Laurelbrook’s church service on November 30, 2019 began with a welcome by Rodney Herra.
Jacqueline Miller played a musical introduction to the service. Michael (senior) had the invocation. The congregation sang “Blessed Assurance”. Rodney Herra had the Morning Prayer; the congregation sang “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”.
Rodney Herra announced the time for the church offerings. Daryll Ellis and Heisler (sophomore) collected the tithes and offerings. Any money not designated for a particular purpose went toward the church’s program of Christian education. The congregation sang “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”. Rodney Herra prayed for the offerings.
Brenda Herra told the children about coming to Laurelbrook to take the college prep program. Whenever she would get homesick, her roommate Patty would intervene. Jesus is up in heaven waiting for us to come to Him.
Saysay (freshman) sang a vocal solo for special music. Rodney Herra read the scripture reading – “Philippians 4:6-7 “6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Michael (senior) had the sermon titled “Finding Calm”. The congregation sang “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”. had the closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Brenda Herra - wife of Rodney Herra / student vocational coordinator
Jacqueline Miller – semi-retired nurse living on Laurelbrook’s campus
Rodney Herra – local head elder / operates an auto-repair business on nearby Highway 30 with his son Bubba
Following are some notes on the sermon:
- Jeremiah 1:4-10 “4 ¶ Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I [am] a child. 7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I [am] a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I [am] with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.”
- How do you find calm? Someone who is anxious is worried and concentrated on bad news. He/she constantly asks “what if” questions all the time.
- “Fear” is a threat.
- Matthew 14:24-31 “24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth [his] hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”
- Peter asked to come to see Jesus, but he didn’t keep his focus on Jesus. “What if I can’t make it to Jesus?” But Jesus was still there and rescued him.
- Psalm 37:8 “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”
- The U.S. has the most anxiety problems.
- Philippines 4:6-7 “6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
- Many times we see problems in promises.
- Philippines 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.”
- Leave problems to God and make your requests known to God. God is there for us and will help us.
- But this takes work. We need patience and need to realize God will help us. Take life a day at a time.
- John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
- At the time of the writing of Philippines, Paul was 60 with a scared back. Nero also wants to kill him.
- Philippines 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.” This was Paul’s attitude. This was the reason he could always give glory to God.
- He achieved this peaceful outlook by giving glory to God and coming close to God and reading His Word.
- World War I soldiers often became emotionally dead because they were constantly being bombarded.
- Lamentations 3:37-38 “37 ¶ Who [is] he [that] saith, and it cometh to pass, [when] the Lord commandeth [it] not? 38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?”
- God with a single word can make things happen.
- Isaiah 6:1-3 “1 ¶ In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the whole earth [is] full of his glory.”
- Even with the king dead, the heavenly throne was occupied.
- Our biggest fears are sprained ankles to God.
- Lamentations 3:21-28 “21 ¶ This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 [It is of] the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD [is] my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The LORD [is] good unto them that wait for him, to the soul [that] seeketh him. 26 [It is] good that [a man] should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 27 [It is] good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne [it] upon him.”