Holy Week 😷

Welcome to Holy Week.

And what a week! With this week predicted to be the apex of the Corona virus in the United States, it almost seems poetic that as Christians, this is the week we focus our attention on death's defeat and the triumph of good in the world. As strange as it seems, I honestly think Easter has arrived at the perfect time. 

So yes, let us be vigilant in praying for the sick, for first responders, hospital staff, essential workers and the hundreds of thousands of unemployed. Let us wash our hands well, quarantine and social distance. Let's flatten that curve. Let's remember to (safely) check in on our neighbors. All of them. Most importantly, let us strive to be a beckon of light and hope to those around us. It's Friday. But Sunday's coming!

Photo by Dhaya Eddine Bentaleb on Unsplash

Inspired by Jawad 🙌

If ever you need a reality check, spend about an hour with someone who’s a refugee or immigrant to our country. It really hits home how much we have and how so many of our fellow citizens of this here planet struggle to live on so much less. Last Sunday, listening to our guest speaker Jawad’s personal story and passion for raising and sending support to the widows and orphans of his home country of Afghanistan was inspiring. To hear how Muslims and Christians are working together through organizations like World Relief to meet basic human need and show humanity, kindness and compassion through selfless giving was a beautiful picture what heaven will be. All God’s children coming together as one. A perfect example of how this unity can change lives occurs at the 16 minute 45 second mark in the recording for Sunday February 16th, 2020. In just a few minutes, Jawad shared how a family was able to buy their youngest of five children back after having sold the child to another family for $500 in order to survive. A child restored to its family. A mother’s broken heart healed. All through generous giving of those who saw a need to help their fellow humans in need. Wow!

Not only does Jawad lead out of hard work and selflessness for his home country, he’s just as selfless and hard working for his own family. Between balancing a full time job, going to school full time and as a husband and father to young twins, Jawad’s determination to work hard to provide a better life for himself, his family and countless others half a world away is worthy of a standing ovation and so much more. As he so beautifully stated in his talk on Sunday, money does not make a person rich. Showing humanity to those in need, having good friends and family whom you love and can depend on and in turn can depend on you, that’s what makes a person rich. Jawad we are rich because we know you. Thank you for sharing your wealth of kindness and friendship with us! 

Click Here and scroll down to Sunday 2-16-20 to listen to Jawad’s full story. 

👋 Welcome Back!

It’s official. Jack, Nicole, Jackson and Elliott are back! 🎉

Jack and Nicole have agreed to step in as the leaders of our kids ministry beginning this month as Elizabeth moves to focus more of her time in pursuit of a full time teaching career. Thanks Elizabeth for all you’ve done for our church family and Jack and Nicole we’re so excited y’all are back! 

❤️ Why I Love Our Church ❤️

For those who missed this last Sunday, things didn’t exactly go to plan. Or did they?  🤔

Some bodies needed extra rest, while others needed to recover from sickness. As a result our attendance, shall we say, was a bit sparse. And that’s saying something given our little group to begin with lol! 

When our designated leader for the day didn’t show up by 10am - our usual start time - I was concerned to say the least and figured a phone call was better than a text. Turns out she overslept. While talking through (and chuckling to ourselves) about the situation and what to do next, I told her it seems like her body was telling her she needed some rest so - here’s a novel concept - she should use this day of rest to, I don’t know, rest. 

By then, just a small handful showed anyway. We circled up the chairs and asked, “So, what should we do now?” That’s when something awesome started to happen.

While one among us shared a passage out of Psalm she’d been pondering during the week, another dropped subtle nuggets of wisdom through the ramblings of conversation.

Everyone in their own way shared a little something and after what seemed like only a moment, we wrapped up with a beautiful/inspired summary from another among us who captured perfectly what each person brought to the table that day.

Requests for prayer and dividing those requests among we few closed out our time together.

Best “church” service I’ve been to in a long time. 

-Chris