Berea Update for October 2, 2026
Happy Friday, Berea family! What a Sunday we just had! If you were outside with us in the Resurrection Garden last Sunday, you know how special it was to watch eight of our young people step into the water and publicly declare that they belong to Jesus. There is nothing quite like cheering together as a church family, wiping away a few happy tears, and welcoming new brothers and sisters in Christ.
As we look ahead to this coming Sunday morning, we’re moving from the excitement of the baptism waters right to the quiet warmth of the Lord’s Table. I don't know about you, but as fall sets in, I’m already dreaming a bit about Thanksgiving meal and Christmas dinner! There is something so special about those holiday gatherings where we pull out the extra chairs, pass the serving dishes, and sit down at a full table with the people we love. We look forward to those meals for weeks because they aren't just about the food—they are about togetherness, celebration, and belonging. That special feeling of gathering at the table is exactly what Jesus gives us every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
When we hold that little piece of bread and that small cup this coming Sunday, Jesus isn't asking us to perform or prove how "good" we’ve been. He’s inviting us to pause, take a breath, and enjoy a family meal together. Life gets heavy. We mess up, we get stressed, and we get tired. But at His Table, Jesus reminds us: "Your sins are forgiven. You are loved. You belong to My family." And just like those big holiday dinners, we don't sit at this Table alone. When we gather in the Family Life Center on Sunday, take a moment to look down your row. You’ll be sitting next to people of different ages, different backgrounds, and different life stories, all sharing the exact same grace. The Lord’s Table reminds us that no matter what we faced throughout the week, we are one family in Christ.
To help us think through the Lord's Supper more, I’ve put together a 7-day devotional below exploring what it means to sit at God's table from Scriptures throughout the Bible. Nothing you study in the devotional will take from the sermon this Sunday. The weekly devotionals are designed to push you deeper, and to consider personal application. Feel free to work through these daily devotionals at your own pace whenever you like throughout the week.
For now, let the truth of God's love sink in, and let's come ready to gather around the Table together this Sunday. See you soon!
Keep pressing on!
Upcoming Events
1. This Sunday, we will continue on in our series called: "Blueprint: God's Vision for the Church." This week's message is called "The Lord's Supper: Communion at the King's Table." We'll be in 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 and other various portions of Scripture. We will also be partaking in the Lord's Supper together as a church family, and will be recognizing the eight individuals who were baptized last week one more time as a part of the morning worship service.
2. Immediately following the morning worship service on Sunday, there will be a quarterly business meeting. Here is our agenda for the business meeting so you can be prayerfully considering these items in advance, and come prepared with any questions you may have, as questions will be taken from the floor. Our goal is to for the meeting to last about 20-30 minutes:
Treasurer Vote
Elder/Deacon Updates
Building Updates
Financial Updates
Church Staffing Updates
Deacon Board Meeting Updates
3.
AWANA is underway--we currently have 64 clubbers registered to participate! If you plan to have your kids (ages 3 through 6th grade) participate in AWANA this fall, you may now register them online here:
Berea AWANA Registration 2026 When registering, if your family regularly attends Berea, please use the discount code "Attend" to save on registration dues. AWANA meets each Wednesday night from 6:30-8:00 PM. Thanks for your prayers for this important ministry!
4.
There will be a baby shower for MaryAisha Yutzy this Sunday, October 4 at 5:00 PM at the Gainer house (4223 Springfield Xenia Rd. Springfield). Ladies, please come for a relaxed evening together outside with a bonfire, cookout, and a time of fellowship and prayer over MaryAisha. Please RSVP to Lara by text at (937)926-0663 or through email at laragainer@gmail.com. The Yutzy's are registered here:
Yutzy Baby Registry
5. Church Workday--October 17 from 9:00 AM- Noon. We'll have many tasks for all ages that morning! Most tasks will be indoors, although we'll have a few outdoor things to do as well! More specific details to come!
6. Attention college students, and families that have "adopted" a college student! Our Generations of Grace group will be having a luncheon after church on Sunday, October 11 here at the church! Please make sure to RSVP to Pam Drewery either through email, or by responding to the text she sent out. We are looking forward to a great time together with some good fun, games, and fellowship together!
7. Save the date for our next "Family Fun Night" on October 24, starting at 5:30 PM at the home of Trent and Julie Nourse. We will enjoy a time of food, fun, and fellowship together around a bonfire! Registration is now available on the church website, or through an email that was sent.
8. Berea Moms of toddlers and infants! During the month of October, you are invited to attend a time of fellowship and play (for the little ones) on Thursday, October 8 and Thursday, October 22 from 10:00 AM- 1:00 PM here at the church! Please contact Lauren Koranek if you have any questions!
Ways You Can Pray This Week
1. Pray for the quarterly business meeting, which will be held this Sunday!
***Please know that there are many individuals who need prayer this week due to health concerns and other events going on in their lives. Out of sensitivity to each individual's situation, these requests may not appear in this weekly blog. We have a "Prayer Team" at the church who receives more detailed information, and commits to praying for individuals in our church family.
