Here is our service from Sunday, brought to us by Laity leader, Kris Mangan.
New Church of Montgomery Welcomes You!
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Service Focus: At The Door
Scripture Readings:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7 & 8 (NIV)
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg:
Apocalypse Revealed Volume 1: Numbers 217, 218 & 219
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock” signifies that the Lord is present to everyone in the Word, and is there pressing to be received, and teaches how. Something similar to this is said, by the Lord, in Luke 12:36 –
“Be ye like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.”
That “door” signifies admission and entrance.
“If anyone hears my voice and opens the door” signifies he who believes in the Word and lives according to it. To hear His voice is to believe in the Word, for the Divine Truth of the Word is the voice of Jehovah; and to open the door is to live according to it. Because the door is not opened, and the Lord received, by merely hearing the voice; but by living according to it.
“I will come in and sup with him, and he with me” signifies that the Lord joins Himself with them and them with Himself.
Hands-on Activity
Choosing Our Message At the Door
No, Yes, Do Not Disturb, Welcome, Go Away, Come In, Not Now, Greetings, Leave a Message, What’s up? (Sup?) Need Help? Service My Room (Clean up my mess), Grateful for You, Later, Delighted You’re Here, Goodbye, Hello
Open sharing of experiences, thoughts and feelings.
Are there ways to become more aware of the Lord’s “knock” or of the call of His “voice?” What form does His “knock” or His “voice” take? What does it mean to have the “door” open for us? What is it, about how we live, that encourages us to hear our Lord? What is it, about how we live that entices us avoid or run from our Lord? What might we learn about the way that we are living our lives when we do listen to His “voice?”
Time of Reflection
Music
You’re Always Welcome Here
by Kelly Willard
Lord, I hear you knocking; knocking at the door.
How long have you been waiting? Seems I never really heard you before.
I’ve kind of let the place go.
I’m ashamed of what you’ll find.
But, you can make yourself at home, if you’re sure that you don’t mind.
Cause when I cry, the roof leaks.
And, when the wind blows, the walls are weak.
But, a house is known by the company it keeps.
I feel better now that you’re near.
And, I want to make it clear.
Jesus, from now on, you’re always welcome here.
There are dark rooms, deep inside me; where light has never shown.
And, I tried to hide inside them; but, I guess I’ve always known.
That one day you would call me and I’d awaken from my sleep.
And, you’d take me just the way I am.
And, you’d promise me you’d keep me.
Cause when I cry, the roof leaks.
And, when the wind blows, the walls are weak.
But, a house is known by the company it keeps.
I feel better now that you’re near.
And, I want to make it clear.
Jesus, from now on, you’re always welcome here.
Jesus, from now on, you’re always welcome here.
Prayer Requests
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Go now in peace. Shalom!





