Bakerville Church

06/05/2026

Dear Friends,
Do you remember rugby shirts, striped and colorful? There was a time when those shirts were highly prized by teenagers and young adults. Wearing the right shirt made you feel like you belonged, “fit in,” or perhaps were one of the popular kids! As far back as when Adam ate the apple because Eve did, there has been pressure to get along in the world and conform to what others are doing. This becomes tricky when the world’s practices conflict with what God has commanded. According to the Scriptures, living in times like these requires “wisdom” and “patient endurance” on the part of God’s people.

We will gather at 9:30 am this Sunday at Bakerville Church to joyfully worship God, “who made the heavens, the earth, and the sea.” I hope you will join us this week and prayerfully consider inviting a friend to join you. As always, the service is available to view online.

In service to our soon returning King,
Pastor John Marshall

P.S.- There will be an after-church Bible study this Sunday. We will have the opportunity to discuss this fascinating, thought-provoking book of Revelation. I hope you can be there. We always end by noon.

06/05/2026

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As we prepare to gather next week in Williamsport, PA, Conference S...

05/31/2026

It's salad Sunday at church! Bring a salad to share (and the recipe, if you want!) and join for the fun and fellowship after worship! Any kinds of salad will do... think tuna, pasta, veggie, egg, quinoa, fruit, jello, broccoli! (just not all together in one, probably!) What is your favorite kind of salad?

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

Dear Friends,

Summer came for a visit this week. For a few days, it almost felt like a heat wave! Most of us start to feel thirsty when the weather turns hot. When I was younger, my favorite drink in hot weather was lemonade. You may remember the kind that came as a frozen concentrate in eight- or twelve-ounce cans. You only needed to add 3-4 cans of water and a few ice cubes to make a thirst-quenching drink!

This Sunday at 9:30 am at Bakerville Church, we’re going to reflect on Jesus’ invitation to spiritually and emotionally thirsty people to come to him and drink. Our Lord offers an internal spring of water in the person of the Holy Spirit, which quenches our thirst better than any beverage.

It’s Pentecost Sunday, the 50th day after Easter, when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Christian church. To celebrate, you can wear something red to worship. If you worship online, you can still wear red!

In service to Christ, relying on the presence and power of the Holy Spirit,
Pastor John Marshall

P.S.- As it is also Memorial Day weekend, there will not be an after-church Bible study this Sunday.

05/17/2026

Dear Friends,
I have always enjoyed stories of heroes and villains (as long as the hero wins!). When I was a kid, “Batman” was a live-action TV series starring Adam West in the title role. Batman and Robin faced a host of villains, including the Joker, the Penguin, Catwoman, and King Tut. The show predictably left Batman and Robin in peril at the hands of their foes, then abruptly ended with the admonition to tune in the following week at the “Same bat-time, same bat-channel.” By doing so, viewers saw the dynamic duo defeat their foes! The Bible speaks of a real villain that every Christian faces, “the ancient serpent, called the devil or Satan.” The good news is that Christ, through his death and resurrection, has defeated the evil one. As we gather this Sunday at Bakerville Church at 9:30 am, we will worship God, who is in us and greater than the “one who is in the world.” It promises to be an encouraging day. I hope you can join me, in person or online.

In service to our risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ,
Pastor John Marshall

P.S.- There will be an after-church Bible study this Sunday centering on passages from the book of Revelation. This is an opportunity to discuss this powerful book of the Bible. We plan to be done by 12:00 pm.

05/08/2026

Dear Friends,
I will never forget the day, so many decades ago. My mother took some leftover yarn and crocheted a pattern of her own design with the simple message, “Jesus is Lord.” She took it to a friend’s art store to be framed. Mom then hung it on the wall of our home to remind herself, her family, and all who entered that Jesus Christ reigns in our lives. I am thankful for the day set aside and celebrated at Bakerville Church, when we honor and remember our mothers, physical, emotional, and spiritual, who have led us in faith. As we gather for worship this Sunday, we will also worship our Lord, who will reign forever. In a world that often seems chaotic and out of control, it’s helpful to remember that the Lord is King! I hope to see you in church this Sunday or to join us online.

Expectantly in Christ,
Pastor John Marshall

P.S. Since this week is Mother’s Day, there will not be an after-church Bible study. Lord willing, we plan to be back next week!

05/01/2026

Dear Friends,
When I was a young man, college age or so, I began to really like cola drinks: Pepsi, RC (Does anyone remember that?), or Coke. Coke became my favorite. At some point, someone told me that these drinks were bad for my teeth because of their high sugar content, so I changed and switched to Diet. (Full disclosure: Diet Coke!) In recent years, due to the need to stay properly hydrated, I have had to change again, so now I drink Diet Soda for taste and water for thirst. Change is hard for all of us, even when our habits or behaviors hurt others or ourselves. God longs for us to change, to repent, and to turn to him in faith and trust. At Bakerville Church this week, we are going to worship God, who loves people, all people, so much that he didn’t leave us to die in our sins but sent Jesus to rescue us. I’m hoping you will prayerfully consider coming to church this Sunday and bringing a relative or friend with you. Of course, our services are always available for you to watch anytime online.

In service to our risen Lord,
Pastor John Marshall

P.S. There will be an after-church Bible study this Sunday, ending at noon. We will explore passages from the book of Revelation. I hope our time together will take some of the mystery out of reading this important book of the Bible.

04/25/2026

Dear Friends,
I am “on the road” writing this email to you this week. Terry and I are staying overnight at a campground in the Poconos. We have been on the road since leaving Florida on Wednesday morning, heading north for our return. Since leaving New Hartford, we have traveled well over 2,000 miles through 10 different states. Spending days driving a truck on various highways, towing a travel trailer, is a microcosm of life itself. Crowded and congested, everyone seems in a hurry, often impatient with fellow travelers rushing to get somewhere. Most people travel various distances, believing another location offers something we don’t have where we are: family, work, medical appointments, school, and often shopping! Life in Jesus Christ is meant to help us realize what we have IN HIM right where we are. At Bakerville Church this Sunday, we will focus on the life we have through believing in Jesus Christ right where we are, in this state and time of life, in this location, with the people God has surrounded us with. Lord willing, I will see you this Sunday, in person or online. I will likely share a story or two about life "on the road" over the past 12 days!
In service to our risen Lord,
Pastor John Marshall
PS- There will be a BAKERVILLE BRUNCH this Sunday. It is a wonderful time for all of us at Bakerville Church to join those from the Bread of Life Ministry for a light meal and fellowship. Visit with new friends and invite folks too! Please join me in praying for and participating in this vital outreach.