May 25, 2025
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” ~ Romans 8:3 (NIV) ~
MEMORIALDAY
One of my favorite hymns is Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing written by English pastor Robert Robinson. Here are the lyrics:
Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer; hither by thy help I'm come; and I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; he, to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.
It is a hymn about God’s amazing grace and His amazing faithfulness that He seeks us out when we are not seeking him, showers us with His mercy in Jesus, and holds onto us no matter what, especially when we are not faithful ourselves.
I thought it appropriate this Memorial Day as we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom as a nation. No matter what town you live in there is most likely a memorial somewhere remembering those who died in one of the many wars our country has fought throughout its relatively young history markers that honor them and thank them for their sacrifice. Memorial Day is a beautiful and powerful thing we do as a nation to remind ourselves what it cost so many to get us to this place as a country.
In this hymn we sing about raising “our Ebenezer.” I had only heard that word in the context ofAChristmas Carol and Scrooge McDuck in the Saturday morning cartoon Duck Tales before learning this hymn. I learned that it referred to 1 Samuel 7 when the prophet Samuel interceded on behalf of frightened Israel as they were faced with one of their primary enemies in the Old Testament, the Philistines.As the Philistines attacked “the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day and threw [the Philistines] into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel” (1 Samuel 7:10). Samuel memorialized God’s faithfulness to his people by setting up a stone in that place and called it Ebenezer, which means “stone of help.”
I often forget. I often lose perspective when dealing with the difficulties and frustrations that may pop up in my day to day. I can very quickly feel lost and alone afraid that whatever I am faced with is too much, and I will surely be overcome. I need my Ebenezer, the memorial, the reminder of all that God has done to save me, forgive me, and set me free. I need the reminder of His promises that I am never alone (Deut. 31:6), that I am hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3), and that no one can ever take me from His hand (John 10:27-29). He is my stone of help, my rock, my fortress (Psalm 18:2).
And He is yours this day. These promises are for you. God’s grace and mercy are for you in Jesus Christ. You are forgiven. You are not alone. You are safe in His hands. He promises.
Blessings on your week. May we each discover Jesus intersecting our lives as only He can do. I do look forward to you worshipping with us this Sunday morning.
Pastor Terrell
with our activities.
ScheduleforSunday,May25,2025
The Saints Class @ 9:00 AM Room #201
Ruth Class @ 9:00 AM Room #202
Youth Bible Study @ 9:00 AM in Cabin
Prayer Room open @ 9:00 AM Room #206
Preschool Worship opens in KID CITY 10:15 AM
Sunday Morning Worship @ 10:30 AM in Worship Center
Kidz4Christ K-6th dismissed during Morning Worship
Schedulefortherestoftheweek:
Wednesday@ 6:30 PM in Cabin - Youth Group
Please Note: NO BIBLE STUDIES ARE MEETING THIS WEEK.
THE PRAYER ROOM
(Room #206)
Will you take the opportunity to pray?
Come early on Sundays and spend some time in prayer for the Morning Worship.
YOUTH GROUP Students in grades 7-12
Wednesdays 6:30 PM at the CABIN !
IF YOU NEED HELP OR ASSISTANCE
Deacon of the Week:
Doug Crow
Sunday Morning Youth Bible Study 9 AM to 10 AM at the Cabin ! June 2025
Gospel Conversations
520-831-0146 got questions?
Total since 2021: 49,689
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Morning Worship at a Glance
“Majesty”
“No One Like You, Lord”
“Jesus, Your Name”
“His Name is Wonderful”
Welcome & Offertory Prayer AMEMORIAL DAY PRAYER “Love the Lord”
Kidz4Christ dismissed
“Everlasting God”
“I Will Wait for You” (Psalm 130)
Never Forget: Why WeAre Here
1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 10:31b Guest Preacher: Rik Danielsen
“White as Snow” “No One Like You, Lord”
Offerings and Connection Cards will be collected in the Offering Boxes located just inside the two main entrances into our Worship Center, as well as in the Office Hallway.
-772-7218
www.firstsouthernpv.org
Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30AM - 2:30PM Senior Pastor Terrell Eldreth: 619-244-6265 PastorTerrell@firstsouthernpv.org Worship Pastor Bart Young 928-254-8713
PastorBart@firstsouthernpv.org
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