A DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT by Ralph Neidigh
Recently, I had an appointment in downtown Sacramento. I was certain to get lost downtown if I tried to get there without directions. So, I put the address in my car’s navigation system and asked for guidance. The route my car’s guidance chose took me near a store where I needed to pick up an item. So, I turned away from the route of my car’s guidance to go a few blocks in another direction. Immediately, I received a message that said, “Recalculating Route.”
Thinking of this occasion, my mind goes to a favorite scripture of mine, Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Let’s accept this scripture as an amazing promise God has given to us, His family, “those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” May I share my thoughts about the four ideas found in the first part of this promise?
“We know...”
Paul does not hesitate to say this is a certainty, not a probability. It has no conditions. It is not a “you scratch my back and I will scratch yours” proposition. It is an assurance. It is born out of the love and power of God, expressed by our faith in the trustworthiness of God. “We know!”
“We know that in all things...”
I don’t enjoy the game Scrabble. It seems that I am not creative enough to come up with the big word with the highest value letters that land on the best bonus point spaces. Paul uses a word here that has little “Scrabble value.” It is the word “all.” Having established assurance, Paul focuses on abundance. It is from his own life experience that Paul will assert that in all things God works for good.
Have you looked at Paul’s “life resume” lately? It is found in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, and includes receiving 39 lashes on five occasions, being beaten with rods, stoned, and shipwrecked three times. He was in danger from rivers, bandits, his own countrymen and Gentiles. He was in danger in the city, in the country, at sea, and from false brothers. He labored and toiled and often went without sleep; he knew hunger and thirst and often went without food; he was cold and naked. When Paul says “all” it includes all of this suffering. “All” includes every situation we may encounter, the entirety of our lives!
“We know that in all things God works...”
The original word for “works” is the Greek word from which we get our word “synergism” - the interaction or cooperation of two or more substances to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. Sodium and Chlorine are individual chemicals, but combine them together and you get salt that preserved food for centuries, and is likely your favorite seasoning.
Applied to Paul saying “God works,” we are talking about the interaction of God’s will and our choices. Don’t miss this promise! Paul says that God’s will is great enough that regardless of the bad choice you or I may make, God is able to “recalculate the route” he has in mind for us as his children to bring us back to his destination for our lives.
“We know that in all things God works for the good...”
A Christian saying has come to us from this part of the scripture: “God is good all the time; all the time God is good.” If we accept the prior part of this promise, that God works in all things, we must welcome this last aspect, “for the good” as true in every aspect of our lives, even those parts that do not seem to bring us joy.
God’s ways are not always our ways, but they are always powerful for his purposes in us. God is always working “for the good” even when we or someone else take ourselves off route.
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How to Avoid
Internet and Phone Scams
with the Roseville Police
and Internet Security Experts
TOMORROW, Sept. 30th, 1 pm
INVITE A FRIEND!
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NO FOOD COLLECTION this month
Saint Vincent DePaul is NOT accepting grocery donations at this time due to Covid safety precautions. We thank you for your past participation and will let you know when we're able to restart this valuable ministry.
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MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH
UNION GOSPEL MISSION
Sacramento
Jed was alone… sitting in a jail cell… and desperate to change the lifestyle he’d been living since childhood. As he held a Bible in his hands and started to read, he began to feel hopeful for the first time in a long time.
Raised in a household where drug use was the norm, Jed never knew any other way. And because of that, Jed didn’t see any problem using himself. Even as an adult, he moved to Sacramento and was welcomed into another family where drugs were the norm.
“I could never make progress in life… I burned all my relationships with other people. I ended up living a very lonely life.”
At his darkest moment, the Lord reached down and touched Jed’s heart. “I really felt the Lord impressing upon my heart that He wasn’t asking me to do anything except trust Him. So I did.” And that trust led Jed here to the Mission.
“When I walked into the Mission, I felt like my life began. I finally had a place to start.”
Jed joined our Rehabilitation program and experienced true healing. “It’s Christ-centered healing here… the counseling, the classes, the support. It was a foundation that made me confident I could live without falling into my old lifestyle again.”
When Jed graduated from our program, he married a godly woman and got involved in a church that continued to nourish his faith. And today, following God’s leading in his life, he’s the pastor of that church! “God used what I learned at the Mission to move me and mold me into the man I am today.” For the past six years, Jed has worked at the Mission and continues to serve here today.
As Jed celebrates this Thanksgiving, he feels incredibly thankful for your compassion and support – and how it’s given him a fresh start in life. “You’re supporting people’s lives being changed… many times, it starts with a meal. That meal leads to a message that provides people with hope that they can change their lives.”
