Hopewell
Herald – April 9, 2021
In light of our recent considerations of death and burial in the book of Genesis (one more coming on the 18th, Lord-willing), it was with renewed interest and perspective that I read the following in Deuteronomy 32:48–50 and 34:5–6 this week:
Then Yahweh
spoke to Moses that very same day, saying: “Go up this mountain of the Abarim,
Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of
Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession; and die on the
mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your
brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people.
So Moses
the servant of Yahweh died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of Yahweh.
And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no
one knows his grave to this day.
That’s pretty amazing. Yahweh Himself buried Moses. He was gathered to his people on the mountain, but then Yahweh buried his body in a valley.
Another corruptible, inglorious seed planted—which will arise from that spot, glorious and incorruptible like Christ’s glorious body.
And there’s a comforting reminder there. Sometimes, we are unable to be buried with family. Or even with other believers. Perhaps we are unable to be buried at all. But, like Moses’s body, ours will be in God’s hands.
Even if lost at sea, or burned to ashes. Still in God’s hands. If our dust has been scattered, scorched, or separated, that poses no more of a challenge in the last day than if it had all been carefully kept together in an assembly of other such bodies of believers. And every particle of your body is still precious to the Lord in its union with Christ. Still in God’s hands!
That never excuses our own failing to treat the body properly. As Yahweh buried Moses, and Joseph and Nicodemus buried Jesus, and we have been learning from Genesis, the right thing to do as those who look forward to the resurrection, and who wish to make the hope of the resurrection our literal last testimony on earth, we ought to bury and be buried.
But, if we find ourselves unable, or if we are concerned about the bodies of those who have not followed sacred Scripture on this, let this be our great comfort: the bodies of believers are in God’s hands.
Looking forward to worshiping together,
Pastor
P.S. A note from Justin regarding his father’s surgery on Wednesday:
Thank you all for praying, I am happy to report that my dad described the
process as "drama free." Looking forward to worshipping with you all
this coming Lord's Day!
Justin
LORD'S DAY – April 11, 2021
9:50
a.m. Breakfast Line Opens
10
a.m. Sabbath School
This
week, we’ll continue studying the Scriptures behind WCF 14, “Of Saving
Faith”
▫Children’s Catechism for April 11
Q76. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. To love God with all my heart, and my neighbor as myself.
▫Shorter Catechism for April 11
Q84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and
that which is to come.
Psalms
and Hymns
TPH457 “Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness”
ARP103A “O Bless the Lord, My Soul”
TPH256 “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”
Scripture
Text for first portion of worship service
Romans 8:28–39
Scripture
Readings and basis for confession of sin and petition for help
2Samuel
9
Luke 17:1–10
Sermon
Scripture text and topic
We
will be hearing from Genesis 50:15–20 about God Intended It
Lord’s Supper! (Please see the section at the end of the Worship Booklet on how rightly to prepare for it and take it)
1 p.m. Coffee Fellowship and Catechism Class
1:15
p.m. Fellowship Lunch & Open Mic Time
Members
are encouraged to bring way more than
enough,
so that there will be plenty for everyone, including any members or
guests who are deciding last-minute whether or not to stay.
At
open mic time, we’ll begin with birthdays and anniversaries and recitations of
the memory verse:
Genesis
50:19–20, Joseph said to them, “Do not
be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against
me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to
save many people alive.
2:30 p.m Psalm/hymn Sing
3:30
p.m. Evening Sermon from
Philippians 2:9–11,
Why
and How Jesus Is Exalted
Hopewell
this Month
Hopewell’s Presbytery Prayer Focus for April
Pressly-Memorial ARP Church
in Red Level, AL
April Psalm of the Month
ARP103A O Bless the Lord, My Soul
Upcoming
Events
•Wednesday, April 14, Prayer Meeting. 6:30p.m. in
the Fellowship Hall. We pray for a solid hour, splitting into groups to balance
praying corporately with giving everyone an opportunity to pray out loud as
much as possible.
•April 17, Leadership (men’s and boys’) breakfast,
6:30a in the Fellowship Hall
•April 26, Stated Session meeting, 6p
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