Peace in the Furnace – Daniel 3:16-18

Greetings again GracePoint family (Friday, March 20th)

Worship is essential for human flourishing. For one thing, we are all worshipping something all the time. The idolatries that fester, even in a well-disciplined Christian heart, when we are confronted with nonstop news of terror and rumors, can only really be put to rest when we gather with others to “set forth God’s praise, hear his Holy Word, and ask, for ourselves and others, those things that are necessary for our life and salvation” (The Book of Common Prayer).

As GracePoint Church we are called to be worshippers of God. Because of the coronavirus pathogen we cannot “gather with others” in an embodied state, in other words physically together. Therefore we are adapting and learning what it means to be “the church scattered.”

This Sunday, March 22nd at 10 a.m. I encourage you to follow the link below to listen and view a message entitled “Peace In The Furnace” which is a topical message that I hope will encourage you and that God will use in all of our lives.

Speaking into a camera was (and is) a difficult transition for me after 30+ years speaking to a people gathered. W. David O. Taylor perhaps explains this transition best:

It’s the difference between embodied cognition and disembodied cognition, between a dialogue and a monologue, and between getting a feel for the room and sending a unidirectional message out into the internet. To put it in musical terms, how might we transpose what we normally do in corporate worship into the new “key” of technology?

This Sunday, March 22nd you and yours can focus on worship and prayer at 10 a.m. our regular congregational worship time. Remember, that just because we are not meeting together does not mean that we cease being the church. We are just scattered out in our neighborhoods and communities.

Some suggested items for prayer:

• That Christ would be exalted and trusted in our lives.
• Praise God for His faithfulness in your provision and sufficiency
• Pray for the GracePoint family
• Pray for families you know who are impacted by business and school closures
• Pray for our local medical professionals as they deal with this virus
• Pray for your neighbors, classmates, coworkers, and others in your context
• Pray for our community, especially for those you know who have not believed in Christ
• Pray for our country
• Pray for wisdom and strength and eyes to see opportunities in the coming days

Read Daniel chapter 3 for the extended context of Sunday’s message. Though we will not cover this whole passage you will find the historical account a very powerful reminder of the sovereignty of God.

Grace and Peace,

Gary Nock for the Elders of GracePoint Church, Ephrata

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33