This Week's Devotions
Day 1: A Place for the Broken
2 Samuel 9:13 (ESV) — "So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king's table. Now he was lame in both his feet."
Mephibosheth was hiding out in a dry, lonely land, feeling completely forgotten and helpless. But King David searched for him, brought him into the royal palace, and gave him a permanent seat at his dinner table like one of his own sons. Mephibosheth didn't earn his spot, and he couldn't "fix" his broken legs to deserve it. David simply loved him. That is what Jesus does for us—He finds us in our helplessness and invites us to sit at His table forever.
Reflection Question: What area of weakness or brokenness in your life do you need to stop hiding from God and bring to His table today?
Day 2: Peace in the Middle of the Storm
Psalm 23:5 (ESV) — "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."
Life can feel chaotic, overwhelming, and full of conflict. Yet David writes that God sets a feast for us right in the middle of our troubles—not after everything is fixed, but while the storm is still raging. When you feel surrounded by stress or worry, God invites you to sit down with Him, catch your breath, and let Him fill your heart with peace.
Reflection Question: What stress or worry is distracting you today, and how can you pause to let God refresh your soul right now?
Day 3: Come As You Are
Mark 2:15–16 (ESV) — "And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus... And the scribes of the Pharisees... said to his disciples, 'Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?'"
The religious leaders of Jesus' day kept their distance from people who made mistakes. But Jesus did the exact opposite—He sat down and ate meals with outcasts, struggling people, and messy sinners. He didn't wait for them to clean up their lives before hanging out with them; His love met them right where they were. Jesus treats you the exact same way today.
Reflection Question: Is there any part of your life where you feel "not good enough" for God? How does Jesus sitting with sinners change that thought?
Day 4: Real Community
Acts 2:46 (ESV) — "And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts..."
The early Christians didn't just attend church services together; they lived life together. They opened their homes, shared their meals, and supported each other through ups and downs. Sharing a table breaks down walls and turns strangers into family. God created us to walk through life in real, honest community with our church family.
Reflection Question: How can you open your heart—or even your actual kitchen table—to encourage someone in your church family this week?
Day 5: Opening the Door to Jesus
Revelation 3:20 (ESV) — "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."
Notice that Jesus doesn't kick the door down or force His way into our lives. He stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, inviting us into close, daily friendship. Sitting down to eat with someone means slowing down for real conversation. Jesus is inviting you today to put aside the busy noise of life and just spend unhurried time with Him.
Reflection Question: What noise or busy distraction do you need to turn down today so you can hear Jesus knocking?
Day 6: Rest for the Weary
Isaiah 25:6 (ESV) — "On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine..."
When you work hard all day, nothing feels better than sitting down to a great meal. Isaiah reminds us that God is preparing a grand, joyful feast in heaven for everyone who trusts in Him. The struggles, pain, and tiredness of this world are only temporary. A day is coming when God will wipe away every tear and we will celebrate with Him forever.
Reflection Question: How does knowing that a joy-filled, eternal feast awaits you give you hope to keep going through tough days?
Day 7: The Ultimate Family Reunion
Revelation 19:9 (ESV) — "And the angel said to me, 'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'"
Every time we take the Lord's Supper at church, it’s like a small preview of the ultimate family reunion coming in heaven—the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. On that day, believers from every country, age, and background will gather around one big table to celebrate Jesus. It gives us a wonderful reason to rejoice whenever we think of what Christ has accomplished for us.
Reflection Question: How can remembering this future heavenly banquet help you prepare your heart to celebrate what Jesus has done for you?
Kids (and Kids at Heart) Korner
Memory Verse of the Week: Psalm 23:5 (ESV) — "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."
You Always Have a Seat at God's Table!
Have you ever come home after playing hard outside—tired, hungry, and maybe a little dirty—and sat down at the dinner table? Your parents don't say, "You can only eat if you're perfect!" They love you, so they give you a seat at the table and feed you! In the Bible, God shows us that His love is just like a big, welcoming dinner table. King David invited a young man named Mephibosheth—who couldn't walk and was scared—to come live in his palace and eat at the king's table every single day like family! When Jesus was on earth, He loved sitting down to eat with people who were lonely or made mistakes, showing them that God loves them! When we take the bread and juice together at church on Sunday, it reminds us that we are all part of God's big family because Jesus loves us so much! God's table is a place of love, forgiveness, and joy. You don't have to be perfect to belong to Him!
Ask Your Family This Week:
What is your favorite thing about eating dinner together as a family? How does it feel to know that Jesus invites us into His family just as we are?
Fun Family Activity: The "Favorite Family Meal" Night
Pick a night this week to make your family's favorite meal together! While you eat, go around the table and have everyone share one thing they love about being part of your family and one thing they love about God's church family!
Have a great weekend! See you Sunday!
Mark