Bear Creek Friends Church

05/31/2026

The message this morning came from Paul and Silas's singing praise at the midnight hour in Acts 16:25-40. In the darkness of that jail cell and the pain of having been beaten with rods, it is hard to image praise in such a place, and yet Paul and Silas sang anyway. We looked at three reasons for their praise in this midnight hour (taken from other Scriptures) and four outcomes of their praise (as seen in vv25-40). No matter what your are facing today, I pray that you still have reasons to sing God's praise, and that your praise transforms not only your own heart and life, but those around you as well!

Acts 16:25-40

05/28/2026

Dorian Weesner brought the message last Sunday from Isaiah 6:1-8 on being transformed by God's holiness. He noted how Isaiah was confronted by God's holiness, convicted of his sin, and commissioned by grace, and we are still called to do the same today. He closed the message with three questions for us to spend time reflecting on: 1) Are we in awe of God's holiness? 2) Are you holy before God? 3) Are we responding to God's leading and call to obedience?

I pray this message continues to speak to your heart throughout the week, and that you'll take the opportunity to draw nearer to our holy and awesome God!

Isaiah 6:1-8 - Dorian Weesner

05/10/2026

The message this morning was condensed a little due to our time of sharing about the role of mothers in our lives and the tender love of God we can see in them. We did get a chance to look at a couple mothers of the New Testament though. Lois and Eunice were identified as the faithful grandmother and mother of Timothy who discipled him from a young age in the Scriptures. Their example points to the highest calling of every mother; the calling to leave a legacy of faith, built on the word of God for your children. From that foundation, we considered Simeon's words to Mary, the mother of Jesus. He told her in Luke 2:35, "a sword will pierce even your own soul." This warning, highlights the fact that mothers are not only called to leave a legacy of faith, but every mother is called to slowly surrender their children to the will of God for their lives. Mary is an extreme example, as she had to surrender her Son to the cross. But every mother ultimately has to surrender her children into God's hands and trust Him to lead them as a loving and faithful heavenly Father.

In these extraordinary responsibilities of motherhood though, it is important to remember that God, Himself, is pursuing and caring for each and every mother, as they care for their children.

I pray each of you have a blessed Mother's Day!

2 Timothy 1:3-7; 3:14-15; Luke 2:25-35

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day! Here are some photos from our recent dart duel and noodle tag youth events.

Our evening youth group is done for the semester, but thanks to everyone who shared their youth with us this year as we learned about Psalm 8:3-4 and being Awestruck with the wonder of God’s creation, majesty and love.

The HS group (8th-12th) may get together for an outing TBD and we look to get at least one summer outing going so watch the feed and look for group texts on that. Thanks again for a great year!

05/06/2026

We celebrated our May birthdays and anniversaries this Sunday! As always, we are thankful for each life and marriage in our church family. We are thankful for the light and example they are to us, and we take seriously the calling to walk alongside each of them in their pursuit of Jesus! May each of them grow closer to Him throughout this next year.

05/03/2026

The message this morning continued our walk with Paul on his second missionary journey. This Sunday, we looked at their time and ministry in Philippi, where the first church in modern-day Europe was founded! In this prominent city, there was only a small group of praying women, and yet, God heard their prayers and answered their request by sending Paul and Silas to bring the good news of Jesus Christ! Among these women was a successful business woman named Lydia who believed with her whole household and invited Paul and Silas to stay with in her home, which became the first gathering place for the church in Europe!

Their story reminds us that little is much when God is in it! I pray each of us knows that today and continues to abide in the Lord and His faithfulness no matter the challenges that may come.

Ministry in Philippi (Second Missionary Journey Cont.)

04/26/2026

In the message this morning, we looked at the beginning of Paul's second missionary journey in Acts 15:36--16:12. In this section, there are many principles that relate to our own walk with the Lord and His commission to "make disciples of all nations." Paul's disagreement with Barnabas reminds us that God used imperfect people to advance His gospel in the first century, and He still does today (that includes you and me!)! Secondly, Paul's introduction to Timothy in Lystra reminds us that we are called to sow gospel seeds even in hostile mission fields (like Lystra) because we don't know how the Lord will use them and who the Lord will reach. We're also reminded, to look for opportunities to disciple the next generation (like Timothy) and challenge them to prioritize the gospel of Jesus Christ above all things. Finally, Paul and Silas's obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit reminds us that God can use all kinds of circumstances of life to re-direct our steps (finances, illnesses, relationships, etc.). The challenge to us is whether or not we will keep looking to Him and seeking to obey His will wherever the Spirit would have us to go!

As we leave church this week and enter the mission field (our homes, workplaces, schools, etc.), I pray each of us would remember the call upon us to make disciples wherever we go (Matthew 28:19-20), no matter the imperfections, challenges, new people, or unexpected road blocks along the way!

Paul's Second Missionary Journey - Part 1

04/23/2026

And here is our big Easter song: Ain't That Good News!

04/23/2026

Here is our Good Friday choir song: Lest I Forget Your Love!

04/23/2026

Finally posting Evelyn and Caroline's song from Easter! Better late than never. They did a great job!