MTC ONLINE | "THERE IS FIRE IN MY MOUTH" (Isaiah 6:6-8)

WELCOME | May 29, 2012

We invite you to become a part of a growing ministry that is "reaching to teach, teaching to change" one person and one block at a time. Find your place to GROW at MTC, enjoy this newsletter, and worship with us soon. Have a week filled with expectation!

Notes From Pastor King's Sermon on Pentecost Sunday:
"THERE IS FIRE IN MY MOUTH" (Isaiah 6:6-8; Acts 2:1-4)

This is the moment when, according to Isaiah's word, "Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips.'" No matter how you describe it, this is the moment when, says Isaiah, there is fire in my mouth!

Whenever you are standing in the presence of God, it makes no difference if you are standing in the pulpit or sitting in the pew. When you are in the presence of God, it will bring you to a place of disturbance and discomfort. Isaiah stood in the presence of God, and it disturbed his brand of comfortable religion. Isaiah stood in the presence of God, and God did not give him an order of worship. God did not give him orders for ushers or a listing of hymns for the morning. God did not tell him to welcome the visitors or make sure the choir sang in perfect harmony. Isaiah stood in the presence of God, and God put fire in his mouth.

May I tell you that when worship is real, something ought to happen that disturbs you? The object of worship is to let you know that God loves you just the way you are, but he will not leave you that way. Worship is designed to disturb you. Worship ought to alarm you that things will never be the same again. Worship ought to make you squirm in your seat. Worship ought to change your habits of sermonic sleep.

When worship is real, like fire it ought to create an environment that restructures and reorders everything around you.
When worship is real, something ought to happen that makes you move in ways you never moved before.
When worship is real and if fire is in your mouth, it ought to make you say some things you've never said before.

When I come to church my job is to usher you into the presence of God. What a tragedy it is for those who come to church week after week, Sunday after Sunday, and never stand in his presence, never have a sense of God's presence, never praise him enough to invoke his presence, and sit with minds closed, hands folded, and legs crossed, as if to dare God to make himself present. Nevertheless, I am of the opinion that when I come to church something different ought to happen.

When I come to church and when I stand in this pulpit, my job is to disturb somebody. A fire in your mouth will make you open your mouth. A fire in your mouth will give you a holy boldness you never had before. Isaiah would never be the same, all because God put fire in his mouth.

Sincerely in Christ, Pastor King

Pastor Stephen King

Memorial Tabernacle Church (CHSC)

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Pastor's Blog

TIME FOR ACTION!

Lots of talk and excitement around our 87th Church Anniversary. Now it is time for ACTION!

Our first planning meeting will be Monday, June 4 at 7pm after Evening Prayer in the VIP Room.

Please be in attendance as we plan for an anniversary like never before. The anniversary celebration will be Friday, September 14 - Sunday, September 16.

Please see Sister Brenda with questions or email her at mtc.admin@gmail.com.

Online Giving while on Summer Vacation

Dear Members, Friends, and Faith-Partners,

It's summer time and that means that you will be getting away for that much needed rest and vacation with family and friends. Usually, whenever people go on vacation they make a check list of the bills they must pay before leaving home, like the electric and water bills, telephone, car and mortgage or rent, find a sitter for the dog or cat, etc. Unfortunately, the church is usually not on their list.

The Church doesn't take time off. It operates 24/7. It must continue to minister to the needs of people, daily-even when you're not present. June through September always presents a challenge for us financially, and yes, we're making an appeal and asking you to remember to support your church.

Please send your tithe, offerings, or financial gifts today.

Give securely online (http://mtchurch.org/contributions.shtml).
Mail your contribution to: Memorial Tabernacle Church, PO Box 3024, Oakland, CA 94609.

We desperately need your support. And, oh yes, don't forget to turn off the lights before you leave home.

Pastor Stephen King

Tabernacle Ministry & Event Calendar
All calendar events are included on our online calendar here.

"And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Prayer "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God."

(Philippians 4:6)

"Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe."

(Hebrews 12: 28)

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