Prayer Before Worship    Loving heavenly Father, You sent Your Son Jesus Christ to bring all people of the world back to Yourself through His death and resurrection.  Strengthen my faith in Jesus and my love for Him, so that I remain united with Him, receive His life-giving Word in Scripture, and keep my eyes fixed on Christ alone. I ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, my Lord, Amen

The news last week contained lots of troubling events.  It seems bad news is everywhere.  It’s hard to find joy.  Yet joy isn’t tied to the news or your circumstances.  Joy is available even in times of tragedy because joy is anchored in Jesus Christ.  He has defeated sin, death, and the devil.  He has overcome this world and promises certain heaven to come.  Nothing can change this!   Today we welcome guest speaker, Pastor James Zinkowich, from Painesville, Ohio, who will share the first of two sermons  from God’s Word on Joy.