CERRO GORDO
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
November 5, 2023
Luke 5:1-11
One day as Jesus was
standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the
people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He
saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were
washing their nets. 3 He
got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out
a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he
had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water,
and let down the nets for a catch.”
5 Simon
answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught
anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When
they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began
to break. 7 So they signaled
their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and
filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When
Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord;
I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his
companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of
Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be
afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So
they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Come Follow Me
Luke 5:1-11
Today we officially welcomed Bob into
the Cerro Gordo Church of the Brethren family, much like we did with Dorthea,
Bill, Bob, Ruth and Martha a few months back. While each one was already a part
of God’s church family, they had not been officially part of this
congregation’s fellowship.
God has called each and every one of
us to be a part of the work he is continuing to do wherever we might be throughout
our lives. The role God is calling us to do may change but the overall mission
remains the same. God wants us to be his witnesses. When Jesus was just
beginning the ministry that God the Father was calling him to do, he knew he
would need help. That is a part of what life on earth is all about. No one
person is expected to do all things by themselves. Whether it has to do with
sharing the word of God and the salvation he has made available to everyone or
simply living life with all of it’s ups and downs.
In the Garden of Eden God had Adam
look for an appropriate help mate. When none could be found from all the
animals God had created, he created woman because God knew the importance of
supporting one another no matter what we do or what we face in life.
As Jesus began his ministry, he knew
that others would be necessary, not only during his earthly ministry, but long
after his time on earth was over. The importance of being there in work and
play, in good times and difficult times is still an essential part of God’s
plan for us. When Jesus called his first disciple, it was because God had made
even Jesus need support and at times reassurance during his time here on earth.
There have been those who claim they do not need anyone but themselves, but
even the most independent person knows in their heart how important it is to
have others at key points in their lives. That is why in the ministry Jesus had
and the one each one of us has, it is important to have others to bounce things
off of. Others that help us stay focused.
God wants us to be part of a church
family. I pray most all of you has a family that loves you and supports you,
just as you love them and support them. Not everyone has a family that is close
by or a family that offers support in those good and bad times. God has created
the church for just those situations. The Lord gives the church this
encouragement.
James
1:27 – “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to
look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being
polluted by the world.”
One of the most important roles the
church has is to be there for one another. Let’s face it, none of us are going
to get it right all the time. We may be, at times, pulled many different
directions. But being part of a supportive, loving church family is what God’s
desire if for each one of us. May we continue to work hard to fulfill that call
on each one of us here at the Cerro Gordo church of the Brethren. May we find
ways to love and support each other, even when we do not agree on everything.
Jesus knew that even though he was God,
he would need the help of others to share the message of hope and redemption
God the Father had given him to share. God still wants and needs our help. May
each one of us continue to answer the call, just like Simon Peter did when
Jesus first reached out to him. While our role in God’s church may change over
time, there will still continue to be things each one of us can do. We simply
must be willing to say yes, yes I will do that, knowing God will honor and
bless you, a faithful and important part of his family.
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Sunday School 9:00
Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study
November 8 Board meeting—6:15 Exec Comm; 7:00 Commissions; 7:30 Board
November
10,11 Oakley Brick Revival 6:30 pm
November
12 Council meeting after worship
November
18 LaPlace CoB soup, sandwich supper 4-6 pm
College Care
Package snacks are needed by November 12. We have 10 students so far.
Needed: Volunteers for Children’s Bible story in nursery during worship. Please
sign up in back.
Children’s message volunteers. Sign up in back.
Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362
Donation Box: The Lord’s Storehouse
First Sundays: Food Bank donations—TLS needs cold cereals
and canned goods.
Keep
in Your Prayers
Ava (Traxlers’ great-niece); Carolyn Hirsch; Nora Hanaver; Jonah
Martina; Jan Bower; Larry Traxler; Randy and Michelle West; Mike Gentry; Wilma
Cable; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Doug Larrick; Ron & Kathleen Petersen; Debbie
Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Tina Wilhelm; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler; Mayo
& Darlene Hanaver; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; victims
of disasters; victims of shootings; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian
Brethren; Ukraine; Moracco; Israel and Hamas war
Military and Other Services and their families
Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers
District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Highland
Avenue congregation in Elgin.
