Berea Update for April 4, 2025
April is in full swing, and as we gear up for Easter, there’s a buzz of excitement around here that rivals the final moments of a close game. Maybe we'll see a close game or two this weekend at the Final Four? This week, I found myself struggling with this intro—maybe it’s the madness of the season getting to me!—but I’m thrilled to share what’s on tap. From Pastor Miller unpacking Ephesians, to a lineup of events that’ll take us right to the Easter, we’ve got plenty of chances to come together as a church family. And with a devotional tying some unexpected underdog stories to a familiar champion, I pray you’ll find some encouragement for the battles we all face. So, let’s step up to the line and see what God has in store for us in the weeks ahead!
Upcoming Events
1. This Sunday, Pastor Miller will be continuing his series in the book of Ephesians, preaching a message from Ephesians 4:1-3 called "The Pearl on Exhibit." We'll also be partaking in the Lord's Supper together as a church family. After the service we will be having a brief, quarterly business meeting to share updates on the church's finances and some other items. All are welcome to attend the meeting, which will begin immediately after the conclusion of the service.
2. An email was sent earlier in the week, but just in case you missed it, tomorrow's nursing home singing event has been postponed. A new date will be determined later.
3. Another important workday will be held on Saturday, April 12 beginning at 9:00 AM. That morning, we'll work on inside tasks, and also will do a few outdoor tasks up near the building. We have jobs for everyone, young and old, so please plan to join us!
4. The youth group will once again be doing a bake sale to raise funds for their upcoming mission trip to Cleveland. The tables will be set up in the Gathering Area on Sunday, April 13, and donations will be accepted for a variety of baked goods, including: cinnamon rolls, cookies, cupcakes, and Oreo truffles. There are no pre-orders. Items will be first-come, first-served that day.
5. Easter is only a few weeks away. We have several different events planned for the week leading up to Easter, which we'd like for you to put on your calendar now :
Wednesday, April 16- "Day of Prayer" We will be having a prayer service in the Resurrection Garden at 6:30 PM. There is no AWANA that night due to Easter week. We are also encouraging the church family to begin a day long fast that evening at 6:30 PM. During the fast, we encourage you to pray, and spend time in God's Word.
Thursday, April 17- Communion Service 6:30 PM in the Family Life Center. We will break our fast together that evening by partaking in the Lord's Supper.
Friday, April 18- Good Friday Service 6:30 PM at the crosses near Resurrection Garden. Each of our pastors/elders will be sharing a brief message about the various characters in the crucifixion account.
Sunday, April 20- Sunrise Service 7:00 AM at Resurrection Garden; 8:00 AM Breakfast; 10:00 AM Regular Worship Service (No Sunday School)
We have cards prepared with all of these events listed for you to take with you this Sunday, if you'd like. Additionally, we have cards made up that you can use to invite family and friends to attend Good Friday or Easter Sunday. Look for those at the Welcome Center.
The church will be providing a week-long devotion for all families and individuals to use throughout the week, that connect to the different events going on at the church. This devotion will be distributed on Palm Sunday (April 13), but will be available online as well.
6. April is "soccer ball month" for our OCC collection and we would love to be able to include a soccer ball in 400 boy boxes this year! Rather than having you purchase the soccer balls, we are asking for donations to cover the cost ($6 per ball--includes pump). Throughout the month of April, you will find a soccer net in the Gathering Area with commitment tags hanging from it, where you can choose to sponsor one, three, five, or ten soccer balls. Donations can be given by check or cash in the offering (please mark it as "OCC Soccer Balls") by the end of April. Donations can also be given through Berea's online giving system.
Also, as mentioned last month, we are trying to get any small filler items you can find at great prices. We put together an Amazon Wish List to give ideas that you can view throughout April. To view that wish list, click here:
OCC Amazon Wishlist Items aren't limited to just that Wish List though! Anything small will work!
Our first OCC Workday for the year will be held this upcoming week on Tuesday, April 8 at 1:00 PM at the church. No supplies are needed, just able bodies.
Finally, to help cover the shipping for our OCC boxes we are collecting change as we've done in the past. Containers are available at the Welcome Center in the foyer, and can be returned to the church office.
It is amazing to see how God is blessing the OCC ministry here at Berea through each of you who are involved. Thank you for all your support!!
7. This summer, we are planning on offering something new and different for kids ages 7-13. Rather than doing a sports camp, we are planning to do a four day Adventure Camp (like VBS) from June 9-12 and we need your help! If all of the plans come together, we plan to have kids outdoors learning a variety of skills from fishing, to canoeing, to how to tie knots, and set up camp sites. There are a lot of other fun activities planned as well! If you are interested in helping in ANY capacity—and that includes helping with outdoor tasks, teaching how to do different outdoor activities, or helping serve lunch each day, we’d like you to stay after church on Sunday, April 13 to have a very quick meeting to learn initial interest in helping. This will help us finalize different activities we’d like to do!
