Hi Friends,
I pray this Thursday finds you well and aware of and abiding in the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. Our mission as an ekklesia is to continue Jesus' revolution of love by Reaching Up, Reaching Out and Reaching In. We have a couple of unique ways over the next couple of weekends to Reach Out.
Relay for Life
This weekend (Friday 3PM to Saturday 3PM) is the Wyoming Relay for Life. The relay for life is a nation-wide event in the fight against cancer. The relay is a 24 hour walk where walkers raise support through sponsors. We are partnering with LFCS to run an area to support the walkers both the 24 hour walker and those who sign-up for an hour shift and anyone else who comes on out to the relay (believe it or not walking for 24 hours is not as easy as it sounds – I have only done it once, but was amazed at how challenging it was – Andrew J has done it more than once and can tell you some fabulous stories about his feet turning into hamburger and not being able to move)
We will have the bounce house up (weather permitting) other carnival games, on Friday evening and Saturday morning. Friday evening we will be grilling, and Saturday morning we may be making breakfast. All proceeds go to the battle against cancer. The relay is at Lamar Park. It is a great time to be out in the community. If you would like to help for a period of time please contact Mark Leyen @ leyenking@gmail.com.
This Sunday we will reach up in worship and continue our walk through the challenging and beautiful letter we call 1 John. We will be looking at 1 John 3:1-10. Again if you do not have a current plan for meeting Jesus through Bible reading I would highly encourage you to read 1 John Monday through Friday (ideally in the morning), there is a chapter for every day. Bible reading is a great way to reach up to God and a vital way we allow the Holy Spirit to reach into our soul.
Next Sunday our ekklessia will be having an out of building experience. We will meet at Southside and begin promptly at 10:45 with a couple of Songs, announcements, offering and instructions. There will be Nursery and Pre-School care available for children 0-5 years of age, and they will remain at the Vineyard for the morning.
The rest of the morning will proceed as follows:
11:00 AM Get with our Groups (If you are not yet in a Group please contact a group Leader)
Red Group Cal Buist calbuist@gmail.com & Andrew Jacoby azyloby@gmail.com
Going to help our city by beautifying our neighboring park Pinery Park, and inviting whoever we meet up for a cook-out.
Gray Group: Led by Samantha Vredeveld sam.vredeveld@gmail.com
Being good neighbors to our neighbors at Jenkins village, by beautifying the grounds and painting some doors and inviting the neighbors up for a cook-out.
Blue Group: Leaders Josh theparkster@gmail.com and Ivanna Parker ivannaparker@gmail.com
The blue group will be serving Roosevelt Park Ministries, a ministry we have often partnered with you helps the residents of the Grandville corridor with everything from free tax preparation to ESL classes to many things in between. This group will be cleaning and organizing a clothing closet and helping with a toy area. This group would love to bring good infant and toddler toys with them as a gift. Please bring your gently used toys with you this week and next.
Green Group: Leader Mary Beth Oakley marybeth804@yahoo.com
This group is going to serve our neighbors at Villa Esperanza which is a retirement community just around the block from us. The group will be beautifying the grounds and helping residents with cleaning, and inviting interested residents to our cook-out.
11:15 Arrive at worksite
1:00 Regroup at Worksite and pray blessing over our neighbors.
1:15 Be back to the Southside Building to enjoy a cook-out together
I am really looking forward to this time.
In reading and working through 1 John, I have been really struck by how much the author ties loving God to loving our neighbors. I am thankful to be a part of an ekklesia that desires to love our neighbors in our community.
Looking forward to seeing all of you and I am really glad to be on this journey with you.
