ECC-Evangelical Covenant Church
One Thing: The Expulsive Power of a New Affection
Good morning! In Psalm 27.4, King David states that there is one thing he asks of the Lord, and then he uses three phrases to name that one thing: "to DWELL in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to GAZE upon the beauty of the Lord, and to SEEK him in his temple." We invite you to join us each week at 10:30am in person (3600 S. 9th Street), on YouTube (@ECCofLafayette), or on our website (ecclife.net/worship) as we look at the ways scripture teaches us to dwell with God, to gaze upon God's beauty, and to seek him in his temple.
Locations & Times
The Grove Covenant Church
3600 S 9th St, Lafayette, IN 47909, USA
Sunday 10:30 AM
Downloadable Bulletin
https://ecclife.net/bulletin
Communication Card
Let us know you worshiped at today's service! You can also sign up for newsletters or prayer. https://ecclife.net/commcard
How to Connect at ECC
Click below to explore many opportunities get connected.
https://www.ecclife.net/connect
https://www.ecclife.net/connect
Adult Christian Formation
Sunday mornings at 9:00am in person in the Great Room. The Adult Sunday School Class is doing a study of 1 and 2 Peter.
Men's Ministry
• Wednesday Morning Men's Fellowship: Men, please join us each week at 6:30am. The ECC Wednesday Morning Men’s group has started a new study using the book Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey. This group is currently meeting via Zoom. For an invite, please email Ken Ritchey. (mailto:kritchey@tds.net) We'd love to see you there!
• Wednesday Evening Group: Pastor Kurt’s weekly study will NOT be meeting this week.
• Wednesday Evening Group: Pastor Kurt’s weekly study will NOT be meeting this week.
Women's Ministry
• Bravely Baby Shower: Join us on April 22 at 2:00pm for a baby shower to support Bravely Women’s Health and its clients. If you would like to lend aid but cannot attend you can make donations straight to Bravely. You can find a list of needs and RSVP here: https://ecclife.net/bravely-baby-shower-fundraiser.
Youth Ministry
• High School Night: Due to spring break, there will be NO youth group this week. We will resume our meetings on April 5.
• Fusion: 6th-12th graders, Fusion will restart on April 16 at Sunrise Christian Reform Church.
• Young Life: Youth 9th-12th grade, join Young Life on April 3 at 7:27pm for Pizza Olympic Club. It will be a time to connect with your Young Life leaders and friends in a small group setting. We will catch up with one another, watch the Club video, and take a few moments to process the Club Talk together.
• Fusion: 6th-12th graders, Fusion will restart on April 16 at Sunrise Christian Reform Church.
• Young Life: Youth 9th-12th grade, join Young Life on April 3 at 7:27pm for Pizza Olympic Club. It will be a time to connect with your Young Life leaders and friends in a small group setting. We will catch up with one another, watch the Club video, and take a few moments to process the Club Talk together.
Easter Flowers
Each Easter, we decorate our sanctuary with flowers. For $12, you can purchase flowers in honor or in memory of someone special, or for yourself to take home after the Easter service. The order form will be open until April 2. You can order flowers at ecclife.net/flowers.
Miller Spring Carnival and Pancake Breakfast
ECC will be partnering with Miller Elementary School and Bauer Community Center to host our annual Spring Carnival/Pancake Breakfast at Miller on Saturday, April 15 from 9:30 to 11AM. We are currently building teams with individuals and families to help with carnival games and the pancake breakfast. Please sign up at ecclife.net/connect to help with this fun event!
https://ecclife.net/carnival
https://ecclife.net/carnival
Holy Week Observances:
• Maundy Thursday: On April 6, we will offer a come and go communion. Come in anytime from 12:00-1:00pm or 5:00-6:30pm, spend time in prayer, take communion, and leave when you’re ready.
• Good Friday: On April 7, a service will be held both in-person and online at 7:00pm. We will have nursery care for birth through age three.
• Easter: On April 9, we will hold two services. We will have an in-person worship service at 9:00am (nursery birth-3yr available) and an in-person and online worship service at 10:30am (nursery care and classes for ages birth through kindergarten available).
• Community Café: Everyone is invited to join us sometime between 8:15 and 11:00am in the Life Center for time together as a community around coffee, juice, and lots of delicious treats, hot and cold—pastries, fruit, and more! There will be space to connect with one another before or after worship, and special activities for kids, too. The event is free. We want this to simply be a place for everyone to gather together on Easter morning. However, for those that would like to give, there will be a donation box for the High School Youth Group’s summer “Community Live-In” trip. We hope to see you there!
We look forward to celebrating Jesus’ resurrection with you this Easter!
• Good Friday: On April 7, a service will be held both in-person and online at 7:00pm. We will have nursery care for birth through age three.
• Easter: On April 9, we will hold two services. We will have an in-person worship service at 9:00am (nursery birth-3yr available) and an in-person and online worship service at 10:30am (nursery care and classes for ages birth through kindergarten available).
• Community Café: Everyone is invited to join us sometime between 8:15 and 11:00am in the Life Center for time together as a community around coffee, juice, and lots of delicious treats, hot and cold—pastries, fruit, and more! There will be space to connect with one another before or after worship, and special activities for kids, too. The event is free. We want this to simply be a place for everyone to gather together on Easter morning. However, for those that would like to give, there will be a donation box for the High School Youth Group’s summer “Community Live-In” trip. We hope to see you there!
