V I N E   S T R E E T 
 
 
A Village Of Unconditional, All Forgiving,
Never Ending LOVE.
 
 
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H O W   W E   W O R S H I P

Join Us Sunday Mornings

9:00 A.M. Village

Start your Sunday off in a casual, low-key gathering where we share breakfast and chat about Jesus and life. Small groups for all ages – Nursery Available!
 
 
This ain’t your old fashioned
Sunday School!
 
Join us September – May!
 
 
 

10:00 A.M. Worship

“A little something for everyone and a lot of Jesus” is how we worship. Come as you are and experience our energetic, spirit filled service with moving messages and music ranging from contemporary Christian to traditional hymns.
 
 
This service is geared for all
generations!
 
 

Teaching & Preachings

We teach and preach a Jesus that is real and authentic … Taken straight from the gospels with no biased or politics attached. Whether you’re an active participant or a “fly on the wall” listener, we have something for you.
 
 
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interests you!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B I G  I D E A 
 
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15).
 
Pastor Bob
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
C H U R C H   M E D I A

Recent Devotionals

August 2021

Daily Respite; Day 21 — Aug 29th

“Daily Respite; Day 21 — Aug 29th”.


Daily Respite; Day 20 — Aug 28th

“Daily Respite; Day 20 — Aug 28th”.


Daily Respite; Day 19 — Aug 27th

“Daily Respite; Day 19 — Aug 27th”.


Daily Respite; Day 18 — Aug 26th

“Daily Respite; Day 18 — Aug 26th”.


Daily Respite; Day 17 — Aug 25th

“Daily Respite; Day 17 — Aug 25th”.


Daily Respite; Day 16 — Aug 24th

“Daily Respite; Day 16 — Aug 24th”.


Daily Respite; Day 15 — Aug 23rd

“Daily Respite; Day 15 — Aug 23rd”.


Daily Respite; Day 14 — Aug 22nd

“Daily Respite; Day 14 — Aug 22nd”.


Daily Respite; Day 13 — Aug 21st

“Daily Respite; Day 13 — Aug 21st”.


Daily Respite; Day 12 — Aug 20th

“Daily Respite; Day 12 — Aug 20th”.




 
 
 
 
 
F R O M   T H E   B L O G

Recent Posts

Your Middle Sabbath Respite

Explanation of Article Title Above:

  • “Middle Sabbath” = Pastor Bob’s heavenly sent and worldly trademarked name for ANY Wednesday.
  • “Respite” = Defined as: “a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant. (Like life!)
  • “Your One Good Poem” = See below.

The deeper I go on this amazing and mysterious journey with Jesus, the more I have come to love poetry. No … not all styles of poetry and certainly not all poets. Trust me, I’m no poet nerd! But, every couple of weeks or so, I just by happenstance come across a poem that melts my heart and fills my spirit. And there’s no better feeling in the world than that! The poem I share with you today is one of those.  

So, given that this “Middle Sabbath Respite/One Good Poem” is meant to give you some time away … not any place in particular … just away. Let’s call it “away time.” Away Time is when we find ourselves, whether intentionally or not, disconnected from the giant power strip that is our lives. It’s kinda like everything in your daily duties gets unplugged, leaving the outlets open for power from above.

Take some “away time” today, and use this wonderful poem below to drift into another place. I suggest a “quiet as you can” place that is soft on the physical senses. Find a comfortable position that relaxes most, if not all, of your muscles. Then slowly read this poem below, with a whisper … and listen to yourself and the words you’re speaking. Take a  minute or two in silence, and then read the poem as you desire. Once more. Twice more. It’s your choice.

All this can be done in as little as 10 “good” minutes. By the way, I refer to minutes as “good” if they are used for spiritual nourishment. But you could also take 30, 45 or 60 minutes with the poem, letting the quietness, the stillness, and the Holy Spirit, reveal meaning, if any, for you. Be sure to pray for that to happen before you start! And many blessings on your “Middle Sabbath Respite.” I’d love to know how it turned out for you.

“Do not ask your children to strive”                                                                                                                By William Martin

Do not ask your children                                                                                                                                         to strive for extraordinary lives.

Such striving may seem admirable,                                                                                                                             

but it is the way of foolishness. 

Help them instead to find the wonder                                                                                                                 and the marvel of an ordinary life.                                                                                                                   

Show them the joy of tasting                                                                                                                     

tomatoes, apples and pears.

Show them how to cry                                                                                                                                             when pets and people die.

Show them the infinite pleasure                                                                                                                                 in the touch of a hand.

And make the ordinary come alive for them.

The extraordinary will take care of itself.

<>< 

Disclaimer: I have already shared this poem with our Sunday morning 9:05 group. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. It’s especially fitting for parents and grandparents!

Open the heart within, and the spirit will flow from above, and fill it,

Pastor Bob <><      


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“Jesus Teachin’”

In the first written of the four gospels, in the fourth chapter & second verse, Mark tells us that Jesus said, “Let those who have ears to hear, hear.” Did you ever think that Jesus might be talking about a different kind of “ears” than the two on each side of your head? Have you considered that Jesus has a very special message for you in any and all of the words in the Bible’s 66 books?

And … have you ever pondered the possibility that Jesus is speaking to you … always? Including right now? That He has a teaching moment customized just for you, right where you are? That He is waiting right now for you to hear Him?

Well, I believe all of this is true!

I believe Jesus teaches us to listen and hear Him through the many stories of the gospels. Each story has a universal and eternal truth in it, and if your ears are properly tuned … you can begin to understand how Jesus brings the words of scripture to life … and not just to life, but to your life in particular. And He is always teaching you!

