This week at
Mission Bell
Bell Ringer
2.0
Monday, April 3, 2017
Note from Pastor Rula
From the Pastor
Lent and Advent are seasons of waiting. Waiting is not something we like to do or are good at.
We live in a culture of instant gratification. There was a commercial a while back that asked the question, "Why wait?" It was a commercial aimed at those that did not want to wait to see the Super Bowl
commercials, they could download them days ahead to the IPods. Our desire "to have" is immediately
gratified by available credit. Our desire "to know" takes only a minute on the internet. Our desire for
"connection" is conquered by the ever-present cell phone, and we have numerous ways to satisfy our
lust for entertainment, with no waiting. We no longer have to wait to have our meals cooked, or wait to
receive a letter, or wait to know the gender of a baby. When the technology is available to immediately
satisfy our every desire, as the commercial says, "Why wait?"
As Christians we are to develop and practice the habit of waiting. The prophet Isaiah writes, "They that
wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." Solomon tells us that waiting on the Lord will save us, and
David tells us "Those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. What awesome promises are
made to those who wait.
So, how do we wait? What does that word mean? Incredibly, the word, wait, is a very active word. We
wait expectantly for God to reveal God's will to us. We wait enthusiastically because God's ways are
always exciting, and promise filling. We wait eagerly for God's instruction to go and do good work.
It takes courage to wait. One of the greatest examples from history concerning the courage to wait is
found in the account of the battle of Bunker Hill during the Revolutionary War. The British attacked with
5,000 troops, and the Americans were reportedly running low of ammunition. To save their remaining
gunpowder, an officer, William Prescott, is said to have issued an order not to fire "until you see the
whites of their eyes." The British suffered more than 1,000 casualties during this attack, and two weeks
later, George Washington secured enough ammunition to fully conquer Bunker Hill.
Sometimes it takes more courage to wait than it does to act. We are ready to plow ahead using our
own power. We are eager to accomplish great things for God with our own abilities. Our culture ridicules
the idea of waiting and rewards incessant activity. But, there are blessings for those who wait.
When we wait we allow the plans and power of God to use us in the best way possible.
Your, sometimes not so patient, but working on actively waiting Pastor, Rula
What’s Happening This Week
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Tuesday, Deadline for Newsletter articles
Thursday, Discussion Group 6:30 pm Ironworks Restaurant
Saturday, April 8 Community Care Fair 10 am to 1 pm
Birthdays! Laurence Smith, 4/7
Food Pantry Needs— Peanut butter and canned fruit
Don’t miss the excitement as we bring neighbors together for entertainment,
family fun and a variety of local services and available resources in the community.
Singers | Dancers | Walking Tacos | Scout Troops | Community Service
Hold the Date
Education Team is inviting you to provide individually wrapped
candy treats for our Easter Egg hunt, NO CHOCOLATE. Please
deliver to the church any time up to Saturday, April 15.
Mission Bell UMC
4645 W. Bell Road — Glendale AZ 85308
602-978-2281 - [email protected]
www.missionbellumc.com
Contemporary Worship 9 am, Traditional Worship 11 am
Sunday School 10:15 am