Clare Assembly Online Campus Opportunity: Loving, Building, and Sending from our homes.

Hello Wonderful Church Family,

I want to reach out to you by email today to Inspire, Inform and Invoke the promises. 

Inspire - A few years ago, we did a sermon series entitled YOU’LL GET THROUGH THIS in which we referred a lot to the promises of God and the wisdom of Max Lucado. That phrase has been on my heart a lot. For last Sunday, we recorded a service that was then posted on Facebook. I want to share a few key thoughts from the message

Inspire

1. God Himself put Ezekiel on a stay at home order.

Ezekiel 3:24-25

24 Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: "Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 . . . you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people.

God asked old Zeke to stay at home and not go among the people for 430 days. Kinda puts in perspective that YOU’LL GET THROUGH THIS for 3 weeks. God gave Zeke this instruction for several purposes. The people were in Babylonian exile and could not go to the Temple. The revelation God gave Ezekiel was that God could be worshiped anywhere. Indeed, he is Lord over all the earth. 

2. God breathed life into his people and they became a great army.

Ezekiel 37:9-11

9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet-a vast army.

11 Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.'

God compares his people to a valley of dry bones and Ezekiel is commanded to prophecy the breath of life over them. Note that many felt the same as many feel today: “Our hope is cut off”. They needed what we need today - God’s word, His Spirit, and a greater purpose. The new purpose was that they are called to be the Army of the Lord. 

3. God’s Army would show that HE IS THE LORD.

A big part of the YOU’LL GET THROUGH THIS is keeping an eternal perspective. God is not scared. He desires that we see 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.) so we can experience 2 Corinthians 4:18 (So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.) so we can offer Romans 10:13 (for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."). 

I am so heartened by so many in our church family pulling together. I want to thank those who made the live streaming happen, including Aaron Lingaur, Jonathan Espinal, and my daughters, Victoria and Jasmine. I am also very encouraged that I have heard from some who have asked, “who needs a loving contact?” through phone calls, text messages, or other distance-honoring ways of contact. Pulling together we will all get through this. It just may be that God has us here “for such a time as this”.

Inform

The governor issued a stay at home order until April 13.  Please see link for more information. Our church will abide by this. In addition, the Governor issued an order of no assemblies of more that 50 until May 10.

Therefore ALL services will be digital and live stream until April 15. We will evaluate if we are able to go to a multi-service at church for April 19 and stay within the under 50 guidelines. Clearly, everyone's safety is our top priority.

On Facebook Live, we are also offering Lunch Time Worship at noon Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with Pastor Jonathan and Bible studies with Pastor Scott daily at 3.  Concerning our social media presence please pray, listen, post share and consider having a Facebook Watch Party. All of videos will be posted on our website, so you can view them even if you do not have a Facebook account. You can also listen to my daily Bible studies at 105.5 Classic Hit Country.

We are also generating quality information for families that find themselves unexpectedly schooling from home. Please visit our Facebook page to find some excellent resources for this. Traci Lake will generate regular videos and we encourage people to share ideas that are working for them and to post them in our new Facebook parenting group.

We are staying in touch with those in our church family who are elderly or at risk in some way. Please let us know any needs that you have. The Governor's order allows volunteers to help get food to the elderly and at risk population. If you desire to assist with this effort, please let me know. We will not make church visits at this time but we strongly encourage phone calls, cards, and FaceTime or Skype. 

Invoke The Name of God



Jeremiah 33:3

3 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

Daniel 10:1-2, 10-14

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. . . 10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."

I strongly encourage us to pray. It is amazing to me that 24 hours after I called the church to a Daniel fast for 3 weeks, the Governor issued a stay at home order for 3 weeks. 

It would be great to consider something to fast from and also keep this prayer list in front of you. As Evan Roberts said, “A whole church on it’s knees is irresistible to God”.

