Holy Land, Here we Come!

by Pastor Rod Green, Associate Pastor

By the time this blog reaches our webpage, Kip and Margaret Hasselbring, Jim Kelly, Seta Green, and I will have arrived at our hotel overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Seta and I plan to put our luggage away and go for what will surely be an icy dip in the freshwater lake which is fed by the melting snows of Mt. Hermon. We should sleep well after the long trip across the pond, but we will wake early to start our tour of Galilee.

We'll sail across the lake where Jesus calmed the waves and then visit the Mount of Beatitudes. I hope the guide will allow me to lead a group of people down a winding path to the lake. Every time I have done this, I have felt a great peace on that mountainside. There is always a nice breeze, a sign to me of the Spirit's presence and the peace of Christ. This walk will end at a spot at the lakeshore where Jesus made breakfast for the disciples after the resurrection and gave Peter some insight into his future and where his love for the Lord would lead him. We'll see the ruins of Capernaum (the hometown of Peter) and the traditional place where Jesus fed the 5,000. Not bad for our first day in the Holy Land....oh yeah, we will end the day at the Jordan River where many in our group will be baptized.

It is Seta's dream to walk where Jesus walked and be baptized in the Jordan River. In Galilee, Seta and I will look to the north and think of our family and friends in Beirut, Lebanon. We could reach them by car in about four hours if there was a peaceful border to cross. Seta will surely be thinking of her mom, who passed away over a year ago and who would have loved to be on a pilgrimage to places where her Lord lived and revealed God's love for the world.

We will see a lot during our 8 days: Nazareth, Jericho, Caesarea (where Pontius Pilate resided and where later Paul lived under house arrest), and Jerusalem. The last item on our agenda will be sharing communion in the garden tomb, drinking grape juice from an olivewood cup.  

Seta just told me she is really looking forward to visiting the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed on the night he was arrested. I have not told her, but the church in the garden is one of my favorite places. I could always rely on the Spirit of God to show up with the presence and peace I desire. I cannot wait to hear about her experience there.

Pastor Kip will write a blog about his experience when he returns. I am looking forward to what he has to report. Thanks for your prayers. 

June 2023 Events

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

We have many birthdays and anniversaries this month. Click HERE to see who is celebrating! Perhaps say a prayer for someone on their birthday or anniversary or send a card to let them know they are loved.

ENVELOPE FUNDRAISING FOR KIDS AND TEENS

Our Kids and Youth are doing a fundraiser so that we can help them take part in discipleship camps and conferences this summer. There are envelopes hanging on a bulletin board in the sanctuary foyer with a number. Choose an envelope with an amount you want to give and put your gift in the offering box. Together, we can give our young people the push they need to participate in these life-changing events (Kids Camp, Youth Camp, and Nazarene Youth Conference).

LADIES NIGHT OUT - THURSDAY, JUNE 1

Ladies Night Out is Thursday, June 1st at Paradise Grill (1097 Tamiami Trail in Nokomis) at 5 pm. Contact the church office to add your name to the list. This takes place on the first Thursday of every month, so if you cannot make it in June then put it on your calendar for July.

SUMMER SINGLE SERVICE SUNDAYS – BEGINS ON JUNE 4TH

Starting June 4th there will be one worship service at 10:30 am. Sunday School will start at 9 am for all ages. If you are not attending Sunday school, maybe it is a good time to try – a great way to make new friends and grow deeper in faith.

POTLUCK LUNCH ON JUNE 4TH AFTER THE 10:30 SERVICE

Who doesn’t love a church potluck lunch? This one will have a brunch theme. Everyone is asked to bring something to share according to the starting letter of your last name: A-N bring a MAIN DISH; O-S bring FRUIT; T-Z bring PASTRIES, DONUTS, BREAD.  Thanks to Sharla May and her team who are organizing this event and two other Sunday lunch get-togethers this summer on July 2nd and August 6th.

FATHER’S DAY SUNDAY, JUNE 18TH

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 18th!  Donuts for Dads will take place from 10 am to 10:30 am in the courtyard.

TEEN CAMP – JUNE 19-23

This is taking place at our very own campground in Lake Placid, Florida. Register HERE. The goal of the camp is for every student to know they have been CHOSEN, CHANGED, and CALLED to do their part in changing the world for Christ.

GUEST SPEAKER FROM JORDAN JUNE 25TH

Samir Nazha, who is the president of the Jordan Nazarene Schools Board, will be in Venice to tell us about the exciting ministry taking place at our two schools in the cities of Amman and Zarqa Jordan. He will answer questions like: Is it lawful to tell Muslim students about Jesus and introduce them to the Bible? How important is Nazarene Child Sponsorship to the schools? What was it like 40 years ago when Samir was a student at the Ashrafiya Nazarene school in Amman?

