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Kids Happenings September 2017

Hello church family,

I am overly excited to share with you about all the new and exciting things that have been happening within our  children’s ministry!

At the end of July I, along with four other brave adults, went to kids camp with twenty-eight 3rd-6th grade children.  We had an amazing time! We had 2 children pray to receive Christ and several children express wanting to live a life that aligns with what Christ wants for them.  We had many deep discussions and children came away from camp with stronger friendships and an urge to have a stronger relationship with Christ. Praise the Lord!

Our new Kids Worship Experience format started on August 13th and was a success!  Children were welcomed into a different environment and structure of worship and enjoyed every bit of it.  We also have devoted weekly teachers for all age groups during 2nd and 3rd service.  This is a huge blessing to have consistent leaders pouring into and influencing our children’s Christian walk.  I am excited to see what God has in-store for our children through this new concept. Feel free to join in on this time during 9:30 or 11am service. We would love to have you!

The new Check-in and attendance tracker was implemented at the end of July.  Thank you Pastor Bryan Gotcher for all the hours and stress of getting it properly set up.  With this new check-in system we are able to track attendance more accurately and have a better security system in place to protect the children.  We will have two more check-in  stations strategically placed in the upper level of the church members and guest can check-in more conveniently on Sunday morning.

Happenings for the month of September…  AWANA registration has taken place and we will kick-off our Wednesday evening schedule starting September 6th from 6-7:30.  We will have a parent night on September 13th. This will be a time for parents to join me in the fellowship hall to discuss how you as a parent can help your child have the full AWANA experience and grow closer to God and learn His word.

Thank you for allowing me to love on your kiddos.

God Bless,

Spiritual Development August 2017

Recognize the Spirituality of Work

by Donald Whitney

         Bill often wonders whether he is a second-class Christian because of the less-than-Christian atmosphere where he works. His occupation is good and necessary for society, but it’s also one in which liars, cheats, and thieves seem to flourish. Vulgar and          blasphemous language typically fills the air of Bill’s workplace.

For other believers, the problem at work is not a godless environment; it’s the    gnawing lack of meaning to their labor. They trudge through tedious days on a job that often feels intolerably unimportant.

Can followers of Jesus work in these conditions and still maintain a close relationship with Him? Or is the Lord somewhat disappointed in them because of where they work or what they do?

God ordained work. Before sin entered the world, “the Lord God took the man [Adam] and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). All kinds of work—paid and unpaid—are necessary in the world for us “to subdue it”   according to God’s will (Genesis 1:28). People must grow food, care for children, make clothes, tend the sick, construct buildings and roads, transport goods, govern the cities, and so forth. Obviously, therefore, God intends for most people to devote themselves to what’s often called “secular” employment. Only a small percentage should be vocational pastors, church-planting missionaries, and the like (even though more are needed). Otherwise, who’d work the fields, deliver the mail, build ships and cars, develop water systems, and make medicines?

Because God has ordained it, all work has a spiritual dimension. The Bible repeatedly commends useful, honest labor (see Ephesians 4:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10), which shows God’s intense      interest in it. When we actively recognize His presence in our workplace, we acknowledge His sovereignty over all of life. And that’s basic to true spirituality.

Even if your daily responsibilities may seem dull and unimportant, or cause you to associate with and  support worldly, God-hating people, remember that “the Lord takes pleasure in His people” (Psalm 149:4). And He takes pleasure in us not just at church, but at work, too. He’s as attentive to us in our work routines as He was to Joseph in his service as Potiphar’s slave, to Jesus in the carpentry shop, and to the apostle Paul when he was making tents.

Work is not a hindrance to spirituality; it is a part of it. Even slaves were instructed by Paul not to fear that their awful condition in any way diminished their spiritual standing with God (see 1 Corinthians 7:22). Our     spirituality depends upon who we are in Christ, not the circumstances of our workplace. God’s presence and   favor are not limited by coworkers or job descriptions.

Enlarge your vision of your spiritual life to include your daily work. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24). Present your work to God. You are working for Him.

(Excerpted from Simplify Your Spiritual Life by Donald Whitney)