PVUMC Is Shining The Light

Pine Valley United Methodist Church was a busy place this past weekend!  And with that comes many visitors!  Starting Thursday night with worship, Friday night’s Celebrate Recovery, Saturday morning’s Prayer and Painting, and Sunday morning worship services, and the afternoon’s Fall Carnival with Trunk or Treat.  Just in our services we had over 900 people gathered to worship.  I am sure God was smiling with all of the activities!  I am sure there was a lot learned, much laughter, some much needed tears shed, old friends reunited and new friendships formed and lots of fellowship!   

As I marvel at the work the Spirit is doing through PVUMC I see WHY our church is growing.  In Acts the church is described as a body of believers that I would want to worship with.  Like PVUMC, after one visit, I knew I wanted to stay.  After Peter delivered his sermon at Pentecost, the new believers connected and shared incredible fellowship as the church.  Acts 2:42-47, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  The believers share in fellowship which united them together and grows the church.  

I know the ladies morning out was a time of fellowship with some first time guests.  There were  ladies who invited friends, sisters, mothers, daughters, daughters-in-law, etc.  Seventy seven ladies learned about the Spiritual discipline of prayer, different types of prayers and we painted prayer bowls.  Why should we learn more about prayer?  Even Jesus required down time.  He experienced exhaustion in His ministry.  Matthew 14:23, “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone…”  Jesus also got up early to pray.  Luke 4:42, “At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.”  We see a pattern in Jesus’ life where He often withdrew to be alone and pray.  Luke 5:16, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”  If Jesus felt the need to get some down time and pray then I believe we need it too!  

I am sure Jesus was smiling at the hundreds of little children on our campus for the Trunk or Treat. Many children are at home here and hopefully there were many children who want to learn about God’s love.  Hopefully they saw that PVUMC loves God.  Hopefully they witnessed PVUMC loving God’s people.   What better way to teach our kids to love God than to have them at church?  Everyone, not just the children, is looking for acceptance and a place to belong. We all want to be known and loved.  

I believe Christians should be the most joyful people on earth.  We have every reason because we’ve had the peace of God through Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”  Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”  We should be overflowing with the joy of God!  In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  We have abundant life!  

I believe PVUMC is committed to serving the Lord and demonstrates His love and grace to all who walk through the doors.  This is why we keep hearing people say they are drawn here by the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Some say, “You just have to come and experience it.”  When God’s people commit to love each other, their love will be a light that shines brightly!  This light is what the Spirit can use to draw others to Christ!  PVUMC is shining the light...thanks be to God!  

As you set your clocks back one hour before bed Saturday night, think about how important it is for us to shine the light for Christ.  

Jill Jarrell-Newsome