Ways You Can Pray This Week
1. Pray for Pastor Miller as he will be traveling to North Carolina to take part in training this week with Samaritan's Purse.
2. Continue to pray for those who do not know Christ. Easter season provides many opportunities to share the Gospel. Be praying for opportunities to reach those in your circle who need to hear the "Good News!" In particular, pray for our AWANA teachers who continue to share the Gospel with the boys and girls who attend each week. As the AWANA year comes to a close, we would love to see some clubbers give their lives to Christ!
3. Pray for our Sunday School teachers. I am incredibly thankful for each of them, and their commitment to teaching God's Word to their students. Pray that the Spirit might give them the right words as they teach!
4. Pray for our young families who attend Berea! The job of being a parent is one of the most challenging here on earth! Pray for wisdom, strength, and patience as they train their kids in the fear and admonition of the Lord!
***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
By this upcoming Monday night, we'll have a new college basketball champion, as "March Madness" comes to a close. I especially love watching the early round games in the tournament to see if any upsets occur. I love a good "David beating Goliath" story! So, in thinking more about this, here's a week long devotion that connects March Madness with a very familiar story! :)
Day 1: The Unlikely Contender
1 Samuel 17:12-15 (ESV): "Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons… David was the youngest. The three eldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle… But David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem."
March Madness thrives on underdogs—teams no one expects to shine. David was that underdog: the youngest, a shepherd, overlooked by his own family. Yet God saw his heart. In the tournament, it’s not always the top seed that wins, and in life, God often chooses the least likely to do great things.
Reflection Question: Where do you feel underestimated, and how might God be preparing you for something bigger?
Day 2: Facing the Giant
1 Samuel 17:4-7 (ESV): "And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span… And the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze… The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron."
Goliath was the No. 1 seed—intimidating, unbeatable in everyone’s eyes. March Madness pits small schools against powerhouses, and the giants loom large. Our lives have Goliaths too: fears, doubts, or challenges that seem impossible. David faced his giant head-on, reminding us no obstacle is too big for God.
Reflection Question: What “Goliath” in your life feels overwhelming, and how can you approach it with faith today?
Day 3: Rejecting the Armor
1 Samuel 17:38-39 (ESV): "Then Saul clothed David with his armor… And David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, ‘I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.’ So David put them off."
In the tournament, winning teams play to their strengths, not someone else’s game plan. David ditched Saul’s armor because it didn’t fit—he trusted what he knew: his sling and his God. We don’t need to mimic others to win our battles; God equips us uniquely for the fight.
Reflection Question: Where are you trying to wear someone else’s “armor” instead of trusting how God made you?
Day 4: The Power of Faith
1 Samuel 17:45 (ESV): "Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.’"
March Madness upsets happen when the little guy believes they can win. David’s weapon wasn’t his sling—it was his faith in God’s power. Goliath trusted brute strength; David trusted the Lord. In our madness, faith turns the tide against even the toughest opponents.
Reflection Question: How can you shift your focus from your own strength to God’s power in a challenge today?
Day 5: The Decisive Shot
1 Samuel 17:48-49 (ESV): "When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead."
A buzzer-beater in March Madness can change everything—one shot, one moment. David’s single stone was his game-winner, delivered with courage and precision. God often uses small, bold acts to bring down giants. It’s not the size of the effort, but the trust behind it.
Reflection Question: What small, faithful step can you take today to confront a big problem?
Day 6: The Fall of the Mighty
1 Samuel 17:50-51 (ESV): "So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him… Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it."
The crowd goes wild when a Cinderella team knocks out a favorite—just like Israel cheered when Goliath fell. God’s victory through David flipped the script. In our lives, the “mighty” things—pride, sin, fear—crumble when God steps in. March Madness echoes this: the unexpected can triumph.
Reflection Question: What “mighty” thing in your life needs to fall, and how can you trust God to bring it down?
Day 7: The Champion’s Glory
1 Samuel 17:54 (ESV): "And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent."
The championship weekend ends with a victor holding the trophy high. David’s win wasn’t for his fame—he gave God the glory. Our victories, big or small, point to the true Champion: Christ, who defeated the ultimate giant of sin. Celebrate that win today, not just the bracket’s.
Reflection Question: How can you give God the glory for a victory—past or present—in your life this weekend?
Kids (and Kids At Heart) Korner
Let us know if there is something we can pray for you about! Have a good week! See you Sunday!
Keep Pressing On,
Mark