Church guide

Thursday's BREAD After the Resurrection… “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:12-15 KJV THOUGHT: Reflecting on the same verse as yesterday, I want to point out a certain portion of the scripture. Jesus was teaching the eleven here, after He had rose from the dead. He was giving them direction to ‘GO’ and ‘teach ALL nations’ and to baptize them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. It was time for the message God had sent to earth to be spread over all the earth. The eleven followed through on His command and the Gospel of Truth the Gospel of Jesus Christ began to spread over all the earth. If you continue to read you will see how many thousands were receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and being baptized. But if you will focus on the one sentence that says to “baptize them in the NAME”. Not titles. Father is WHO He was, just as many of you are. Son is a title, just as many of you are. And the Holy Ghost was a Spirit. Just as many of you are husbands or have other titles, such as supervisor or planner, etc. Jesus said ‘in the NAME’ – singular. Something to think about. In fact, a WHOLE LOT OF SOMETHIN’ to think about.  EXTRA THOUGHT: “Baptism is faith in action.” Watchman Nee Carol Durfee P.S. In case you didn’t know, the word ‘trinity’ is not in the Bible.

Wednesday's BREAD After the Resurrection… “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:12-15 KJV THOUGHT: And then there were eleven. I wonder how the eleven felt at that point. Had they always been a close-knit, cohesive group, going everywhere together, eating together, finding rest for their bodies at the same location? Did they squabble like blood-brothers? Did they miss Judas? I wonder if they talked among themselves about what happened. Did they criticize him or wish he had stayed true to the Gospel and Jesus? Did it help strengthen their personal resolve to be true to the teachings of their leader? We will never know the answer to most of these questions. But how sad to know that Judas felt condemnation and guilt IMMEDIATELY for what he had done, tried to give the money back to the priests but they would not take it and he then went and hanged himself. All of this with Judas happened before Jesus had even been crucified. But it was the eleven noted here that met together AFTER the resurrection. Oh how much it matters to stay true to God’s Word, to stay close to Him in the fellowship of His suffering. To read His Word, to pray. To talk to Him just like he is your dad – and He is! WE want to see the next resurrection! EXTRA THOUGHT: “Tears are words the heart can’t express.” Carol Durfee

Tuesday's BREAD After the Resurrection… “Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” Matthew 28:12-15 KJV THOUGHT: When you thoroughly go through just this ONE chapter, just ONE, you realize how devious those that called for the crucifixion of Jesus were. They called a whole counsel to try and come to some deliberation of what to do and say about the missing Jesus. You also realize there had to be some belief that He came alive because they were bribing the soldiers to lie and say, “His disciples came at night and stole Him.” And if this goes any higher in the government, we’ll protect you and ‘secure’ you or keep you safe. Oh my word, in some ways it is downright funny. They had to be terrified that their heads would roll if it went to the governor’s ears. They had no real answer for WHO took Him, WHEN they took Him, or HOW they took Him. So they made up lies and paid money to the soldiers to keep it hush OR tell the lies. God had a Plan and He fulfilled His Plan through the flesh He put on Himself as He walked this earth. Nothing could thwart that Plan. No stone. No tomb. No soldier. No disbelief. Isn’t the Word of God the most awesome thing you’ve ever read? Right in the middle of all this sorrow comes a tiny story of how those who condemned God to death were shaking in their boots and it actually makes you grin. Amazing. EXTRA THOUGHT: “The worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves. We live in denial of what we do, even what we think. We do this because we’re afraid. We fear we will not find love, and when we find it we fear we’ll lose it. We fear that if we do not have love we will be unhappy.” Richard Bach Carol Durfee

Monday's BREAD After the Resurrection… “And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.” Matthew 28:5-7 KJV THOUGHT: Jesus’ ministry did not stop at the grave. We celebrated Easter today (and Passover for our Jewish friends). Easter represents his resurrection. They managed to kill his body thinking that was the end of him and that would be the end of what they considered his heretical teachings. They killed the body God had come down and robed Himself in – human flesh and blood – the very thing HE had created in the Beginning. But because He was and is God, that did not stop His ministry. In fact, it began to swell and grow beyond measure. We’ll talk more about that later, but I encourage each of you, if you have not, please go to this chapter – Matthew 28 and read all of it. Maybe read it two times or three. It is an amazing chapter. After the resurrection is when New Life began.  EXTRA THOUGHT: “ Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Maria Robinson Carol Durfee

