We began our worship service as Andy Hoffecker and the team led us in a time of praise.  We were blessed to have Polly Brewer sing the moving song “Written in Red.”      

     It was announced that our summer matinees will be on Thursdays, July 8 through August 12.  They will be in the gymnasium from 1:00 to 3:00.  This event is geared toward elementary aged children and will include not only the free movie but free popcorn and drink as well.

     Pastor Roger began a new sermon series entitled “Real Freedom.”  The title of the first message was “Jacob’s Wrestling Match with God.”  Found in Genesis chapter 32, an incident from the life of Jacob illustrates the process God uses to change our lives.  After this event, Jacob was never the same again.  We see that Jacob was faced with a crisis situation and it was then that he wrestled with God until daybreak.  Jacob persevered; he did not give up.  God can use a crisis in our lives to bring us to Him.  Jacob had to make a commitment and work through things during a process of growth. .  In our microwave society, we want everything instantly.   Just as it takes time to get into a mess, most of the time there is also a process of time to get out of it.  In that process we should not become weary as instructed in Galatians 6:9 and we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  We need to admit to ourselves and to God what our problem is.  Jacob had to confess to God that he was a deceiver.  Finally, Jacob had to cooperate with God and live in obedience to God.  When we wrestle with God we need to humble ourselves, repent and find God’s forgiveness and allow His Spirit to work in us.  We don’t have to remain the same, if we do our part, God will do His.

     In the evening service, several of our teens testified of how God had worked in their lives in the past week at youth camp.   We are thankful for their obedience to and love for the Lord.  Pastor Josh brought the evening message, “Dreams,” from the account of Joseph.