"Enter to Worship-Depart to Serve"
I got so excited last night as I was led to the back part of the fellowship hall and saw the food that had been collected for our Thanksgiving Basket Mission. I saw the boxes that our children from the Weekday School had decorated and made special for each family. I was blessed and encouraged as I heard how many people had helped already to bring items, organize them, and now get them ready for delivery.
Thanks to everyone for their contributions and help. 
I recall a verse from Proverbs this morning: “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.” (Proverbs 22: 3) Let us humble ourselves before the Lord today as we heed this announcement. Because of the icy precipitation moving into and falling in our area, we are cancelling all services for today, March 1st at Laurel Hill United Methodist Church.
Since we are not having services, please read John 5: 1 – 15 and 2nd Chronicles, chapters 29 – 32 as we think on Jesus’ words to the one who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” Did you hear Jesus? “Don’t sin anymore!”
Why do we need to stop sinning? 1. It is a command of Jesus. 2. There are consequences that follow sin that we want to avoid. 3. We were meant to live a saved and converted life.
How do we stop sinning? That’s why I want you to read those chapters in 2nd Chronicles. Hezekiah becomes king after a time of deep departure from the Lord. The temple had been shut down and closed and altars to other gods had popped up on every street corner. There had been a great falling away but the work of God in Hezekiah would change that. The pattern for revival God would demonstrate through Hezekiah’s reign for the nation is also applicable to us. These are the steps we all follow if we are to stop sinning and demonstrate the converting work of God in our lives.
1. We remove ourselves from the things that make us sin or we remove the things away from ourselves that entice us to sin.
2. We reserve ourselves for the sacrifice of worship and praise. If we force ourselves to do anything, have to act on an impulse, or obsess about anything, we make sure it is our worship of the Lord. If we’re going to look silly or make fools of ourselves we will make sure it happens, not by doing wrong, but by how over the top our worship is.
3. We rejoice at what the Lord has brought about in our lives.
4. We re-institute the formation of habits that help us be faithful to the Lord. Refresh things with the Lord whether things have fallen off or not.
5. We rely upon the Lord when the enemy threatens your prosperity. We are part of a spiritual battle. Do not make it your aim to go unscathed or be kept from the battle but keep yourselves in the Lord’s hand no matter how fierce or trying the battle is.
6. We ready ourselves to repent. Do not let pride or fear or guilt keep you from the daily revival of the Lord’s righteousness in you! Get ready to have a “spring cleaning of your soul” today and start the process over again “or something worse may happen to you.” (John 4: 14)
Thank you to everyone who helped to complete our renovation to the Weekday School’s 2 Yr. Old Playground. But first, let me go back and thank the Cub Scout Pack #501, the Men’s Group, and others who helped us get started May 30th. Then, I want to give special thanks to Margo Keeles, Raymond Stevenson, Phil Deane, and Phillip Deane for getting things leveled and ready for completion. Thanks go to Bill Holmes for picking up the mulch and transporting it back to church, for T. K. and Joe Keels, and David Ogburn for helping us unload the mulch, and for David, Kirby Miller, Raymond, and Chris Ragland for getting everything finished and looking great.
Now, everything is ready for the start up Monday, June 16th of our Summer School Program!
Discover what is going on in the ministry of our Laurel Hill Weekday School and learn about upcoming registration for summer and fall in our February newsletter.
As we move down the road into fall please keep up with how you can be involved in fulfilling the ministry and mission of Laurel Hill United Methodist Church and Weekday School. October is a special month for many reasons. This is the month we collect books, DVDs, and stuffed animals for our partnership with the VCU Medical Center’s Children’s Emergency Room. It would be great if everyone who attended worship this month brought at least one item for the children. Have you picked out anything. yet?
Our October Newsletter is full of information. Check out our calendar for the month and see if you are responsible for serving in a specific way on the Lay Ministers page.