Good Friday morning everyone!
I don't know about you, but I'm still riding high from the events earlier this week. Yay Cavs! The 52-year championship curse is over! As exciting as that was, I am even more excited about the Community Worship event this past Tuesday evening when 10 churches packed the house at Crossroads to praise our Lord Jesus.
We are so thankful to our own worship leader, Brandi Walker, and all the other worship leaders from all the churches. They each gave up their time and talents to bring us together to worship as a community of churches. Well done!
I also was completely surprised Tuesday night, when all the pastors were invited to lock arms in solidarity and unity. This is the way it should be - united as a community of churches. We are not in competition with one another.
Light Our City! Our community worship event also kicked off the Light Our City summer events. These same churches will participate together in service projects for our community to show the love of Jesus in practical ways. Right now there are plans for restoration and repair of Prospect Elementary School, a neighborhood grocery giveaway, and a student book bag project. Check out more information at the LightOurCity.com website.
Anna Baptized Sunday! The excitement continues for all of us this Sunday morning, when Anna Scott will be baptized. I had the privilege of meeting with Anna this past Wednesday night to talk to her about her decision to be Christ-follower and to be baptized. She left no doubt at all that this was her decision alone. She knows exactly what she is doing and why she is doing it!
We captured some of her discussion on video and will be sharing that with you before her actual baptism. Anna has also invited several of her friends to come and witness her baptism, so I hope you all will come and celebrate with Anna too.
I was especially thrilled to hear Anna tell me how important the Junior High ministry and her teacher, Cindy Thoman, have been to her commitment. She told us that she was definitely ready to go deeper in understanding the Bible and really appreciates Cindy's weekly lessons. Anna is also very excited to now own her own Bible, thanks to the generosity of folks at Church Requel. As Anna told me Wednesday, she loves being a part of our small church and the opportunities she has enjoyed "to sing and dance to praise Jesus" and to "just love everyone!"
Sunday morning will be a great experience for other reasons too, beyond Anna's baptism. Bessica and Stephanie will join Brandi in leading our worship music. Nancy will return to catch us up on what's happening this summer at Church Requel. Jeff will lead our prayer time. And I'm looking forward to our sermon Sunday morning from Luke 9:10-17, "Master Over Hunger." If you'd like a head start, check on the online sermon notes.
Kids' Travel Guide To The 10 Commandments. We are also thrilled for our KidsMin group as they begin a new series of lessons designed to get the 10 commandments into their hearts. We plan for them to take exciting journeys filled with stories, fun, prayer, and adventure. Along the way, they'll learn that God gives us laws because he loves us.
I love Tamira's creativity. Have you ever considered the 10 commandments to be like a TripTik through the journey of life? (Now that I re-read that sentence I realize that some of our younger folks may wonder what a TripTik is. Google it!)
Community Meal - Saturday July 9th. Our next opportunity to feed the hungry in our own neighborhood is right around the corner. Plan on showing up Saturday night, July 9th, at 4pm. We begin feeding folks at 5pm. We are usually walking out the door by 6:30pm. Thanks Jack and Sheri for leading us!
Church Picnic Sunday July 17th. Our next summer fellowship will be our picnic at North Lake Park after church on Sunday, July 17th. We will all head to the air-conditioned pavilion right next to the northern end of the B&O Bike Trail. Bring food to share with everyone. Church Requel will provide hot dogs & hamburgers, buns, condiments, drinks, plates, cups, napkins and silverware. Come expecting fun and games! And come to be included in our annual church photo! Should be a great day!
I surely am enjoying these summer days and I look forward to spending some of them with you! I hope to see each of you Sunday morning at 11am. Have a GREAT weekend! Love, Pastor Mark
