Greetings to you all
Join us tomorrow to meet up with friends and welcome guests in Café Liberty from 9:45 AM until Worship at 10:15 AM
We’re so grateful for each couple and helpers who prepare coffee, tea, juice and treats for Cafe Liberty. Our goal is for these brief times together to help everyone be part of the welcoming team that makes such a difference for our guests.
Memorial Day weekend aims us in a direction that is needed now more than ever in America – a new awakening to the cause of liberty, r which countless courageous men and women have given their lives.
Heroes arise in times of severe danger. The names of those who shaped the destiny of America would never have been known had they not faced frightening adversities.
Whether it was Revolutionary War recruits in the bitter sub-zero temperatures of winter at Valley Forge in 1775 or NYC fire fighters who scrambled into high-rise office towers and elevator shafts to save stranded people from the flames of 9/11, true heroes emerge suddenly. Many of their decisions had to be made in a nano-second, and often the steps they took changed everything for vulnerable people who found themselves unexpectedly in harm’s way..
I sometimes think of Memorial Day as the “humble holiday” because no matter how fervently a city or a town may try, there is no way a parade or a memorial service can ever do justice to the true heroes who gave their all. Humility is the only emotion that comes close to matching the price that many heroes paid in the brutal fight to defend true liberty.
So in Memorial Day we collectively are called to honor the many champions who led the way for each of us.
In light of that, Hebrews 11:33-34 seems especially significant.
These verses wrap a ribbon of recognition around hundreds of heroes in the history of Israel. As it is true today for the Israeli people, many of those heroes emerged suddenly. So many stories are wrapped inside this module of memory.
The reason for such a concise summary of hundreds of heroes’ lives was to remind us of the compelling force that lies behind such stunning acts of bravery. It’s an invisible and yet powerful source of motivation displayed through the Eleventh chapter of Hebrews.
That 34th verse of Hebrews 11 speaks of those who “quenched the fury of the flames, escaped the edge of the sword, whose weakness was turned to strength, and who became valiant in battle, putting foreign armies to flight…
It’s a fascinating combination of life-stories and life-empowering principles that remind us of how significant one person’s courage can be in the face of overwhelming odds.
In each case, the “why” behind their mission was a deeply rooted faith in God and a passion for defending the innocent.
The peril we see on display in America today requires each of us to boldly stand for those same principles. Adversaries in our day include assaults on the cherished source of our liberties, including the antisemitic violence that has plagued college campus life in the last few months.
Scriptures such as these not only report on the past; they point directly to the challenges of the present. Hebrews 11:33-34 is a snapshot in time, sampling the many sacrifices that bold believers gave in pursuit of true “liberty and justice for all”. It’s worded as if their actions are in the flow of a river of courage. We too are called, in ways that often emerge suddenly, to step into that river – to stand, to speak and to stay committed to truth when it is under assault.
Believing God and defending those who cannot defend themselves are key ingredients of what we celebrate in Memorial Day.
How BLESSED we are to be heirs of so many heroes among us. Join us in praising God for the ones cherished in your memories and for those who are leading the way among us today.
CPR/AED Training opportunities (reduced cost for Liberty members and friends) here in the Liberty fellowship hall
We’re pleased to offer the American Heart Association-certified training, with Instructor Myriam Lewis, for anyone interested in learning basic CPR techniques. The cost is only $35 to you for the two-hour course that Myriam is offering on Tuesday, June 18th @ 4:00 PMPlease register in the sanctuary at our Connections Table for CPR training on June 18th.
Water Baptism Orientation ~ the basics on believers’ baptism and a Q&A opportunity open for members, guests and friends.
At the heart of the Great Commission is a command that represents our wholehearted response in active faith to the glory of the Risen Lord. His command
includes the experience of baptism. Our upcoming water baptism class on Wednesday June 19th at 7:00 PM is an opportunity for parents of any child or teenager who has yet to take this vital step in his or her walk with the Lord.
In these sessions, we open God’s Word to see how baptism activates faith and empowers a rich understanding of the calling of Jesus for each of us. Then we’ll cover a few practical steps that help us serve each person and his or her friends and family members.
It’s our goal to walk alongside those who have questions in any area of spiritual growth. We look forward to seeing you and/or welcoming anyone in your family or among your friends who would like to learn more about what baptism means and why it is such a vital part of God’s plan for expressing and experiencing His grace in our lives. Our baptism services are planned a few weeks after the orientation, to include anyone who is on this journey of discovery and celebrate with each one.
Welcome to all who link up with us in live stream for each worship service!
Thank you for joining us. It’s our joy, anytime, to know of a prayer need or a concern you may have. Feel free to reply to this email or text me directly @ 410.596.4096.
View the service live online
- Directly from our Live page
- Facebook Live: facebook.com/LibertyWestminster
Listen to past services
- Podcast (audio) on our Past Services page
“From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised.
The LORD is high above all nations and His glory above the heavens.”
(Psalm 113:3-4 ESV)
In His love,
Pastor Joe
Liberty Church
P.O. Box 295
Westminster MD 21158
email: pastoralcare@libertychurchlive.com
Office: 410.857.4313
Pastor’s cell: 410.596.4096