Pray for our leaders for wisdom insight and coming together: 

1 Timothy 2:1-2

1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Pray for all medical personnel, first responders and especially those who work in hospitals:

Exodus 35:30-31

30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- 

Psalm 91:3

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

Pray for medical researchers that a vaccine can be discovered and or Wisdom concerning medicines that have been used:

James 1:5

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Pray for all aged people and at risk people in our world and in our church family:

Psalm 91:9-10 NKJV

9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,

    Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

    10 No evil shall befall you,

    Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

Pray for frontline service providers, the food industry, law enforcement, technology support, financial services, sanitation, and truck drivers:

Exodus 35:30-31

30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- 

Pray for the “hot spots” in the our nation, California, New York, Washington state, Metro Detroit:

2 Samuel 24:16

16 When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

Pray for workers and businesses and those getting laid off:

Philippians 4:19

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

I believe that this is a “for such a time as this moment”. As a church I would like to grow our prayer presence. Send requests to Barbie ([email protected]). She will send out a regular update. Consider joining the PUSH PRAYER TEAM. (PUSH - Pray Until Something Happens.)

Several people have asked how they can give as this time. I greatly appreciate the question. Please click over to our Giving Page to see the different ways you can continue to give your gifts for God's glory.

We will be posting weekly content on our social media platforms:

• Church Services
• Sundays, 10-11 AM, Clare Assembly Facebook Live - Worship, a biblical message of hope
• Wednesdays, 6:30-7 PM- Clare Assembly Facebook Live- an interactive Bible study with Pastor Scott
• Clare Assembly Worship
• Monday, Wednesday, Friday- 12-12:15 PM, Clare Assembly Facebook Live
• Join us on your lunch break as we worship Jesus together!
• Atmis Youth:
• Sunday night hangout, 6-6:30 PM, YouTube Live. Interactive games, a time of worship, and a biblical message of hope. We will also release a 4 week devotional on Slowing Down life.
• Wednesday nights hangout, 6:30-7 PM, YouTube Live. This will be an interactive Bible Study
• Consider watching these on a SmartTV or a FireStick for the full experience.
• Monday-Friday- hope-filled posts on Instagram
• Kingdom Kids
• Tuesdays and Thursdays, “Kingdom Builders Show” - 10-10:10 AM, Kingdom Kids Ministry Facebook Page AND Kingdom Kids YouTube Channel
• This will be a fun, silly show with Jonathan talking to a new monster friend, Bert, about the hope, love, and plans God has for us.
• Wednesdays, 3 PM “Drawing Live with Jonathan,” KK YouTube Channel
• This will be a fun and interactive drawing class with Jonathan.  Make sure you have some paper and a pencil!
• Since it’s on YouTube, be sure to watch in on your SmartTV or FireStick for the full experience!
• Daily Worship
• Pastor Scott will bring a daily Bible study on Facebook Live at 3pm. 
• Be sure to set your turn on your notifications from Clare Assembly on Facebook

Online Platforms:

○    Church Website: https://www.clareaog.com

○    Clare Assembly Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/clareaog

○    Clare Assembly YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNs3ENiBBXLFMKKYjgLzMEg/

○    Kingdom Kids Ministry Facebook page @ClareKingdomKidsMinistry https://www.facebook.com/ClareKingdomKidsMinistry/

○    Atmis Youth Instagram: @atmis.youth

○    **NEW** Atmis Youth YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHE3m6_Y8ZqlzHP85G7hBlg/?guided_help_flow=5&disable_polymer=true

○    **NEW** Kingdom Kids YouTube Channel (Still in the building process): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTwmKMsK2QD7gIxafI7z54A?disable_polymer=true

○    FREE Online Music Lessons! Jonathan will be creating music lessons on his YouTube channel, Simple Sound. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4nLy7qcFlMfSBpwBj6UM5Q

○    Giving: https://www.clareaog.com/giving

During this period of the stay-at-home order, we will not have office hours. However, we will be available through email and our Facebook Messenger.

May you be blessed today,

Pastor Scott Harper