ICCL this Sunday May 6th

I would guess that the days are rare that you don’t look at yourself in the mirror.  Imagine a morning without one as your prepare to face the day. The nervous uncertainly would be palpable as the look on the faces you meet becomes the only reflection about what’s in or out of place.  Being able to see yourself, even when you’re not sure you like what you see, is an invaluable help to daily life.

Mirrors are useful for what appears on the outside, the heart is vital for what’s on the inside.  Proverbs 27:19 reads: “As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.”  We call the heart a vital organ for good reason.  When it stops we stop.  Spiritually, the vitality of this organ determines the wellness of it’s host.  If you want to know what you look like spiritually, the heart is the mirror that you can’t do without.  Jesus made it clear that the “things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart” (Mat 15:18).  If we’re honest and have listened to ourselves recently we might not like the reflection.  But seeing ourselves clearly is essential to making the right changes.  When it comes to the heart, God is in the business of the change that transforms us. That’s good news to shabby sinners because he won’t settle for anything less then a new heart that reflects all the beauty of his love and grace.

Thanking and praising the Giver of this love and grace is what worship is all about. And that is what we plan to do this coming Sunday May 6th (6, rue Albert Thomas, 69300 Caluire) at 16h30 as we gather to proclaim with our mouths all that wells up from a new heart.

Reflectfully,

Mike DiGena
Pastor ICCL

ICCL This Sunday April 29th

Dear Friends,

A brief reminder for this Sunday’s ICCL worship service.  With its five Sundays, April affords us privilege of an extra meeting.  As usual, we’ll gather at 16:30 in Caluire (6 rue Albert Thomas, 69300).  This week will continue in the Proverbs as we near the end of this series.  Why not take some time to read Chapters 23-26 in preparation!

I came upon a marvelous verse this week as I have been reading through the Old Testament.  In the book of Judges I found a gem of a verse and share it with you.  “But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might” (5:31).  If you have ever watched the sun rise, you know that it is only in the first few moments that you can perceive it as a well-defined sphere. In just minutes its brightness becomes so brilliant that more than a speedy glance can jeopardize your sight.  Physically, it is unlikely that we would ever come closer to a more powerful heavenly body than our own sun. But when it comes to the most powerful heavenly being that exists and who “dwells in unapproachable light”, coming closer is not in question. Because of God’s great love for us we can “draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith”. Furthermore, because he loved us first we can love him back and that love is at the heart of a might beyond measure from which “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us.” Why? Because it is rooted in “the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39)!

One last reminder concerning ‘Un Coeur pour Lyon’ and the evangelistic meetings with Tony Anthony.  They take place this Saturday at 16h30 and 20h30 as well as at 10h00 on Sunday morning. The place is: Salle Double Mixe, 19 ave. Gaston Berger, 69100 Villeurbanne. Remember that Tony’s messages will be translated from English to French.

With rising hope,

Mike DiGena

Pastor ICCL

ICCL FSP this week and Announcements

For this week:

FSP this Sunday April 22nd at 16h30 in Caluire (6 rue Albert Thomas, 69300)

For the weeks to come:

Back to back worship services on April 29th and May 6th

 

Un Coeur pour Lyon

 

 

 

 

 

ICCL Retreat – June 8th -10th at ‘Teen Ranch’

Next Refuge – April 27th

Next Men’s Study – April 19th

Women’s Study resumes in May

Easter sermon uploaded

Want to let you know that it is possible to listen to the sermons via a MP3 download from our site.  Many, but not all, of the sermons are available for listening.  Just click on the ICCL sermons and then pick the sermon you wish to listen to and it will begin playing.

I do want to apologize for the fact that our Easter sermon only recorded the first 23 minutes and then the batteries ran out on our recorder.  So for those of you wishing to listen to the Easter sermon, you will not hear the concluding thoughts.  But, I will tell you what happened – Christ defeated death!

ICCL This Sunday April 15th

In these few days after our Easter celebration atop the Mt Cindre I repeat what we declared together then: ‘He is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!”  The pertinence of that declaration is of such import that it merits being repeated every day of the year.  The Christian life has it’s mountain top moments, but the valleys are more common and more in line with the reality of daily life.  Thankfully, God has not left us to fend for ourselves in our own strength.  The power that God exercised in the resurrection did not disappear after Christ was raised.  That power is at work in us who believe.  Paul prays for the believers in Ephesus with this in mind reminding them that the “surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe… is …in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,” (Eph 1:19-20).  Come to terms with this truth and you’ll face any circumstance with hope and anticipation.  Because the life giving power that conquered death is at work in you, your life is secure no matter what the day brings forth.

May this be an encouragement to you in the days leading up to our next worship and communion service set for this Sunday April 15th.  Meet us in Caluire (6 rue Albert Thomas, 69300) at 16h30 to give thanks for the power that gives us life.

