In 2016, a member of Emmanuel Reformed Church of the United Church of Christ came to the pastor with an idea. She had received a prayer blanket from a Western Pennsylvania church when she went through chemotherapy treatments. Since the infusion can often make one cold, the blanket has a practical application as well as…
Author: pastorjosephhedden
I am a 40 something pastor with a love of the gospel, my community, and family. I like to hike, read, and travel.
How to Pray: Imaginative Prayer Event. September 1 at 7 p.m.
This hybrid event will be taking place online and in person at Emmanuel Church. If you are joining us online, you can go over to our Facebook page where we will be live streaming the prayer service. If you prefer to show up in person, masks and social distancing rules will be followed. Grace and…
“Your Card Has been Declined” — Sermon and Worship of August 23, 2020
A reading from Psalm 103:1-5: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,5 who satisfies you with good as long as you…
Sunday, August 16 Begins Four-Part Series on the Lord’s Prayer
Dear friends and members of Emmanuel Church, Tomorrow begins a four week series on prayer, specifically, the Lord’s Prayer. I will be preaching on the shorter version of the Lord’s Prayer, as found in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 11:2-4. If you’d like to compare Luke’s version with the more familiar version we know in…
Sermon of August 2, 2020 — “Standing over the damage”
2 Corinthians Chapter 5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling— 3if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not…
Sermon of July 26, 2020 — “There is a Crack in Everything; That’s How the Light Gets In”
A reading from the Paul’s Second Letter to the Church in Corinth 4:1-18: Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practise cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement…
In Memoriam: Clarence “Bucky” Skena
Click on the link below for more information. A memorial service is being planned for a later date. https://www.hartfuneralhomeinc.com/obits/obituary.php?id=683679
Sermon of July 19th — “Forgiveness in the Executive Suite and on the Factory Floor”
Paul’s Second Letter to the Church in Corinth 2:1-10: 1So I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. 2For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer…
Comfort — Sermon and Worship of July 12, 2020
Paul’s Second Letter to the Church in Corinth 1:1-11: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be…
New Sermon Series from July 12 to August 11 — “Comfort”
“Comfort in Trying Times” The church in Corinth was a mess. So too was the society around. Paul (and many in the church) were suffering. From July 12 to August 11, we will be studying the theme of “Comfort in Trying Times” using 2 Corinthians as our model. With shutdowns nationwide, the spread of COVID 19, and rough…
Worship of June 28, 2020
The Book of Job 31:35-37; 38:1-11 and 38:25-27: Job said, “O that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) O that I had the indictment written by my adversary!36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown;37 I would give him an account…
June 20, 2020 Update and Information about 200th Anniversary Homecoming
Yes, it’s still our 200th Anniversary. No, we will not be able to celebrate Homecoming as normal in 2020. Yes, God is good all the time. Dear Friends and Members of Emmanuel Church, First off, we are open! Worship tomorrow for Father’s Day with masks and social distancing. We are on the third of a…
