Well, we are approaching the 12 week point of having 2 worship services. During that time, our Sunday School and worship attendance have been significantly higher than the same months last year. We've seen many new faces.
During the 3 week period that begins on December 17, when the choir will lead us in worship, we will have only an 11:00 AM service. Then also, on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, we will have only an 11:00 AM morning services.
Then we plan to return to our 2 morning service format on January 7. But I want your evaluation and input-- how has having 2 Sunday morning worship services been to you? Has it enabled or hindered your attendance in any way? Has it enabled or hindered the attendance of anyone you know?
Below, click on the "Comments" link, and express yourself. It will help us better our ministry.
Let us know what you think. Thanks for your participation, love, and faithfulness.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Friday, November 17, 2006
Feedback
Don't you just love it when someone asks for your honest input? They value your opinion and seek your advice, or trust you to solve a problem? Jesus did that at times with his disciples-- when they were worried about how the great crowd would be fed, Jesus said "You give them something to eat.."
I want to ask for you feedback. As I pray about sermon topics to preach in the coming year, I would love to hear from you, so I'll ask 2 questions to spur your thinking--
1. What sermon have I preached that has had the deepest impact on you? (What was it about the sermon you liked?)
2. What is a topic, series, or doctrine you would like to hear preached on?
Below, click on "comments" and let me know what you think in response to these questions. Knowing what has blessed you will let me see what type of message has been useful. And as I pray about the coming year, your feedback with help me be a better communicator of the Word of God.
I want to ask for you feedback. As I pray about sermon topics to preach in the coming year, I would love to hear from you, so I'll ask 2 questions to spur your thinking--
1. What sermon have I preached that has had the deepest impact on you? (What was it about the sermon you liked?)
2. What is a topic, series, or doctrine you would like to hear preached on?
Below, click on "comments" and let me know what you think in response to these questions. Knowing what has blessed you will let me see what type of message has been useful. And as I pray about the coming year, your feedback with help me be a better communicator of the Word of God.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Traditions
The older I get, the more sentimental I get in thinking about holidays and getting the family together. I just love it, and couldn't think of not having these special days. After living overseas for 10 years, and missing many family get-togethers, I find any excuse I can to be with my extended family.
At certain times of the year, I can’t stop my mind—it harkens back to times gone by. I recall the noise and confusion of family gatherings, the smells of dinner wafting through the house, and mom standing before the stove or busily setting the table; the loud and animated discussions around the dinner table as 3 boys and 1 girl tried to outtalk each other; grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins over for an afternoon visit… Don’t you have memories like that? And don’t they bring a smile to our face and a longing in our heart. That is what traditions do for us—help us balance the difficulties and trials and drudgery and routine of today with the joys and memories and victories of yesterday. They are sweet medicine to our heart. We all need traditions in our lives.
Did you ever wonder about the shepherds-- did they ever get together at times to recount "the glory of the Lord that shone round about them" while they sleepily tended sheep? Did the 10 lepers hold a reunion each year to remember in grattitude the day the saviour touched and healed them? I'll bet in later years, their minds often recalled those days of their past, those days where God broke in to the routine or the pain of their lives.
David oftened experienced the present healing of the Lord as he reflected on God's past activity in his life: "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. " (Ps 143:5 ) Traditions indeed have a healing power.
At certain times of the year, I can’t stop my mind—it harkens back to times gone by. I recall the noise and confusion of family gatherings, the smells of dinner wafting through the house, and mom standing before the stove or busily setting the table; the loud and animated discussions around the dinner table as 3 boys and 1 girl tried to outtalk each other; grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins over for an afternoon visit… Don’t you have memories like that? And don’t they bring a smile to our face and a longing in our heart. That is what traditions do for us—help us balance the difficulties and trials and drudgery and routine of today with the joys and memories and victories of yesterday. They are sweet medicine to our heart. We all need traditions in our lives.
Did you ever wonder about the shepherds-- did they ever get together at times to recount "the glory of the Lord that shone round about them" while they sleepily tended sheep? Did the 10 lepers hold a reunion each year to remember in grattitude the day the saviour touched and healed them? I'll bet in later years, their minds often recalled those days of their past, those days where God broke in to the routine or the pain of their lives.
David oftened experienced the present healing of the Lord as he reflected on God's past activity in his life: "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. " (Ps 143:5 ) Traditions indeed have a healing power.
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