Reformation Day greetings to you all
So many amazing trends and discoveries that we now take for granted arose from the 31st of October in the year 1517 A.D. The day that had traditionally been called “All Saints Day” gradually became symbolic of a heart awakened to the gift of salvation through “faith alone” in Jesus Christ.
An anguished soul, awakened by the majestic power of a simple phrase in Scripture, was the lamp-lighter for the Reformation. His name? Martin Luther. His burden? Finding real and lasting forgiveness: His discovery? “The just shall live by faith.”
It sounds so basic to us now. But the life-giving truth of Romans 1:17 had not been clear to Martin Luther before. Once he saw it, Martin turned in child-like faith to the Lord.
Suddenly a fresh dawning grace came upon his wearied soul: Being made right with God is the gift of Jesus Christ for all who believe. (Romans 3:24 and 6:23)
Luther was wowed in a way that truly shaped a new era in history. Now, Martin knew for sure what he had only faintly guessed previously: the Bible should truly be in the hands of every person, no matter their rank or status or place of origin.
Luther was a passionate learner whose soul had been set free by the truth of Romans 1:17. “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘the just shall live by faith.'”
Reformation Day is still a reminder that these gifts of forgiveness and liberty of conscience are priceless, far more powerful than we often realize. It makes October 31st “shouting ground” for hearts set free from guilt by the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ.
A line from the classic hymn “Rock of Ages” captures it so well : “Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to the cross I cling.”
“The just shall live by faith” is still awesome news today!
Sunday, November 2nd ~ Honor and Prayer for the Persecuted ~ 10:15 AM in Worship
[November 2nd is one of our monthly ‘name-tag Sundays’ ~ please pick up your tag in the lobby/Cafe Liberty space and make a 1st name tag (markers and write-on tags provided) for any guests you bring]
Thursday, November 6th ~ Faith Quest Evening/Packing Party for Operation Christmas Child – a combined Kids and Adults mission evening, to share in packing OCC shoeboxes together. Starting at 6:30 and wrapping up at 8:00 PM. Sign-up on Connections Table to give coordinators a count for volunteers. [More details below] *
Friday, November 14th ~ Liberty Church’s Gratitude Dinner! 6:00 PM in the fellowship hall Sign-up sheet on Connections Table
Saturday, November 15th at 8:30 AM ~ Security/safety training event and Q&A with special guest Bobby Bollinger. Anyone interested in learning more about concealed carry safety, legal requirements and resources would benefit from this session. Please RSVP to Brian Mobley
Sunday, November 16th ~ Communion-in-worship during our 10:15 AM service
*Faith Quest on November 6th: Mission-sharing for
Operation Christmas Child
First, we invite you to fill your own shoeboxes for kids with the easy-to-follow steps at this link: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box/
Secondly, Join in with Faith Quest for on Thursday, November 6th to help pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child
Here’s a note from the Faith Quest Leaders:
We will be packing shoeboxes to share God’s love and the good news of Jesus Christ with children across the world.
How can you get involved?
1. Purchase shoebox items and leave them in our donation bin at the back of the church.
2. Donate money for us to do your shopping for you. Label the check with OCC in the memo line before dropping it in the offering box.
3. Attend the packing night to help us pack and pray over the boxes. Sign up for the night on the Connections table, so we know you are coming.
We look forward to partnering with you. Please let Laken or Hannah know if you have any questions.
Third, to help receiving shoeboxes here at church use Sign-up Genius (below) or the sign-up sheet on the Connections Table.
Joan Spangler’s team needs volunteers here at church at various times from Monday, November 17th-24th. The time-slots listed in the link below are either 3.5 or 4.5 hours (depending on the day). Multiple helpers are needed each day.
Feel free to share this opportunity with friends, neighbors or co-workers. Volunteers from several area churches will also join us here to support this exciting mission week.
Here is the link to the online sign-up option for the service times here at Liberty Church:
Congregational Condolences:
Donna Marie (Redwine) Guillen
1/12/1964 ~ 10/2/2025
We give thanks for Donna’s life and send our condolences to her husband Gilbert, daughter Erica and sons Aaron, Adam and Ryan and granddaughters Haley and Raven. We pray for the consoling grace and peace of the Holy Spirit for each of them in this time of loss. The Gilbert family were Liberty members twice: first joining us in 2002, while living in New Windsor before moving back home to California and then returning to worship with us again while living in Hanover PA.
Donna was a devoted mother who raised her four children and later helped raise her two granddaughters. Donna centered her life around faith and family. Her passing after a lengthy battle with cancer leaves the family with sorrow for her absence but many cherished memories of her adventurous spirit and deep kindness for others. Remembrances are welcome at this link via the website of Desert View Funeral Home in Victorville CA https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/victorville-ca/donna-guillen-12544006/add-memory
Find us online!
Welcome to all those who join us via livestream or watch and share Liberty Church videos via YouTube or Facebook.
Your prayers and participation, whatever the location where you watch is deeply appreciated.
Here again are the links to be with us on Sundays @ 10:15 AM Eastern Time or at a time that works well for you to watch. We love to hear your thoughts and lift your prayer requests. Comment in the Facebook Live feed, text the church @ 410.857.4313 or reply to this email anytime. It’s a joy to hear from you at pastoralcare@libertychurchlive.com
- Live-stream via our Live page
- Live-stream via our Facebook Live page
- Past services on our YouTube channel
- Audio podcasts
Tithes and Offerings ~ Your support is deeply appreciated!
Contributions are received each Sunday via the Offering Box on the Connections Table. Although we don’t typically “pass the plate” during our service, the care and generous support of members and friends is vital to all aspects of Liberty’s vision to be an oasis of worship, equipping and encouraging followers of Jesus to live freely, faithfully and “fully alive!” for God’s glory.
Liberty Church also offers two options for online giving: The Vanco giving portal and PayPal.
Both Vanco and PayPal are user-friendly, encrypted and secure ways to process online contributions.
Here’s the link for online giving to Liberty Church
“The righteous cry out and the LORD hears them;
He delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close
to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
(Psalm 34:17-18 NIV)
In His love,
Pastor Joe
Liberty Church
P.O. Box 295
Westminster MD 21158
Office: 410.857.4313
Pastor’s cell: 410.596.4096