Berea Update for October 31, 2025
This weekend we “fall back” and gain an extra hour thanks to Daylight Savings Time ending. And this has got me thinking. This "extra hour" is a small reminder that time itself is a gift from God. God is outside time, yet, gives it to us as a way of keeping order, and giving us boundaries within our lives. Yet while clocks shift and seasons change, God remains unchanging and eternal. Scripture tells us that our days are numbered, our moments are in His hands, and His purposes unfold right on time. This week’s devotional below invites us to view time from God’s perspective—to trust His timing, to use our days wisely, and to live each moment with eternity in mind.
Our schedule at the church, like usual, has many things coming up. Yet, having a proper view of time reminds us that while all of these events might be planned, they only come to pass in accordance with God's will. So as you read through these upcoming events, may that too be a reminder of God's sovereignty!
Upcoming Events
1. This Sunday, Pastor Miller will be starting a new five-week series through the month of November on the topic of revival. This week's message, "Preparation for Revival" will be from Hosea 10:12. We'll also be partaking of the Lord's Supper together as a church family, so prepare your hearts now for this special time of remembrance together.
2. We will also be collecting a special offering to cover the remaining shipping costs associated with our Operation Christmas Child boxes. Please come prepared to give to this impactful ministry, as we can't wait to see how God uses our boxes to spread His Gospel message!
3. Sunday School will be returning to its normal schedule this week. Adults who are participating in the class on the Sermon on the Mount will be meeting in the Family Life Center, while adults in the course on the life of Paul will be meeting in the room on the front left of the Family Life Center stage. Youth will be meeting again in the youth room.
4. There will be a Resurrection Garden Workday tomorrow, Saturday, November 1, starting at 9:00 AM. Please come if you are able! We'll have a variety of tasks to prepare the Garden for winter. Another indoor work day will be held in November--more details to come!
5. Attention College/Young Adults! Plan to come to the Love's house (4870 Mumper Rd, Springfield) tomorrow, Saturday, November 1, beginning at 6:30 PM for an evening of fun, food, and fellowship together! There will also be a bonfire and outdoor movie, weather permitting!
6. We need your help loading vehicles and transporting boxes of OCC shoebox items to the church on Tuesday, November 4 at 6:00 PM! There are more than 70 boxes to move, which are currently stored in the Dantzer's basement. If you can help, please meet at Mike and Bonnie's house, at 4158 W. National Rd.
7. The much anticipated OCC Packing Party is right around the corner! Please plan to join us a week from tomorrow, on Saturday, November 8 beginning at 10:00 AM here at the church. We plan to pack 800 boxes! There will be a door prize drawing for up to six free tickets to the Newport Aquarium and a special treat for every child who attends!
8. We will be having a Baby Dedication Ceremony as a part of our morning worship service next Sunday, November 9. If you are interested in committing to bring your child up in the Lord, please contact one of the pastors so you can be included!
9. Wondering how you will survive the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas? Are you dreading these holidays, knowing that everything has changed and that happy memories from past years can’t be recreated?
GriefShare's "Surviving the Holidays" seminar is especially for people who are grieving a loved one’s death. You’ll learn: how to deal with emotions you'll face during the holidays, what to do about traditions and other coming changes, helpful tips for surviving social events, and how to find hope for your future.
This year's event will be held on Sunday, November 16 from 3:00-5:00 PM here at the church. To register, click here:
Surviving the Holidays Registration
10. Interested in participating in drama? Plans are underway to have both a Good Friday and Easter drama this upcoming year! If you are interested in acting, helping with set design, costumes, or in any other way, please see Phil Berrien, or sign-up at the Welcome Center this Sunday!
Ways You Can Pray This Week
1. Next Saturday, November 8, our church's leadership team (Elders and Deacons) will be meeting all day to plan for 2026 and beyond. Please be in prayer for these men as they prayerfully consider many important topics, and make recommendations for the church moving forward.
***Please know that there are many individuals who need prayer this week due to health concerns and other events going on in their lives. Out of sensitivity to each individual's situation, these requests may not appear in this weekly blog. We have a "Prayer Team" at the church who receives more detailed information, and commits to praying for individuals in our church family.
This Week's Devotions
Day 1: The Eternal God and Our Brief Days
Psalm 90:2, 12 (ESV) — “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God… So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
Time began when God spoke the world into existence—but He Himself stands outside it. Our lives are but a breath in comparison to His eternity. When we grasp that truth, we begin to use our short lives wisely, valuing what matters most to Him.
Reflection Question: How can remembering God’s eternal nature reshape the way you spend your time today?
Prayer Focus: Ask God to give you a “heart of wisdom” to see each day as a gift and use it for eternal purposes.
Day 2: God Holds Every Moment
Psalm 31:15 (ESV) — “My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!”
David found comfort not in controlling his circumstances, but in surrendering them. God’s hands hold both the calm and the chaos of our days. Nothing catches Him off guard. Whether the clock feels too slow or too fast, His timing is always right.
Reflection Question: What part of your schedule or season feels out of control? How can you release it to God’s care?
Prayer Focus: Thank God that your life is never random or wasted. Surrender every hour and every worry into His hands.
Day 3: Waiting Is Not Wasted
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) — “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles…”
We often see waiting as lost time, but God uses it to strengthen faith. Waiting trains us to depend on His timing rather than our own agenda. When we stop striving to rush the clock, we find new energy and perspective that only He can supply.
Reflection Question: Where is God asking you to wait on Him instead of forcing your own timetable?
Prayer Focus: Ask for renewed strength and patient trust while you wait for His perfect timing.
Day 4: Redeeming the Time
Ephesians 5:15–16 (ESV) — “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
Time is not just something to manage—it’s something to redeem. Every moment can be an opportunity for good or evil, wisdom or waste. The wise steward doesn’t just fill the calendar but fills it with purpose, investing time in what lasts forever.
Reflection Question: What changes could help you better “redeem the time” this week?
Prayer Focus: Pray for discernment to recognize moments that matter and courage to act on them for God’s glory.
Day 5: God’s Perfect Timing
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV) — “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
God is never early and never late. His seasons unfold exactly as He intends. While we see only snapshots, He sees the whole timeline. Even delays and detours are part of His design, moving us toward His purposes.
Reflection Question: In what area of life do you struggle to trust God’s timing?
Prayer Focus: Thank God that His plans are perfect, even when you don’t understand the schedule. Ask for peace to rest in His timing.
Day 6: Living with an Eternal Perspective
2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV) — “As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Time teaches us perspective. Everything visible has an expiration date—but the unseen realities of faith endure forever. When eternity is in view, we stop clinging to the temporary and start investing in what will last.
Reflection Question: What “unseen” priorities could you focus on more intentionally this week?
Prayer Focus: Ask God to lift your eyes from the temporary to the eternal and to shape your schedule around His kingdom values.
Day 7: The Day Is Coming
Romans 13:11–12 (ESV) — “For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand.”
Every tick of the clock moves us closer to Christ’s return. For believers, time is not running out—it’s running toward glory. The coming “day” gives urgency to our work and hope to our waiting. We live watchfully, knowing each moment counts for eternity.
Reflection Question: How does knowing “the day is at hand” change your priorities and pace of life?
Prayer Focus: Thank God that time itself is marching toward redemption. Pray for readiness to meet Christ with joy and faithfulness.
Kids (and Kids at Heart) Korner
As we are now entering November, it's a great month to focus on the idea of thankfulness. Here are two "Thanksgiving" coloring pages:
Thanksgiving Coloring Pages
Hope to see you all on Sunday!
Keep Pressing On!
Mark