Think about it: Everywhere he goes, He is teaching. Even at the end, with his greatest lesson of all … the cross. Consider some of Brian McLaren’s different methods Jesus has for teaching.

  • Signs & Wonders: healing blindness = God’s desire to give us eyes to see the world differently; healing paralysis = God empowers people who are weak or trapped; calming a storm = God’s desire to bring peace; casting out unclean spirits = God’s commitment to liberate and free people.
  • Public Lectures: a mass teach-in on a hillside near the sea; a neighborhood jammed into a single house, and spilling out into the yard and street; A weekly synagogue gathering; at the beach, sitting in a boat, with the people on the shore.
  • Surprising, Unplanned, Impromptu Moments: in transit from here to there; at a well along a road; at a dinner party with an uninvited guest; in the public space with critics trying to ambush Him with “Gotcha!” questions.
  • Private Retreats & Field Trips with His Disciples: some of His most important teachings; away from the loud and demanding crowds; personal mentoring from Jesus to those who will carry on His work.
  • Public Demonstrations: leading a protest march into Jerusalem – with a mocking demonstration of a royal entry; denouncing with His own tears the failure of Jerusalem to understand what will bring them peace; an act of civil disobedience on Temple grounds; a demonstration of an alternative economy to the masses, inspired by a young boy’s fish sandwich.
  • Parables: finely crafted works of short fiction; draws the ones who “hear” into deeper thought by engaging their imagination and inviting interpretation; teaches people as “children” who are more attracted to stories than arguments; listeners invited to give matters a second thought … ask questions … seek “meaning.”

I discovered these 6 teaching approaches of Jesus in Brian McLaren’s wonderful stimulating book, “We Make the Road by Walking.” In his book, Brian  develops in greater detail his modes of how Jesus teaches us. It all leads me to conclude … and hope … that Jesus is always teaching me, everywhere I go, at any time – day or night. Don’t you feel that way too? Don’t you hope that’s true?

It’s true: Life is really a classroom, and we are lifelong learners called disciples. And, as we stretch and grow, we build a kingdom of which the world can’t comprehend. Indeed, only those with the ears to hear … hear. I wonder what my next lesson will be about … don’t you?                                                                        

See you at school … Pastor Bob <><      


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Lost & Found

FOR THIS SUNDAY: READ LUKE 15: 11-32.                                                                                       Pay close attention to each of the 3 main characters.                                                           Based on their words and actions, try to determine what’s going on inside each of them from a spiritual perspective as the story unfolds.

Have you ever been, or are you now, lost … spiritually?

I can distinctly remember some of the times when I was physically lost as a kid; there’s a whole lot of fear in those memories. Example: I went off hiking by myself, age 8, at a big family picnic when I suddenly realize that I had no idea where I was or which way I came from. It’s that moment right there … the reality of knowing you’re lost … that sends chills down my spine even today. I was lost! And no one knew it … so no one was looking for me.

Even as I write this, I am remembering more of those “being lost” moments I experienced as a kid. I bet you have some too.

As we grow up, we don’t get lost as much as we used to. Not physically lost anyway. And now, in a world of GPS and step tracking and self-driving cars, perhaps the days of “getting lost” in the old sense of the word will be over. After all, it takes some real work to find a place in the world today where you don’t know where you are, and neither does anyone else.

But we all know that there is another way of getting “lost” in the world. It’s more like getting “lost” from yourself. You’d think that would be easy to discover … that you’re lost from yourself … but in fact it’s just the opposite. It’s hardly noticeable to ourselves when we are spiritually lost, although those closest to us may notice something is changing.

Some of the symptoms of being lost from yourself could be a feeling of emptiness or dryness inside, where God usually takes residence. Right in the middle of your gut! It’s hard to define, but you’ll know something is missing in there when you’re lost.

Another symptom of being lost from yourself can be an annoyance, or irritation, with people around you. Over time, when we’re without a God relationship, we lose some of the best parts of our personality, and grow new parts that aren’t as nice. Have you noticed yourself feeling that way?

And finally, one symptom that I’ve noticed with myself, is when the faith-specific things in my life … like reading the Bible, going to church, praying, listening to Christian radio, etc. … aren’t connecting with me in my heart. It can feel like there’s a disconnect, or a blown fuse perhaps. Nothing is being absorbed, it seems like. And, when this symptom happens, we’re adding more to our feelings of emptiness, and we’re back where we started. But still lost.

That’s not an easy way to live!

There is another Way! But that requires first “knowing you’re lost,” followed closely by “believing there is a remedy.” It’s true, you know. But if you doubt, you are not alone. Certainly, a majority of people in our country are lost and far from home. And we all are at different times on our own journeys.

Sometimes, do you feel lost and empty in some way deep inside?

Do you ever feel like you’ve lost that person you always wanted to be?

Can you feel God in your midst on a regular basis, or is there still too much between you and God?

This Sunday we’ll learn about a guy who got lost, spiritually, and yet was able to find himself … when he came home to his father.

Come join us this Sunday … live or on Facebook or YouTube. Come meet the Prodigal. And then meet his father. The remedy.

Blessings to all of us traveling on our spiritual paths …

Pastor Bob <><


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Meet Some Of Our Team

 
Bob Silvanik
 Pastor
 
Beth Jones
Office Manager
 
Karen Good
Music
 
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Bruce Condill, Kevin Huffman ~ Co-Moderators, Ginny Condill ~ Secretary, Shawn Vanausdoll ~ Treasurer, Jared Blaudow ~ Administration
 
 
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Address: 249 S. Vine Street Arthur, IL 61911
Phone:217-543-2292