SPECIAL PRAYER IN JUNE

Join us as we pray Psalm 20:1-2 – “May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.”

Essentials of our Faith

by Dr. Leroy Pepper, Adult Sunday School Teacher
Join his class any Sunday at 9am at Venice Church of the Nazarene.

Every so often it’s a good idea for Christ followers to be reminded of the essentials of our faith. I am convinced that the bedrock of Christianity is our understanding of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Most traditional theologians begin their thinking about God as the Bible does, with God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth. But I recently read the thoughts of one who argues, as I believe, that Christian thinking should begin with the Incarnation—the self-revelation of God the Father in His Son, Jesus Christ (Samuel M. Powell, The Trinity. Kansas City, MO: The Foundry Publishing, 2020).

The Bible is the Source and supreme authority for what Christians believe. We believe that Jesus of Nazareth was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to a virgin mother. He lived and walked in the Middle East around 2000 years ago, for approximately 33 years, until he died on a Roman cross outside the city of Jerusalem. Given the unique circumstances of his conception and birth, Jesus was both “fully God” and “fully man,” as the ancient Christian creeds proclaim. As Thomas declared his faith when the risen Christ appeared to his Disciples one week after his Resurrection, “My Lord and my God!” Any teaching that denies either Jesus’ full deity or his full humanity we understand to be false and heretical.

Christians believe that Jesus is the prophesied and long-expected Jewish Messiah, or “Anointed One.” As proof of his authority, on the third day after his crucifixion God raised him from the dead. The Resurrection of Jesus is the most distinctive foundation of the Christian faith. “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

When Jesus died on the cross he provided Atonement for us; he became the once-for-all, perfect sacrifice for our sins. The English word “Atonement,” a word apparently coined in the early 16th century by either St. Thomas More or by William Tyndale, means literally “at-one-ment.” It is used to describe the reconciliation with God the Father provided for us by Jesus in his death on the cross. As John declared in Revelation 13:8, Jesus was “the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world.”

Christians believe, as our Bible tells us that, after appearing among his followers for forty days following his Resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven where, according to Hebrews 1:3-4, “…he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven…superior to the angels.” The same writer tells us that, “…because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he ever lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:24-25). As our Great High Priest, “Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence” (Hebrews 9:24). And, as Jesus himself told his followers, “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 4:3b). What a wonderful Savior!

Jesus and the Roses

by Pastor Gary Ball, Pastor of Congregational Care

I thought today I would share briefly what my life is like and what I have been thinking about lately. As most of you know, I was in the ministry full-time for over 40 years and now serve VCN in a part-time position. It is a privilege, and I don’t say that with a flippant attitude. It is true some things changed drastically regarding the ebb and flow of my life.

For one thing, the pattern of daily life has changed, such as, huge chunks of the day were once spent reading the Scripture in Greek and of course in English. I spent hours researching specific current topics and used the Bible to make sense of the direction the world was heading in! I had dozens of phone calls, text messages, and meetings each day that needed to be processed, categorized and acted upon. This all might sound like your normal day. But, even though the current days are sprinting by and my calendar is hard to keep up with, my life has slowed down and I really do enjoy smelling the roses.

One thing that has changed is the place I spend time in prayer, scripture, and thought. I have several favorite locations that have become my regular temple of worship. The beach, just prior to sunrise, is a weekly spot I meet with God. Over 30 years in this area, and I spent very little time at the beach. Now, with a beach chair, a fishing pole, and a listening ear, I meet God in prayer. As the waves wash the shores, I have an indescribable conversation with the Lord.

Another very special place I meet almost daily with Jesus is along the miles of walking paths and sidewalks of my neighborhood. About 30 minutes before the sun rises, I begin a brisk walk with buds fashioned to my ears and scripture pouring into my thirsty brain. The time seems to melt away as I imagine myself a companion of Jesus as He walked the limestone ridges of Judea. I also spend time during the 60+ minutes praying for my loved ones and the special needs of VCN.

Lately, I have been thinking about the person of Jesus. He was only 33 years old when he completed what God the Father sent him to do. He was a young man! We often hear Him speaking very serious words that have changed lives past, present and future. But I enjoy imagining the face of the young man, Jesus, when he heard the words of the Leper exclaim, “I am clean!” and the blind man shout “I can see!” Jesus must have had a smile on his face and he must have hugged those he healed and laughed out loud! In this world, I am often serious when as I consider the direction of our society and its appetite for sinful folly. There is a time for somber expression but let us not allow the rebellion against righteousness to steal the joy of salvation and wholeness imparted by Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord!

Enjoy your time with Jesus each day and be sure to stop and smell the roses.