Glen Haven United Methodist Church

When the Spirit Moves Acts 2:43 / 6:5-6, 8 Acts 2:43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. Acts 6:5 What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch....Continue reading

It's that time of year we look forward to at "The Haven".... That's right, summer dress down months! Beginning this Sunday, May 24, feel free to dress in your business casual attire. This period will run through Labor Day weekend!

"Never Fear - Jesus is Near!" John 16:29-33 16:29 His disciples said, Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! 16:30 Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.... 16:31 Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? 16:32 The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 16:33 I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world! Lost in Space, a fictional series with the Robinson family traveling through the galaxy trying to return to Earth but their nemesis, Mr. Smith sabotaged them. Things didn't go as they had planned because of the saboteur. We have to learn how to navigate life. There will be challenges and your plan does not always come to fruition. God gives us a direction that we must go but does not follow. Satan wants us to fear. How do You successfully navigate? If you don't invite the Lord, you are inviting the enemy. In this text, Jesus was preparing the disciples for his departure. 1) Jesus gives us Peace. Know where your peace comes from. Philippians 4:7 Philippians 4:7 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 2) Jesus went to the problem. He told them they will face persecution. Quit being surprised when the enemy shows up and start praying over the situation. Stop being surprised! 2 Cor 2:11 11And we do this so that we may not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. We get power over our problems when we recognize Jesus in our midst. 3) Jesus has a promise. A promise of our victory! We need to understand that our problems are just a stepping stone to our victory. Our problems are to keep us connected to God. Our prayers become short when things are going right in our lives. We need to give God a prayer of praise. God is here to help us today with a healthy fear of God. We are not to fear the systems of the world.

Sister Debora Constable 4th Sunday of Easter 1 John 3:18-24 Message Bible When We Practice Real Love... My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God! We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God’s command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us. (1 John 3:18-24 MSG) How many are tired if seeing fights? Someone with their camera recording the fights...are you tired of the videos? Some of the young people do not know what God has in store for them. Where is God in all of this? We as believers must let out light shine. Isaiah 40:11 Jeremiah 43:1 God is the shepherd and we are the sheep. Our pastor is the shepherd and we are his flock. We are shepherds also and we have a flock....our children, our employees... Love... 1. We must practice love in truth in action...love others regardless of differences and shortcomings. Correction in love. Everything in love. God loves us...the good, the bad, the ugly. As Christian we cannot turn our backs on our fellow man/woman, we must love them. 2. We must have confidence in God 1 John 3:21 God knew/knows we will make mistakes and God loves us anyway. Psalm 22:9/ Psalm 129:12 How can we judge others and not love them? God loves us in spite of what we do. We might not agree with how 3. Obey God's commands and do what is pleasing to God. 1 John 3:23-24 Remember that you are sheep but you are also a shepherd. Lead in truth and love!

On the Other Side of the Door John 20:19-23 19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you. ... 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. What now? A major temptation of the church is to do what the disciples did, they were behind locked, closed doors. We live behind locked doors. Many of our churches are on lockdown. Peter denied Christ three times. The disciples were on the hit list because they were known followers of Christ. That was not God's Devine plan. God's plan was that the Resurrection was to be the beginning. If the disciples had never exited those closed and locked doors we would never have the church. We must make this church, the universal church the best there is. If we remain behind closed doors the Resurrection meant nothing. We need to take the message of Christ to the streets! Jesus went passed the locked doors. We need to find a way to get through the locked doors. Our ancestors found a way to breaks through the chains of oppression. Jesus gives us peace...v19 & 21..."peace be with you..." Shalom means peace, completeness, wholeness, fullness, rest, harmony. Jesus said peace as he entered the room. We need to speak Peace, Shalom into others lives. Not the world's peace but Jesus ' peace! Jesus gives us purpose...v21..."as God has sent me, so shall I send you...." In Jesus' pain and death he brought life to us and to the world. Your purpose is greater than you because you belong to an eternal God. Greater works we are to accomplish. We need to come together and pool our resources together and when we are we are partner(s) can pull us through to accomplish the work of the Kingdom. Lastly, Jesus gives the disciples out to do all things. When we are sent out by God, we are sent out with everything that we need. When God empowers us, God gives us humility and discernment. Genesis 2:7 God breathed life God has directives for us when we pray. We must stand still and listen. Disciples were recreated from the followers they were. The Holy Spirit is trying to recreate us to do God's bidding. Matthew 5:14 We are called to be the light of the world John 16:33 Any obstacle we come against has already been overcome. There is nothing the enemy throws at you that you can't overcome! Tell the enemy that it has been overcome and you are the Victor!!!

Join us Saturday, April 4th at 11 a.m. for our annual Easter egg hunt.

Join us tonight for Pastor David Trott! Service starts at 7 pm.

Rev. Tariq Cummings of Allgood Road UMC brought a powerful and dynamic message last night! If you weren't there you missed a blessing!

SHARE THE GOOD NEWS II Kings 7:3-11 Rev. Patricia Boyd-Wilson Why we must share the good news:... 1. Everybody's not going to listen to the prophet of God. 2. When we hide our blessings, no one is blessed. Sometimes you have to be bless from afar. 3. We must share the good news because has a plan for all of his children and he ALLOWS us to be a part of it. He allows us to share in his plan and purpose. 4. We need to share the good news because it's the right thing to do. Sharing the good news dispels hopelessness. If we share the good news, somebody will be saved/delivered. See more

We would like to wish our leader Rev. Dr. Theophilus J. Stanford a very Happy Birthday! May this day and every day be filled with lots of love and laughter!