Thursday, May 31, 2012

5/31 E-News


Announcements

Pancake Breakfast!The men of the church are going to be cooking a pancake breakfast on Sunday, June 10 as a fundraiser for Living Waters for the World. Come between 9:15-10:30 to enjoy fresh pancakes. Suggested donation is $5/person.

Food Collection—Thank you for your generosity! We will continue to collect food for East Brainerd Elementary over the summer. Please remember to bring in individual size fruit cups & macaroni/chili individual size servings.


New Hope News

Sermon SeriesThis Sunday we'll begin a two month sermon series on what the New Testament has to say regarding different topics. This week we'll tackle parenting, and we'll move on to money, work, service, outsiders, salvation & being a good spouse. If there is a topic you'd like for a sermon to explore, let me know!

Sunday School—We'll explore Ezra this Sunday @ 9:45.

Sunday Evening Prayer ServiceCome check out a prayer service this Sundy evening @ 6:00 in the McMillan Building.

Pray for:

David Smith

Mandy Matthews

Links





Book Recommendation

I know I've heard from several people that Billy Graham's Nearing Home is a great read. If you're looking for a great biography of him, Marshall Frady wrote one that is pretty balanced and a great look into the man's life. It's simply titled Billy Graham.

Random Thoughts

Like a man with a new fisihing rod who looks for any excuse to hit the lake, Caleb is rolling over with reckless abandon. We have to keep a closer watch on him now (no more leaving him in the house by himself while Rachel and I go out to dinner), because he doesn't always stay where we set him down. Baby gates and further-terrified-cats are in our near future.

The church is somewhat like this—just when we think we understand it and are in control, things change. The world changes. Our understanding of what it means to be faithful is challenged in some new way, and we have to wrestle with what it means to be a faithful community. Sometimes we have to set new limits and boundaries, understanding that a new danger lurks just beyond. Often we have to dwell uncomfortably with a new thing, trying to figure out how to be church when our vision has changed.

In all of this, Jesus Christ is Lord. We are still called to give our hearts and minds and strength to him. We are still pushed beyond what we are willing to give, challenged to see the world through his eyes, called to love a world that may seem so foreign to us at times. Being a disciple is never easy, but Christ promises us that abundant life is possible only through him, despite what the advertising on television may say, despite the exotic lifestyles that are portrayed as the answer to our problems. Only Christ fills the void within us that sin creates.

So the world, our lives, may not always make total sense. We aren't in charge. Our job is to follow Christ, to love each individual made in the image of God, and to grow as disciples, loving God each and every day. May we see change as resting within the palm of God's sustaining hand, and let us be comforted that God is Alpha & Omega, beginning and end.


Text for Sunday, June 3

Luke 11:9-13

 ‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’




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