Announcements
SYMPATHY: to Linda Iles-Dean at the passing of her brother, Kenneth “Steve” Iles, on Sunday, August 22. Funeral services were held in Westminster, on Thursday, August 26.
SYMPATHY: to Mary Ann Albaugh, Kenneth and Reba Burrier and their families at the loss of their nephew, Timothy Burrier on Monday, August 23. Funeral services were held in Libertytown, on Friday, August 27.
SYMPATHY: to Harry and Marilynn Deegan at the loss of her sister, Twila Watring, on Thursday, August 19. A memorial service is pending.
CONGRATULATIONS: to Jane Lippy and Craig and Gail Lippy at the birth of their great granddaughter/great niece, Hailee Jane Delp, on Sunday, August 22, weighing 9lbs, 10oz. The parents are Josh and Julee Delp.
JOYFUL CONNECTION: Please sign up at the Welcome Desk if you are interested in attending the Joyful Connection Ladies Bible Study. We meet on the first Monday of each month. Due to the Labor Day holiday, the first meeting will be on Monday, September 13. For more information, see Nadine Roberts or Marie Kitzmiller.
SUNDAY FUN DAY: Volunteers are needed for this outreach on October 3. Please sign up at the Welcome Desk.
PHONE DIRECTORY: We will be printing a new phone directory. If you have any changes, please complete a form at the Welcome Desk by September 12 to ensure we have your correct information or you may email vmouring@opendoorchurch.org.
DEACONS: Please pick up your packets at the Welcome Desk.
PRAYER REQUEST: If you have a prayer request or surgery date you would like in the bulletin, please call (410) 876-3838 ext. 304 or email cbowers@opendoorchurch.org. Please keep in mind we will need the first and last name for each request.
From My Heart
When General George Washington stood to give the nation’s first inaugural address, the nation stood before him united and ready to live in this new land to exercise their freedoms, which had been taken away from them by the English king. President Washington stood before the people and expressed a strong and prophetic note to the country as a warning for America to stay close to God.
His exact words were these, “The propitious smiles of Heaven cannot be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right that Heaven itself has ordained.”
Washington was saying if America followed the ways of God, His eternal rules of order and right, the blessings of God would remain upon it. But if the country should ever depart from the ways of God, then His blessings would be removed from the land. This past January, we had another presidential inauguration in our nation’s capital city, which bears its name after our first president; and the nation’s capital has now become a military zone. Twenty-five thousand American troops stood guard at the National Mall, and razor wire was wrapped around the Capitol Building and the offices of Congress.
There was no war going on, or any outside threat from an opposing nation - no, the threat comes from within. Our nation has become paralyzed with a plague that is being defined today as “American Marxism.” We are seeing our cities burned by protesters, riots in the streets, windows broken out of stores and then people running into the store to steal everything they can carry. We are seeing buildings and automobiles set ablaze, and most of this is being done in front of the police, who have been ordered to do nothing!
Could it be that General Washington’s prophetic statement on that first inauguration day is being fulfilled right before our eyes? Have we seen the sweet hand of God taken away from America? The “smile” of Heaven upon our country has obviously turned into a harsh frown! We have made of mockery of God’s eternal rules of order and right which Heaven has ordained! We used to win wars, now we capitulate to terrorists! And sadly, what we are seeing the hand of God being removed from our country.
We have removed God from our schools, from the public square, from our culture, and sadly - from our churches! We can teach our children about Islam, but not about Christianity and the Bible. These Marxists are “rewriting” the rules and deciding what can be said and who can say it! The first amendment right of free speech is being assailed from every angle by our leaders - and Americans best wake up before we end up losing our wonderful country.
Have a great day and please pray for America!
Pastor Norris