I’ll close with a few dates that you’ll want to note down:

April 28th and 29th – ‘Un Cœur Pour Lyon’ – Outreach with Tony Anthony – “From Violence to Hope”

Tony’s sessions will be translated from English to French and so this is a great opportunity for both you and the French speaking friends you may invite to come confident of understanding his message.  If you would like more info on Tony Anthony in English, click on the following link: http://www.tonyanthony.co.uk
 

 

As per an ICCL event you won’t want to miss, do take note of the dates of the ICCL annual retreat.

June 8th-10th at ‘Teen Ranch’ – We’ll have more details soon but for a look, you can visit: http://www.teenranchfrance.com

With powerful confidence,

Mike DiGena

Pastor ICCL

Info about Easter

Dear Friends,

 

Here are the details for Resurrection Sunday. Read entire message especially for transport information and do response if applicable.

• Meeting time: worship service starting at 8:30am
• Meeting place: on the Mont Cindre at the ‘Communauté de l’Epiphanie’:

73 bis route du Mont Cindre
69450 SAINT CYR AU MONT D’OR

• The service will be followed by a hearty, pot-luck breakfast
  • Each family or individual brings something to share for eating. (Here are some ideas: muffins, coffee cake, bacon/sausage, fruit, croissants or other “viennoiseries”, hot breakfast casseroles, quiches,…)
  • Hot drinks and some juices will be provided, do consider bringing more juice according to your taste.
  • We are looking for a few volunteers to bring some hot egg/sausage casseroles. If you are able, contact: mdigena@gmail.com
  • There is a full kitchen at our disposal.
  • We can use some early-comers for set-up and some to stay for break down. please advise: mdigena@gmail.com

• The breakfast will be followed by an Easter Egg hunt for the children on the beautiful grounds of the Community.

• Direction/Transport:
  • Those coming by car and with a GPS can use the address above, please be sure to pass via the town of ‘St Cyr au Mont D’Or’ to avoid smaller windy routes.
  • For those using a map, make your way to Vaise, than follow signs for ‘les Monts D’Or’ and then ‘St Cyr au Mont d’Or’ in particuler. Once arrived at St Cyr Centre, follow signs for ‘Mt Cindre’. It is a 7-10 minute up-hill ride from the town center.
  • The Community’s entrance is opposite of the large telecommunications tower. Please park on the parking lot outside the entrance.
  • For those on public transit:
    • Please confirm if you will be arriving on public transit: mdigena@gmail.com
    • Find your way to the ‘Gare de Vaise’ Metro station (Line D)
    • Take the number 20 bus to it’s terminus which is St Cyr
    • Best Bus departure to arrive in time from Vaise is at 7:30am arriving at St Cyr terminus at 7:41am.
  • If you are arriving by car and have space to make a pick-up at ‘Gare de Vaise’ or ‘St Cyr Centre’ please inform: mdigena@gmail.com
  • There is a possible pick-up point at the Foch Metro station depending on vehicle possibilities. Please inform: mdigena@gmail.com
• Do feel free to invite others to this event and inform of the number you expect in your party. Invitation attached, Thanks!
  

ICCL Easter Sunday April 8th

The ministry of Jesus lasted a total of about three years.  The Gospels without exception are disproportionate in their account of Jesus’ time on earth.  They are all weighed heavily on the Savior’s last week of life in the days leading up to the cross and empty tomb.  Like any author, choices are made to put emphasis in certain places and in certain ways to make what is most important evident.  The last week of Jesus time on earth is clearly the most important in the history recounted by each author of the four Gospels.  Paul says that it was “at just the right time” when referring to Christ’s death.  The passion week is a memorial to the days leading up to the ‘crux’ of human history, the cross itself.  There has never been and never will there be a more important intersection in time.  What is amazing is that the person who would find himself at the center of that ‘crux’ wasn’t seeking to avoid it.  Luke says that “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Luk 9:51).  Nothing would or could stop his determination to obey his Father’s will to give his life in our place.  Having just made reference to disproportion, there is none greater than an innocent person giving his life willingly for a guilty one.  If the authors of the Gospels weigh in so heavily on the week leading up to the cross, it is to herald the greatest news that could be given.  God’s forgiveness extends to all who will receive it, even to enemies.  It started with the criminal whose fate was sealed when Jesus said “today you will be with me in paradise” (Luk 23:43) and it won’t end until Jesus comes as Judge.

As C.K. Chesterton wrote in reference to the cross in his great apologetic for the christian faith: “But the cross, though it has at its heart a collision and contradiction, can extend its four arms forever without altering its shape… The cross opens its arms to the four winds; it is a signpost for free travelers.”  May this week find you following the signpost that leads from the forgiveness found at the cross to the “glorious freedom of the children of God” (Rom 8:21) that comes from an empty tomb!

I look forward to celebrating the victory of the resurrection with you all this Sunday April 8th.  Remember that we meet in the morning this week on the Mt Cindre starting at 8:30am on the grounds of the ‘Communauté de l’Epiphanie’, 73 bis route du Mont Cindre 69450 SAINT CYR AU MONT D’OR.

A fellow traveler,

Mike DiGena
Pastor ICCL