Worship - Clay Memorial Lutheran Church

A WARM WELCOME AWAITS YOU!

Worship the Lord with us
Sunday School at 9:15 a.m.
Worship at 10:30 a.m. Children's Sermon

Directions:

Clay Memorial Lutheran Church
1061 Amoy East Road
Mansfield OH 44903
Phone 419-747-6882

Take State Route 39 (between Mansfield and Shelby) to Plymouth-Springfield Road. As you turn, immediately look for a road to the right.
Quickly turn onto Amoy West Road.
Follow this road east to the first stop sign (Bowman St Road). The church is directly ahead.

PENTECOST

Pentecost was originally a Jewish celebration 50 days after Passover. After Jesus arose from the dead he was with the disciples for 40 days and then returned to Heaven. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples and they began to preach that Jesus was the promised Messiah. This is the beginning of the Christian Church ...its birthday. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles (fifth book of the New Testament in the Bible) records the spread of the Gospel. The Sundays after Pentecost are a time of exploring the teaching of Jesus and how we should live our lives. May we be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Brian McBride is a Christian man who plays soccer on the U.S. National team. He is the leading scorer among active players. His goals sparked the U.S. team during the 2002 World Cup games.

He prayed a prayer similiar to the prayer in the next column.

The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy.
The Lord is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works.
Psalm 145:8-9 NRSV

Would You Like to Win?

Not Just A Game...

Life.

There is a problem

A cement wall called sin stands between you and the goal. Sin is an imperfection in your very being which destroys your ability to follow God's way completely. If you want to win, you have to get beyond the wall to reach God. But the wall is too high to climb and too strong to break down on your own.

"All have sinned..." (Romans 3:23)

But there is a plan

God knew we needed a Savior, someone to break down the wall for us and get to the goal. So He sent Jesus Christ, His only Son, to earth. Jesus never sinned, so He was the perfect sacrifice. When he died on the cross, Jesus took your sins and mine on Himself. Then He rose from the dead, breaking down the wall and proving His power over sin, death and hell.

"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

Trusting Jesus is the only way you can win.

"Jesus [said], 'I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John14:6)

It is a fail-proof plan

Jesus' death and resurrection breaks the wall created by your sin-offering you the gift of eternal life. God loves you and wants you to win, but you must accept His gift.

"The wages of sin is death [being separated from God forever], but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

Here's how to accept the gift and score the winning goal of life:

"If you confess 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)

Pray something like this:

Dear God,

Thank you for sending Jesus to earth to die in my place. Thank you that He rose from the dead. I realize that I am a sinner, and I need Your forgiveness. Please forgive my sins as I put my faith in Jesus and His sacrifice. Thank You for breaking down the wall between You and me.