Friday's BREAD Resurrection… " Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25 KJV THOUGHT: I love Spring. We live in a cold, snowy, icy, wintery climate from about December 1 until the end of March. Sometimes a little earlier and sometimes it goes a little later. When Spring starts to arrive there is such a feeling of relief. I can go out with a light jacket on, no mittens or gloves or heavy hat or worrying about slipping and sliding on icy surfaces. I can drive and not feel unsafe on pavement that is ice covered. I wake up every morning to birds singing and I actually smile, even though I’m NOT a morning person! I can sit and watch the fattest of robins picking at different types of strings and tiny pieces of items to build their nests. The mama bunny in our yard has a nest somewhere and if not already, soon new babies will be born. A mourning dove tried to build her nest in one of my flowerboxes that had artificial Christmas pine stuff left in it. I drove by a farm house that has tapped their maples for syrup to run. As I came home today from errands, our neighbor’s forsythia was coming out and I was so excited I wanted to call my husband just to tell him that! HA! New birth. A time of resurrection. From death and decay and bareness and stagnation and hibernation. I KNOW what this week represents but I’m not offended at bunnies or chicks or colored eggs or goodie baskets. It’s BECAUSE I know the true meaning of resurrection that I can look at those things and remember that Jesus suffered, took stripes on His back for MY healing, but He AROSE! He lives! Oh how blessed was the day He came out of that grave and nothing NOTHING has ever been the same since. When you look at new beginnings, new life, remember Jesus gave that life.  Happy and blessed Easter to all. Carol Durfee

Thursday's BREAD Resurrection… "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:10, 11 NIV THOUGHT: Easter is a time of reflection, reviewing the details of Jesus' sufferings and crucifixion. I cannot bear to watch The Passion of the Christ video again because my mind cannot tolerate the sufferings in such vivid portrayal. And I will not take Him down from His cross on this weekend, do my reflection and hang Him back up there. I want to KNOW HIM in the RESURRECTION POWER. He suffered, He died, but more importantly, He AROSE FROM THAT GRAVE and took the keys to death and hell. They have no power except what He allows. Praise God today for knowing a savior who Lives within me. Who sustains me day by day. And that when He ascended into the Heavens, He sent the Comforter back for us - that Holy Spirit that dwells within this mortal temple. I rejoice today that He Lives!! EXTRA THOUGHT: the resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances. Robert Flatt Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there. Clarence W. Hall Carol Durfee

Wednesday's BREAD Resurrection... “Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:23-25 KJV THOUGHT: Lazarus had been dead four days and Martha said to Jesus, "surely he stinketh by now". But this was Jesus, his body did not see decay even though he had been dead three days. Resurrection is new life. Free from decay and decomposition. I have not yet had time to clean out my flower beds but the new life coming through doesn't care. It just comes up - totally resurrected - around all the debris and old dead stems and leaves. We have been resurrected from a life of sin by this same Jesus. The newness will show through when your life has been changed. Doesn't matter that the world all around you is still old and decaying, new life will be green and strong and full of vigor. Thank God He revived me and one day I will see him in the Great Resurrection. :) EXTRA THOUGHT: “Every story has an end but in life every ending is just a new beginning.” Carol Durfee

Tuesday's BREAD Resurrection... "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:" John 11:24 KJV THOUGHT: Webster's definition of the word resurrection: the rising of Christ from the dead; the rising again to life of all the human dead before the final judgment; the state of one risen from the dead. Synonym is: revival. For those of us who live in the northern climates, I think this word is so vividly experienced every spring. Over the weekend we had an unexpected late-spring snow storm. It covered the ground and it stayed overnight as the temperatures dropped down to under 30 degrees. But through all of that, still the flowers are coming up and getting ready to bloom. The buds on the trees are opening. The grass is turning green again. New Life. Resurrecting from the winter's harshness. Reviving. And it revives our spirits too. New life. And for those who came out from sin and found this resurrection and reviving of spirit through salvation in Jesus Christ - what pure unadulterated joy. When I think of Easter, I not only think of his death, burial and resurrection, but I liken it to those who have been brought to a newness of life BECAUSE of Easter. So much to shout about. So much to praise Him for. EXTRA THOUGHT: Receive every day as a resurrection from death, as a new enjoyment of life; meet every rising sun with such sentiments of God's goodness, as if you had seen it, and all things new - created upon your account; and under the sense of so great a blessing. William Law Carol Durfee

