from the Desk of the Pastor
In person worship Services continue to be temporarily cancelled. We have no definite re-opening date but it appears it will at least not be until the Spring of 2021 based on increasing cases in Southern California.
As many of you are aware last Sunday we cancelled our Sunday morning live streamed service. This was due to contact tracing and following protocols for the safety of our members. We do plan to continue our live stream services.
For our virtual services, we have incorporated a plan to check the temperature and have a health check form be completed before anyone enters the sanctuary. This is done for the safety of our members during this period of increased cases in our city. We thank our Holy Light Ushers for their work in providing their services in this area.
Please note that on the Holy Light MBC Facebook account there is a live service at 9:00am every Sunday morning. The recording of the services are on the Holy Light face book page as well as the Holy Light website holylightmbc.org.
Please continue to pray for our members who are dealing currently with illness and health issues. The prayers of the righteous availeth much!
Continue to pray for our nation, state and city and for the hearts of those to change their positions of authority in law enforcement. We also pray for our President-Elect and Vice President-Elect as they ready themselves to take on a big challenge in our nation.
Sunday Service: January 10, 2021
Annual Contribution Letters
Beginning on the first Sunday in February your annual contributions letter will be available. Please contact the Pastor or one of the Deacons to place your name on the list. We thank you for your continued contributions and support to the ministry.
Health and Community Information
COVID-19 Vaccine Health Forum by Bridge Builders Foundation (6:00pm-7:30pm)
We will provide information in future newsletters that provide updated health and community information. If anyone has information that would be vital to our church members please forward to me and I will place it in the newsletter.
Below please see the Covid Vaccine community flyer with information where you can register online. There is no cost.
covid-19-communityupdate.eventbrite.com
Holy Light MBC 13th Annual Community Block Party
Saturday, January 30, 2021 (12:00pm - 1:30 pm)
Church Business Meeting
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 (7:00pm)
There will be a Church Business Meeting on Tuesday, February 9th at 7pm. The agenda and online link information will be provided in the next newsletter.
6 STEPS TO BE ENCOURAGED
As people of God, we do get discouraged once in a while when go through difficult situations, persecutions, or trials. There is no magic formula to get over discouragement, just following the truth of the word is enough, and the steps are as simple as getting salvation and equally effective too. These are the ways through which we can be encouraged.
1. By The Word of God
We need to read and meditate in the word on daily basis, because man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from God doth man live. Daily intakes of the word will help us to resist and overcome all factors bringing discouragement.
Meditation makes the life in the word to be released into our spirit, with the effect that we contact the life of God.
2. By Prayer
Prayer is another means through which we can get our burdens lifted off our shoulders. ‘Casting all your cares upon him for He careth for you’ (I Peter 5:7). Jesus is waiting to help us out of our frustrations, but we need to tell Him about them. He said “come to me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Mathew 11:28). Learn how to pray, for as you pray God assistance will come unto you.
Whatever is your need God wants to hear about them, no issue is too trivial to be presented before Him, He promised not to cast away anyone that come (John 6:37).
3. By Self Encouragement
You can encourage yourself in the Lord by deliberately focusing your mind on the good things the Lord has done, the greatness of the Almighty God, His abundant mercies, and faithfulness, particularly on those things He has done in your own life.
David did the same in I Samuel 30:6, he encouraged himself in the Lord, and at the end he was ale to recover all, even after three days that the enemies have gone with all that he had labored for in life.
You can draw great strength from within if you dare to focus on the Lord. Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”. No devil can beat that, it works any day!
4. By Fellowshipping with Brethren
The presence of brethren can bring encouragement, hope, and joy, particularly in time of trouble. There is this bond that God’s Spirit brings in the union of children of God. Wherever brethren are meeting, deep will call to deep, and God’s presence will manifest.
The bible says “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). Even Apostle Paul in Act 28:15 benefited greatly from this God given companionship, and was encouraged. Do not neglect the association of the people of God; from there you will contact strength and joy.
5. By Worship
God indwells the praises of His people, worship brings down His presence always, when you worship God rightly, and sufficiently, fear, sorrow, and depression flees away. Many people may find it difficult to pray in time of trouble, but we can just manage to praise and worship Him.
David in his time of trouble in Psalm 42 queried himself; “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” What a man! He definitely knew how to condition his mind to praise God and to win.
6. Fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the spirit of encouragement and strength, when you spend time with Him, he will give you strength and you will no more remain in that state of despair. If you know how to speak in tongue, then you have the key to your liberation in your hands.
You can reproduce another upper room Pentecostal experience in your own room. Do it constantly and you will never know what is called despair again?
Do not give in to fear, and discouragement no matter what. For the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10), grab it and maximize it in your life.
Sunday School Puzzles
Lessons 5 (January 3)
Lesson 6 (January 10)
Lesson 7 (January 17)