We look forward to celebrating Jesus’ resurrection with you this Easter!
Summer XP
Calling all heroes! We need you to join us for Summer XP, our kids summer Bible experience, June 5-9! Join us at Miller Elementary each evening as we answer the call to serve God, bring peace, and build each other up. Every hero has a role to play, so we hope to see you there! (More details soon)
LifeGroups
If you have not yet signed up for a LifeGroup (our small groups ministry), but might be interested in the future, please let us know by signing up on the link below. We will keep you updated when groups are open and new groups are being formed. We plan to do this two or three times a year. Sign up at https://ecclife.net/lifegroups
1935
All young adults, roughly age 19 to 35, our next 1935 event will be on April 30. Details to come soon.
Spiritual Growth
• Soul Training: Spiritual growth (transformation) comes when we participate with the Holy Spirit through "training our souls". We can pursue this work by engaging in practices that create space for God to do His forming work in us.
Because sometimes it is hard to know where to start or it is helpful to explore new practices, we have created and curated resources to help us invest in our own spiritual formation, individually and together.
As always, we invite you to do as you can, not as you can't. Consider choosing one practice to explore as you engage with God. https://ecclife.net/soul-training
• Daily Audio Bible: There is still time to join a Daily Audio Bible group. In about 20-30 minutes per day, you will hear the entire Bible in a year! We are making this journey together, listening to God’s word independently yet encouraging each other and sharing the truths God reveals to us for the first time or in new and exciting ways. Want to make this journey in community? Sign up to join a men's or women's group. Visit the Daily Audio Bible page find out more and sign up for a group.
https://ecclife.net/dab
(women) https://ecclife.net/dab-journey
(men) https://ecclife.net/dab-men
• 30-Day Gospel Reading Plan: One of the best ways to get to know God is by getting to know Jesus. One of the best ways to get to know Jesus is by regularly reading the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We are encouraging each of us to be intentional about how we engage with God through scripture in 2023 and to move toward having a regular rhythm of engaging with God and his word. We have a guide available at here (https://ecclife.net/30-day-gospel-reading-plan). (There are multiple options so each of us can choose a plan that works for us to be in God’s word.)
https://ecclife.net/scripture
Because sometimes it is hard to know where to start or it is helpful to explore new practices, we have created and curated resources to help us invest in our own spiritual formation, individually and together.
As always, we invite you to do as you can, not as you can't. Consider choosing one practice to explore as you engage with God. https://ecclife.net/soul-training
• Daily Audio Bible: There is still time to join a Daily Audio Bible group. In about 20-30 minutes per day, you will hear the entire Bible in a year! We are making this journey together, listening to God’s word independently yet encouraging each other and sharing the truths God reveals to us for the first time or in new and exciting ways. Want to make this journey in community? Sign up to join a men's or women's group. Visit the Daily Audio Bible page find out more and sign up for a group.
https://ecclife.net/dab
(women) https://ecclife.net/dab-journey
(men) https://ecclife.net/dab-men
• 30-Day Gospel Reading Plan: One of the best ways to get to know God is by getting to know Jesus. One of the best ways to get to know Jesus is by regularly reading the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We are encouraging each of us to be intentional about how we engage with God through scripture in 2023 and to move toward having a regular rhythm of engaging with God and his word. We have a guide available at here (https://ecclife.net/30-day-gospel-reading-plan). (There are multiple options so each of us can choose a plan that works for us to be in God’s word.)
https://ecclife.net/scripture
Winter Walking
Wanting to get some steps in but it’s just too cold? ECC’s gym will be open from 8:30-11:00am, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for walking. All are welcome!
Giving Online
You can give your offerings here. You can also give to special areas by commenting in the memo line. https://ecclife.net/giving
Stewardship
https://ecclife.net/stewardship
Prayer Items
https://ecclife.net/prayer-requests
One Thing: The Expulsive Power of a New Affection
March 26, 2023
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Pastor Stacey Littlefield
March 26, 2023
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Pastor Stacey Littlefield
A Question to Ponder.
What have you thought or been taught in the past about the account(s) of Jesus' temptation/testing in the wilderness?
What have you thought or been taught in the past about the account(s) of Jesus' temptation/testing in the wilderness?
A Question to Ponder.
What, if anything surprised you in today's passage or the message? What, if anything encouraged or comforted you? What, if anything, spoke to you about something new God might be inviting you to explore?
What, if anything surprised you in today's passage or the message? What, if anything encouraged or comforted you? What, if anything, spoke to you about something new God might be inviting you to explore?
A Question to Ponder.
Two scriptural examples of "the expulsive power of a new affection" were given in today's message (1 John 2.15 and Matthew 13.44). What other examples can you think of from Scripture, literature, film, or in your own life?
Two scriptural examples of "the expulsive power of a new affection" were given in today's message (1 John 2.15 and Matthew 13.44). What other examples can you think of from Scripture, literature, film, or in your own life?
A Question to Ponder.
How have you heard the word "repent" in the past? How might you hear it differently, if at all, after this morning's message?
How have you heard the word "repent" in the past? How might you hear it differently, if at all, after this morning's message?
"The Expulsive Power of a New Affection" by Thomas Chalmers
Follow the link below to read a PDF of Chalmers' full lecture.
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-expulsive-power-of-a-new-affectionFifth Sunday in Lent
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.