February 7, 2025

Loving our enemies is one of the most challenging teachings of Jesus. It goes against our human instincts, which often lean toward retaliation, self-defense or avoidance. Yet, Jesus invites us to embrace a higher standard— one that mirrors the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father. In our passage this weekend, He challenges us not only to love those who are easy to love but also to extend grace, kindness and prayer to those who oppose us, mistreat us or even seek to harm us.

Rachel Carosiello, Adult Discipleship Pastor, will be preaching in the Auditorium for the Contemporary Worship services; Michael Turner, Senior Pastor, will be preaching in the Sanctuary for the Traditional Worship services.

For those worshiping remotely, you're invited to watch our services online, on Facebook and YouTube.



Souper Bowl of Caring

This Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday and as we’ve done for the past few years, we are partnering with Souper Bowl of Caring, a national non-profit to collect money for local food banks. Their goal is to TACKLE HUNGER and they empower churches to collect money to go 100% to local food banks. We’ve partnered over the past few years with Turner Memorial AME Church in West Columbia which has a daily food bank. We’ve given over 25,000 dollars in the course of the past 6 years and are excited to continue with this tradition. As you exit the worship service on Sunday, you will find students holding large soup pots to collect for this special offering.



Medical Supply Collection

For over 20 years, Mt. Horeb has been deeply involved in the Samoa medical mission trip with our missions partner, Mission of Hope. One way we support their mission is to collect medication and medical supplies that will be used by the team to serve around 800 people during their trip. For the month of February, we are collecting specific medication and medical equipment that are listed at mthorebchurch.org/missions. The medication can be generic or name brands, they must be new, and can't expire any sooner than December 2025. You can drop your donations in the designated bins in our Missions Center or at the Church Administrative office.



Guest Speaker Wesley Huff

We are excited to welcome guest speaker Wesley Huff here at Mt. Horeb Church on February 23. As a speaker and teacher for Apologetics Canada, Wesley regularly engages with topics on faith, belief and religion. He is currently pursuing a PHD in the New Testament, and he creates content to dialogue with those skeptical of the Bible and Christianity. He will be speaking on Sunday morning in the Auditorium at 9:00 & 10:45 AM on the topic “Why am I a Christian?” He will also have a special seminar that evening at 6:00 PM on “Can I Trust the Bible?” Please register for the evening seminar at mthorebchurch.org/events.



Columbia Worship Gatherings

We had a great kick off to our Columbia Worship Gatherings last month. It was great to worship and fellowship with over 100 people in the community. Our mission is to make, mature, and mobilize disciples who magnify Jesus, and we are excited for you to join us on this journey. Over the next few months, we will continue hosting Columbia Worship Gatherings on Sunday evenings downtown. Find out more about the location and dates by visiting mthorebchurch.org/columbia. Our next gathering is February 23 at 6 PM.



Men’s Oyster Roast

Men, mark your calendars for an unforgettable evening on Tuesday, February 25 at 5:30 PM. Join us for great food, fellowship, and inspiration as we welcome Lee Strobel, best-selling author of The Case for Christ, as our guest speaker. We will enjoy an oyster roast and southern-style meal together. Whether you’re exploring faith, growing in your walk with God, or simply looking for a night of encouragement, this event is for you! Register here.

Date: February 25

Time: Oysters start at 5:30 PM

Cost: $20 per person



Gather25

There is an unprecedented event coming up February 28 - March 1 called Gather25 that we want you to know about. Jesus followers in churches, campuses, arenas, and living rooms, from every continent and denomination, will join together across every time zone to watch a 25-hour global broadcast of worship, prayer, repentance, and stories of how the love of Jesus is transforming the world through everyday people.

Here’s how we participate in this event. Anyone can tune in individually, but we want to encourage you, the body of Christ, to do this with your small group, a group of friends, family, maybe even your neighbors. There’s a specific time frame within the 25 hours for our time zone on the evening of February 28. Visit gather25.com/groups – they have every detail and tool you’ll need. Over 10,000 groups from 183 countries have already said, “I’m in!” so gather your people and don’t miss this historic, global Church event!





Ash Wednesday

On March 5, join us for our Ash Wednesday service in the Sanctuary. The Lenten Season or Lent refers to the forty-day period leading up to Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, and ends the Saturday before Easter Sunday. Lent is a time when Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation, giving up of habits, and spiritual discipline. Begin Lent with us by receiving the imposition of ashes on this Wednesday evening.



Online Bulletin

If you can't be here on Sunday morning, stay connected through our online bulletin. You can see our weekly financial report as well as a list of needs to pray over.  Click here to view our weekly bulletin.

Word From Pastor Michael

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Philippians 1:3-6

The Apostle Paul wrote the words above in 61AD. They were addressed to the believers at the Church of Philippi, a congregation Paul had started 10 or 11 years earlier on his second major missionary journey. Even though Paul’s mission will take him on to other places—Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Rome—it’s obvious from reading all of his letters that Philippi is a favorite. “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God…you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you heard it until now…” Repeatedly, Paul is overcome with gratitude for the Philippians, and he goes on to say, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”



As I pondered my first annual report message to you as your new senior pastor, I could not help but think of Paul’s words to the Philippians. Paul’s words resonate with me, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.” People ask me all the time: “How are you doing?” “Are you settling in?” “How do you like it here?” My answer is always, “I love it! My whole family loves it! We like Lexington, but we LOVE Mt. Horeb!” There have been so many times over the last year, and even in the last few weeks, where I have marveled at God’s goodness and been overcome with gratitude. I am grateful for the incredible leadership of Pastor Jeff and Lynn Kersey here for 30 years, grateful for the foundation of faithfulness laid by all the saints who have worshiped and served here, grateful for the sacrifices made by others to bring us to this place in time, grateful for each member of our congregation and everyone’s unique gifts that so beautifully come together to make us the church that we are, grateful for your dedication to the mission: To make, mature, and mobilize disciples who magnify Jesus Christ, I am just plain grateful. 

Still, even as much gratitude as I have to be a part of what God is doing at Mt. Horeb Church, I have at least an equal amount of excitement. Dag Hammarskjold once famously said, “For all that has been, THANK YOU. For all that is to come, YES!” I can’t wait to see what God does in and through us next, as we continue to spread the Good News of Jesus to the world. In the words of Paul, “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” To that, I say thank you AND yes!

Pastor Michael

January 2025