Thank you! Your giving to PGCC helps support the important ministry of the Union Gospel Mission that is making a difference in lives like Jed's.
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FIRE FUND UPDATE
THANK YOU for your contributions to our Fire Fund. Over $10,000 was collected! This money is being distributed to the Salvation Army, Red Cross, and local churches who are banding together to help fire victims recover. Your generosity is blessing those in great need.
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WOMEN'S FALL CRAFT DAY
Saturday, October 9th, 1:00 PM
Cost for Materials is $10
Crafts, Fun, Friendship, Coffee and Snacks
RSVP Now by contacting Kay Thompson:
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CHURCH PARKING LOT PARTIALLY CLOSED
Monday, October 25th - Wednesday, October 27th
The east entrance and the parking lot on the north, east and south sides of the church will be closed while the men of Teen Challenge do some extensive landscape improvements for us. The good news is that city rebates from the resulting water conservation will offset the costs.
The church can be accessed during these days from the west entrance and parking area and through the doors under the Portico.
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Caring for Seniors God's Way, Mondays, 11 am in the Choir Room
How to Avoid Phone and Internet Scams Seminar,
Tomorrow, September 30th, 1:00 pm
Baby Boomer Murder Mystery Night, This Sunday, October 3rd, 6-8 pm
Bob Lane Memorial Service, Friday, October 8th, 3:30 pm
Women's Fall Craft Day, Saturday, October 9th, 10 am
Boomer "Youth Group," Thursday, October 14th, 6:30 pm
WJU Choir, Sunday, October 24th, !0 am
Operation Christmas Child begins, Sunday, October 24th
Solo Sister's Luncheon, Thursday, October 28th, Noon
Boomer "Youth Group," Thursday, October 28th, 6:30 pm
All Events are at the Church
BIBLE STUDIES
Understanding Holy Spirit w/ Shirley Meloy, Mondays, 9:30 am in Conf. Rm
Christian Challenges in 21st Century, w/Marilyn Bennett
Tuesdays, 10 AM in the Choir Room
Jeremiah Women's Study
Tuesdays, 10 am at Jo Claycomb's, 409 Lowell Ct, Roseville
Esther Women's Study
Tuesdays, 1:30 pm at Leora Cranmer's, 7381 Apple Hollow Loop
Wednesdays, 9:30 am at Jan Percy's, 7356 Timberrose Way, Roseville
1 Peter with Don Anderson, Wednesdays., 6:30 pm in Choir Room
Essentials of the Gospel w/ Don Woods, Thursdays,10 am in Choir Room
Men of the Word, Wednesday, October 27th, 10 am in Worship Center
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1: Pat Burton
2: Sara Grasmuck
5: Bob Gilbert
6: Louise Lafferty
7: Wally Johnson
8: Janet Knoedler
Tamie DesRosiers
10: Shirley Meloy
11: Dorothy James
Garvin Hill
12: George Latter
14: Bill Moen
15: Fred Pearce
Elaine Snyder
17: Bev Schmidt
18: Judy Ellison
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19: Jean Stephens
20: Lori McCullough
21: Barbara Hurlbut
22: Don Anderson
23: Kris Wikstrom
24: Eileen Jones
Jon Read
26: Gloria Course
28: Marie Dirkse
Marge LaRoche
Pat Owens
30: Ginger Holzknecht
31: Hal Butts
Leon Dean
Oleta Lutz
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5: Arnold & Annette Loper
Ed & Barbara Clement
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8: Dale & Arlene Bailey
13: Mike & Arlene Coakley
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GIVING SUMMARY - August 2021
GENERAL GIVING: $81,749
BUDGET: $62,069
YTD General Giving: $520,576
YTD Budget: $504,231
DEBT REDUCTION STATUS (as of September 10)
Current Loan Balance $262,094
20/20 CAMPAIGN STATUS (as of August 31)
Amount Given: $359,808
Amount Pledged: $386,368
Thank you for your faithful giving to PGCC.
You can GIVE by:
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At Church on Sundays using the Offering Boxes by the auditorium exits
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Mail at 1730 Pleasant Grove Blvd, Roseville, CA 95747.
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Online at www.pgcc.church or by clicking on the blue button below.
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If this email was forwarded to you, you can receive them directly by... |
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Pleasant Grove Community Church
1730 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville, CA 95747
(916) 771-4447 www.pgcc.church
Email: 1730pgccoffice@gmail.com
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