By Ward Shope This year we’re going to Lake Chautauqua. I know people who are going to the great Northwest or to Europe, or to the Jersey shore, and I’d be glad to go to any one of those places. Debbie has convinced me we need to see the Viking settlement in Newfoundland in a...
Author: Andrew Bors (Andrew Bors)
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Youth Group Parents’ Night
By Tim Shaw A couple months ago, parents were invited to attend Senior High Youth Group. While the snacks were great, the trivia challenges competitive, and the gym time fun (and also a keen reminder that we parents aren’t as young as we once were), the part that made the biggest impact on me was...
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Why Friday is Good Friday
By Ward Shope At some point when we were teaching our children to drive, we would remind them that the average passenger vehicle weighs 1.5-2 tons. The soft touch on the pedal or the minor twist of the steering wheel is deceivingly simple. With so much weight, and the ease with which the machine can...
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Sarah Was Seen – And So Am I
By Beth Ann Olesen This past weekend, I had the true honor and pleasure of fellowshipping with the women of NLD at the Women’s Retreat. I believe God gives us glimpses of heaven. And singing out in praise to the Lord for his love and faithfulness with one hundred other women is certainly one of...
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When Words Are Not Enough
By Debbie Shope Sometimes, words just fail. As an introvert, I frequently struggle to put thoughts and feelings into words, at least in the moment. They eventually come, though sometimes days after the experience has passed! After moving to the Netherlands and trying to learn Dutch, I discovered a new term. I was alingual. I...
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Winter Senior High Retreat
The Sr. High Winter Retreat took place from February 15-17, 2019 By Rose This year was my first year going on the Senior High Retreat, and it was really enjoyable. My favorite part was when we all ate spicy ramen that Yohan brought. Some other things I really liked participating in were worship team, ice-breakers,...
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Speaking the Truth in Love
By Ward Shope I had not slept well the night before. Today was the day we had designated to discuss our challenges, and the anxiety of this pending conversation kept obsessively echoing in my brain as I alternately tried to pray about it. From my perspective, the other had deviated from the course we had...
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Generosity
By Ward Shope 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. I know what you’re thinking. This is a church blog and “generosity” is simply the new codeword for what we used to call “stewardship.” Namely, giving money. I don’t deny that money can...
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The Sacrifice of Love
By Ward Shope For four years, I was starry-eyed for Lois Leaman. I don’t think I ever spoke a word to her as we shared the same classrooms during first through fourth grade. She was shy, and I respected that. And then suddenly, she changed schools and was gone. Valentine’s Days came and went. Finally...
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“Let Me Be Empty”
By Ward Shope On New Year’s Eve, members of the early Methodist movement would gather together to give thanks to the Lord for the year that was passing and to consider the year ahead of them. As the year turned, they would pray the covenant prayer, reaffirming that all they would do, or not do,...
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How to Parent a Tween
By Jane Highley Just kidding! I’m NOT the person who should be writing anything with this title. In fact, I should be the one consuming all the books, blogs, and any other resource available with the words “how” and “tween” in the title. In the short time span as a mom of a 10-year-old tween,...