Monday's BREAD Resurrection... "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:" John 11:24 KJV THOUGHT: Jesus was speaking to Martha regarding the death of her brother Lazarus. But what fascinated me was that Jesus was telling her HE was the resurrection and this was before HIS death on Calvary and His resurrection. She spoke back to Him stating that she knew Lazarus would arise in the last day resurrection. In checking scripture, first off, the word resurrection is only mentioned in the New Testament. And in looking I realize Jesus must have taught his disciples and followers quite a bit about the resurrection as even Martha had grasped the knowledge that there would be a resurrection of the dead. How difficult it must have been for them to grasp the concept that this Jesus they loved would die, come back to life and eventually resurrect the dead and make a place in Heaven with Him. When I tried to put myself in His followers footsteps of that age, I could think of all kinds of questions I would want to ask. "Are you going to die and come back right away and then take us with you immediately?" So many thoughts. So many questions. We know the story because it is recorded in history. But they were living it moment by moment. EXTRA THOUGHT: Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime. Martin Luther Carol Durfee

TONIGHT'S SERVICE CANCELED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.

How about that food today?

Who is ready for Sunday?

Didn't the sign team do a great job last Sunday?

Greater is yet to come!

With all I am, worshipping You!

Thursday's BREAD Guilt Is A Heavy Load To Carry… “ And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.” Mark 14:70-72 KJV THOUGHT: If you go back up in this chapter you will see where Peter denied the Lord prior to these verses so when another person accused him of being with Jesus, he lost his temper and cursed and swore… until the cock crowed. And then he remembered and was full of guilt and sorrow and he wept. This hot-tempered man who cut off the ear of the soldier in the garden; this arrogant and full-of-himself man who was going to show Jesus and the world that “HE” wouldn’t deny the Lord. Nope. Not him. I have heard him called Impetuous Peter. But then it happened and he wept from guilt of having once again let the Lord down. But Jesus had so much patience with this disciple because He saw beyond the thin veneer of self-importance and temper. He saw a man who would one day be given the Keys to the Kingdom – which is the Plan of Salvation. Peter’s guilt didn’t last long because inside he was a man who loved Jesus so much he was able to repent quickly. Oh for us to have such a heart for the Lord that when we SEE we have done wrong, we don’t just push that guilt aside and say, ‘oh well, it doesn’t matter’. That tiny bag of guilt will eventually weigh you down until you can’t take one more step. It’s a heavy load to carry.  EXTRA THOUGHT: “There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supersedes all other courts.” Ghandi EXTRA EXTRA (ZINGERS): “Justice is a temporary thing that must at last come to an end; but the conscience is eternal and will never die.” Martin Luther Carol Durfee

Wednesday's BREAD Guilt Is A Heavy Load To Carry… “ This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers. Hath no man condemned thee?” John 8:6-8 and 10 KJV THOUGHT: There are two types of guilt here. Number one: the guilt of the lady caught in adultery. She had been caught ‘in the act’ as the Bible says so she definitely was guilty and didn’t even try to deny it. But the guilt that I want to focus on is the guilt of those that accused her. I’ve heard many a sermon preached on this story but my own imagination goes into overtime and I ‘see’ in my mind’s eye Jesus stooping down to write like this: “John S stole Jim M’s horse” “Jim M lied over and over again to his wife”. And on and on. We are ALL guilty of sin and have come short of the glory of God. ALL of us. As much as we would like to think of ourselves as Miss Perfect or Mr. Perfect, we ALL need God’s mercy and grace many times over. God’s salvation helps us to refrain from sin, and His spirit will not always strive with man if we deliberately continue to sin. But when we do slip up, we have an advocate with Jesus Christ who understands our humanity and is willing to lift the burden off our backs and wash away our guilt. If Jesus were there beside you and He stooped to write in the sands of time, would you be interested enough to stay and smile or would you run and hide with guilt? Something for us all to ponder on. EXTRA THOUGHT: Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind. Shakespeare. EXTRA EXTRA (ZINGERS): “When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer ‘Present’ or “Not guilty.’ Theodore Roosevelt (ZING!) Carol Durfee

