time, the Elder brings the message the Lord has laid on his heart to bring before the People of God.
The invitation and fencing of the Table/Words of Institution
As we prepare to commune with the Lord at the table He has prepared for us, the Elder fences the table by extending the invitation to the table to God’s people and warns that the table is only for God’s people. The Elder then recites the Words of Institution.
The Sursum Corda
It is at this time that we are encouraged to lift our hearts up to the Lord in communion with Him:
<blockquote>
Minister: Life up Your Hearts
People: We lift them up to the Lord
Minister: Let us five thanks unto our Lord God
People: It is good and right to do so
Unison: And so, merciful Father, we lift our eyes from the visible elements even as we lift our hearts to heave itself, where Jesus Christ is seated on the right hand of the Father, from where He shall come again to complete our redemption, in Whom all the promises of God are fulfilled, and all spiritual blessings are to be found. In Joy of heart, in brotherly union, in Christian love we come to partake of Your table, giving thanks for the great love which You have shown to us, and ever singing…
</blockquote>
Sanctus
<blockquote>
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord!
Holy, Holy, Holy, Worshipped and adored.
He without beginning, Ageless and the same,
Is and ever shall be, Glory to His name.
</blockquote>
Prayer for the Work of the Holy Spirit
At this time we pray in unison for the work of the Holy Spirit as we partake of the elements.
Consecration of the Bread
The Elder consecrates the element of the bread, then as we sing a hymn, he distributes the bread. The Elder then asks us to partake together.
Consecration of the Wine
The Elder consecrates the element of the wine, then as we sing a hymn, he distributes the wine. The Elder then asks us to drink of the wine together.
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Consecration
We then pray in unison, giving thanks, and consecrating our week ahead to the service of the Lord, asking him to send us out with His blessing.
Benediction
The Elder then pronounces the Benediction of the Lord upon His people, asking for God’s favor to shine upon them.
Singing of the Shalom
The Sending Forth
<blockquote>
Minister: Go in peace to love and serve the risen and reigning Lord Jesus Christ
People: Thanks be to God!
</blockquote>
Postlude
——————————————————————————————————-
I cannot tell you how I look forward to this conversation with the Lord every week. We need rest, we rest one day in seven as the Lord commands. I know I need to come into the presence of the Lord, hear his assurance of pardon to His people, and be equipped for the coming week of service to the King. The Lord’s Day is God’s blessing to His people, and the fellowship of God’s people is also his gift of refreshment to His children.
So there’s a glimpse into what I look forward to each Lord’s Day, and what I long for during the week.
Disclaimer, this post took me a little bit of time to write, it is long after all. There is bound to be spelling mistakes, and/or grammatical mistakes. Please overlook those, and look into the heart of my post.

The blessing of Litrugy

Marion Lovett, Elder at Heritage posted two very good articles recently on how Christians view their children. Check them out!
<pre><code>• [It’s Really About How We View Our Children](http://heritagecenterville.org/marionsblog/render/its-really-about-how-we-view-our-children/)

• [The Context for Discerning the Body](http://heritagecenterville.org/marionsblog/render/the-context-for-discerning-the-body/)
</code></pre>

Good Posts

Sometimes in this life there are happy moments, sometimes there are sad moments, and then sometimes there is sorrow that is mingled with joy. While we don’t always know God’s full purpose for the things he ordains to happen, we rejoice that he is indeed sovereign and that he does have a plan and purpose. And even while we sorrow in the death of fellow Christians, we rejoice that the Lord has taken them home.
I post to thank all of you who prayed for <a href="/blog/2008/01/26/urgent-prayer-request">Eric Davis</a> and to let you know that Eric has gone home to be with the Lord. We sorrow with the family he leaves behind, we rejoice that the Lord has indeed taken His servant home, and we rejoice in the legacy he leaves behind.
To God be the glory!

Posts tagged “Church” from the blog