107 Coldren Street, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15904, United States
August / September Steeple
Pastors Letter
Psalm 118: 19- Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will go in to them, and I will praise the Lord.
To Our Dear Church Family,
For the last couple of years Sherri and I have tried to go to Benezette to see the elk, relax, and just be in awe of this amazing world God has created. We hook up our camper, head north to River View Campground. The campground sits on the banks of a branch of the Sinnemahoning River. For me this is a taste of heaven. It’s September and there is a sense of change in the air. The elk are bugling. Smallmouth bass in the river just yards from our camper, and there’s always a good meal waiting at the Benezette hotel. I realize that’s not for everyone, but for us it is truly a taste of heaven.
The Psalmist writes “ Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will go in to them, and I will praise the Lord. It’s impossible for me to be in places like this and not be in awe of God. The author of that Psalm, 3,000 years ago, in a far different world in which we live, must have had a place that opened the gates of righteousness and gave a taste of heaven. Like myself, he must have felt compelled to go into that place and praise the Lord. The Words of the Bible are alive if you will listen with your heart.
There are gates of righteousness everywhere if you just allow the Holy Spirit to open them up to you. If you go into them and praise the Lord who gave them to you, your soul will find peace. You can have that taste of heaven that Jesus promises us in John 14. Jesus promises us that the Father’s house is far greater than anything we could ever imagine. Because of Jesus, and only because of Him, we can enter the gate of heaven. That gate only opens when you ask Jesus into the gate of your heart.
So Glad We Opened That Gate,
Pastor Tom and Sherri
August - Bible Reading Plan:
Thru the Bible in a Year:
- Isaiah 61-63 17. Jeremiah 45-48
- Isaiah 64-66 18. Jeremiah 49-50
- Jeremiah 1-3 19. Jeremiah 51-52
- Jeremiah 4-6 20. Lamentations 1-2
- Jeremiah 7-9 21. Lamentations 3-5
- Jeremiah 10-12 22. Ezekiel 1-4
- Jeremiah 13-15 23. Ezekiel 5-8
- Jeremiah 16-19 24. Ezekiel 9-12
- Jeremiah 20-22 25. Ezekiel 13-15
- Jeremiah 23-25 26. Ezekiel 16-17
- Jeremiah 26-29 27. Ezekiel 18-20
- Jeremiah 30-31 28. Ezekiel 21-23
- Jeremiah 32-34 29. Ezekiel 24-26
- Jeremiah 35-37 30. Ezekiel 27-29
- Jeremiah 38-40 31.Ezekiel 30-31
- Jeremiah 41-44
A Prayer of Praise
Creator of the heavens, the sun, the moon and the stars, Who have determined the mind-boggling number of the stars and given names to every single one of them, We can't begin to fathom why you would bother yourself with mere human beings and care for mere mortals.
Yet you stoop to lift up the downtrodden,
heal the brokenhearted, and bind up their wounds! We call on sun, moon and shining stars to praise you! By Jesus, our Morningstar, lead us out of darkness into the light of your truth and grace, and fill our mouths with praise to you!
Make us wise, O God, so that we may shine like the bright stars in the sky, leading many out of darkness to see your righteousness. By the transformative power of your Spirit, we pray. Amen.
—from The Wired Word
Tips for Gardners
“Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer’s year,”said evangelist Billy Graham. “It brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul.” Without summer, our gardens would disappoint, and without love, our hearts wouldn’t bloom.
The warmth of summer and love aren’t the only ingredients required for abundant physical and spiritual crops, however. Discernment and persistence ensure fruitful yields in both areas. “Unless we know the difference between flowers and weeds, we are not fit to take care of a garden,” advised Clyde Francis Lytle. “It is not enough to have truth planted in our minds. We must learn and labor to keep the ground clear of thorns and briars, follies and perversities, which have a wicked propensity to choke the word of life.”
Complete Joy
Because Jesus came to do such serious work, we often imagine him straight-faced. Yet Jesus also enjoyed fun times, such as the wedding celebration at Cana. When the wine ran out, Jesus miraculously produced more.
Jesus also warmly welcomed children. Picture him lifting an infant into the air or tickling a giggling youngster while another child, grinning, climbs on his back.
Summer usually allows more time for fun and play. So use these months to teach the kids in your life — and to remind yourself — that Jesus came so our “joy may be complete” (John 15:11). Laughing, playing, having fun, relaxing and enjoying life are part of living and loving as faithful disciples.
October Steeple
Don't forget the "Steeple" is your newsletter. Anytime you have something you would like to share with your church family, please call the church office and let us know. We would love to include it in the next newsletter. The deadline for October Steeple will be Monday September 15, 2025. You can also email the church secretary at belmontccj@breezeline.net or drop it off to the church office.
Volunteer with Belmont Community Church of Johnstown
Join our team of volunteers and make a difference in your community. Whether you can give a few hours a week or a few hours a month, your time and skills are appreciated.
Spread the Word
Help us raise awareness of our mission and programs by sharing our website, social media pages, and events with your friends, family, and colleagues.
Television Ministry
Channel 9, Breezeline
Wednesday at 9:00 pm & Sunday at 2:00 pm
Also, we are live on Facebook and YouTube.