Tuesday's BREAD Guilt Is A Heavy Load To Carry… “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.” Genesis 4:8-13 KJV THOUGHT: For years the only portion of this story I could focus on was where Cain ‘mouthed back to God’. Sarcastic. To a God who had already rejected his sacrifice and basically gave him the answer to make things right. Makes me just cringe when I read it. I have often wondered what would have happened if Cain had humbled himself, ask God to forgive him, gone back to the field and brought the most perfect sacrifice he could find. But instead, he bit back at God… mind you - GOD! The one who holds the power of life, death and the grave in His hands. Does now. Did back then. And then when God rejected Cain’s sacrifice and gave him his punishment, THEN Cain wants to barter with God and told him the punishment was greater than he could bear. Guilt was upon his shoulders. I’m not sure even then if humility was because he was only looking out to save his own body. Sadly, Cain carried the guilty weight and punishment for his actions until his death. When we have done wrong… and we KNOW we have done wrong… and we fail to ask GOD in a humble way to forgive us, guilt will be like a visible burden upon our backs forever. It is so hard for humanity to say, “I’m sorry… I was wrong!” How many marriages, jobs, children or SOULS would be saved if we could only say that short phrase and mean it. Guilt is a heavy heavy load to carry. It will either do one thing or the other… it will either go away if we ask forgiveness or it will cause our hearts to harden. Two small words spoken with truth and humility – I’m sorry. Powerful. EXTRA THOUGHT: “It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do for which we are accountable.” John Baptiste Moliere EXTRA EXTRA (ZINGERS): The worst guilt is to accept an unearned guilt. (Good, huh?) Carol Durfee

Monday's BREAD Guilt Is A Heavy Load To Carry… “ And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.” Genesis 42:21-22 KJV THOUGHT: Most of us know the story of Joseph from our Sunday School years. How his father loved him and made him a coat of many colors and how his brothers hated him, a young boy, simply because he was beloved of their father and also that he told them dreams that they would one day bow down to him. Instead of just looking at him and saying, “oh you silly boy, you are only dreaming silly dreams”, they allowed, yes ALLOWED sin to take hold in their hearts and souls and ALLOWED hatred to come in and dwell there. For 13 years they carried the heavy load of GUILT on their shoulders. I am sure without a doubt in my mind, that every time their father called them in for a meeting or special dinner, their hearts and guts would clutch inside of them fearing he had found them out. There used to be a commercial on TV that showed a lady walking down the street with a handbag on her shoulder. People pass by her and block her out and each time we see her the bag is bigger and bigger and bigger. Her load gets heavier as she walks along. She isn’t stopping… she goes on with whatever it is she needs to do.. but her load almost gets to the point where she can no longer carry it. Guilt is a heavy load to carry. How much easier it would be for us to lay down that load of guilt at an old fashioned altar? More to come…  EXTRA THOUGHT: Guilt is perhaps the most painful companion of death. C. Chanel EXTRA EXTRA (ZINGERS): “Guilt: the gift that keeps on giving” Erma Bombeck Carol Durfee

Our God is greater!

“That’s some good singing right there!” Kevin Leaman We went back tonight with the elders.

We wish everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Welcome to Saginaw Valley United Pentecostal Church!

Goodbye Dixie. What’s your favorite memory from our old church ⛪? Share Below.

Baptism!

We welcome you to join us at Saginaw Valley United. Service Times: Sundays - 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM Wednesday - Youth and Family Service 7:00 PM

One of 2 baptisms today! That makes 16 in 2017. Isn't God good?! #1God1Family

Get your Master Rally After Event Meal Tickets. On Sale Now for $5. $10 at the door! #tacobar #masterrally17

SVUPC is giving away FREE produce tonight from 5pm until we run out! So stop by and see us! :D 6740 Dixie Highway Bridgeport, MI 48722