This fall we’ve been walking together through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, His vision for what life in the Kingdom of God truly looks like. We’ve heard His call to live as salt and light in the world, to love our enemies, to reconcile with one another, and to let our hearts match the faith we profess. Each week, Jesus has invited us to look a little deeper not just at what we do, but at who we’re becoming.
As we conclude this series in November, Jesus will begin to draw that vision closer to home. He speaks about prayer, fasting, and giving… the quiet, unseen parts of faith that reveal where our hearts truly rest. He challenges us not to worry, to trust that our Father knows what we need. And finally, He brings it all to a close with a picture of two builders: one who builds on rock, and one who builds on sand.
That’s where we’re headed in these final weeks: toward the question of foundation. What are we building our lives on? As we come to the close of this series, I want to invite you to take Jesus’ words as more than just teachings to admire, but as a way to live.
So here’s a bit of a challenge: think back over this series. What part of Jesus’ teaching has most challenged or inspired you? Maybe it’s forgiveness, generosity, prayer, or trust. This month, find one intentional way to practice that teaching by putting it into action and see what God builds through it. Because when we build our lives on His words, we’re not just surviving the storms… we’re standing firm on the Rock.
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” — Matthew 7:24
Dear Church Family,
During the month of October, our children studied the following verse:
“It is much better to get wisdom than gold. It is much better to choose understanding than silver.” Proverbs 16:16
We learned about the ways that God helped his followers to gain wisdom, and he chose leaders who showed wisdom. Looking ahead to November, we will learn about how God helps us to have conf idence as we learn to trust Him.
This month, we will also start preparing for our Christmas Program which will be held on Sunday, December 14, during our worship time. If your child is planning to participate in the Christmas Program, but we haven’t seen them in Sunday School yet, please let me know, so that we can be prepared to include them in our service.
Kelli Semmler
Children’s Ministry Director
kelli.semmler@gmail.com
In Sunday’s message, “Serving Two Masters,” we were reminded that our hearts inevitably follow what we treasure most. Jesus calls us to examine what truly holds our devotion, and to let our lives reflect the priorities of God’s kingdom rather than the pull of the world.
One of the most powerful ways we can re-center our hearts is through gratitude. Gratitude turns our focus away from what we lack and back toward the goodness of God and the people He’s placed around us. It opens our eyes to see blessings we might otherwise overlook and reminds us that every good thing is a gift from Him.
That’s the spirit behind our next Love Harrisburg event on Sunday, November 30. Together, we’ll be writing cards of thanks to those who faithfully serve our community: our firefighters, city staff, teachers, and public service workers. It’s a simple act, but one that speaks deeply: we see you, we appreciate you, and we thank God for you.
As a church family, we want our hearts to be shaped by the love and generosity of Christ. When we practice gratitude, we are choosing the Master who teaches us to love freely and give joyfully.
Let’s come together and make gratitude visible in our community.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21
Mark your calendars for these great events coming up.
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