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I was on football teams from 6th through 12th grade. Unlike pickup games in which "plays" consist of "you go long and I'll chuck it up", there was an actual playbook I had to learn and memorize. When I played Tight End I needed to know if I was supposed to stay in and block, run a post pattern, or run an out. If I did my part and everyone else on the team did their part, the play would work and we would move the ball down the field. If I (or anyone else on the team) didn't know what I was supposed to do or simply chose to do my own thing or nothing at all, the play was doomed and the team would fail. Christ's Body, the Church, also depends on team work. As everyone plays their part and works in unity and partnership with everyone else, God's agenda is accomplished and the Gospel is able to make an impact on lives. Problems arise, however, when unity breaks down and individuals end up working against each other instead of working in tandem with their brothers and sisters. This Sunday, October 1st, we'll be looking at an important passage in Ephesians chapter 4 that addresses our unity and team work as Christ's Body. Take a few minutes and read Ephesians 4:1-16 and reflect on your part of God's Team. I hope you'll be able to join us. Remaining on the Bench is No Longer an OptionNext Sunday, October 8th, we will have a Ministry Fair as a part of our Worship Celebration. Various ministries within our church will have displays describing what they do and how individuals can get involved in serving in big and small ways. Plan on coming with the goal to discover where you might fit best in using how God has shaped you to serve.
In 2006 my family moved to Mercer Island from Kalamazoo, MI. My kids, Joey and Ellie, were now surrounded by mountains for the first time in their lives. After growing up in the relatively flat terrain of SW Michigan, the mountain views were pretty impressive. On a clear day (admittedly not an everyday occurrence) it's possible to see mountains in every direction you look: The Cascades, Mt. Rainier, the Olympics, or Mt. Baker. Ellie told me how frustrated she was at the lackadaisical attitude here middle school girlfriends had toward these views. She wanted to shake them and say, "Don't you realize what you're taking for granted?!!" In the last half of Ephesians chapter 3, Paul breaks into a prayer of gratitude to God and a desire that the Christians in Ephesus would grasp all that God has for them as his children. Do you really get it? That's what we'll be aiming for this coming Sunday, September 24th as we look at Ephesians 3:14-21. I hope you'll be able to join us. Women on Retreat! Brightwood Station where our women will be sleeping (in the train cabins) Around 25 of the women from our church will be joining with hundreds from around WA and OR this weekend at our camp, Cascades Camp and Conference Center. They're in for a wonderful time of fun and encouragement! If you're interested in getting a glimpse of the camp and a taste of what they'll get at the retreat, check out Cascades' website: cascades.org
In college, I studied to become an Art Teacher. I took numerous classes, took exams, and did my student teaching. I filled out paper work and applied for my teaching certificate... but I never ended up becoming an Art Teacher. I did a whole lot of preparation, but never got into a classroom full of students.
Christians spend time reading the Bible, listening to sermons, and attending Bible studies. But do we ever get out into the world and live out what we've been preparing for? What is God wanting his people, the Church, to be doing? If I was going to break it down into the most basic way, I'd say that God wants His Church to: LOVE. We've been called to be "Christ's ambassadors" and let others know that God loves them and desires to have a relationship with them (1 Cor. 5:18-21). So how do we best do that? Well, one way to communicate God's love is by serving others in that love. This coming Sunday, September 17th, we will be serving others by taking on a number of small projects. We'll be doing various projects like: * Cleaning up a person's yard. * Washing a couple's windows * Writing cards of thanks and encouragement for the police officers, firefighters, postal workers, and other public servants. * Picking up trash along the roads * Walking and praying through neighborhoods Here's the schedule: 10:00 Worship service as usual 12:00 Lunch of hamburgers and hotdogs at church 12:45 Break into service teams 1:00 - 3:00 Complete service projects I hope you'll be able to join us in sharing God's love in practical ways. Come dressed to serve (as opposed to "dressed to impress"). You'll also want to bring along work gloves and any other tools you anticipate needing.  Many of you know that my family is all about game nights. We love to get together with people to share dessert and laughter as we play games. Tami is usually the driving force for these gatherings and her choice of games is driven by the desire for lots of interaction and fun. That means her favorite games to play are ones like Outburst, Apples to Apples, Cranium, Telephone Pictionary, and Fishbowl. Joey enjoys these games, too, but often prefers more complicated strategy games such as Dominion, Pandemic, Ticket to Ride, and By Order of the Queen. When it comes to strategy games, part of the play involves not letting your opponent see what you're up to. Then the element of surprise provides you with an advantage. When you're able to role out your plan it proves to everyone that you knew what you were doing all along. God has a strategy for His Church (you and me). Our series through the book of Ephesians is all about understanding and getting on board with what it means to be the Church. As we act according to His purposes, another thing happens: God's wisdom is proven to everyone. I hope you'll be able to join us this Sunday, September 10th, as we look at Ephesians 3:1-13. Take a few minutes to read this passage and we'll unpack it together in worship.  Sunday, September 17th will be the day we come together after worship with other congregations to live out God's love in practical ways in our community. We've gathered some projects, but are still open to others. If you have an idea of a simple project we could do for someone you know, let us know. Forms will once again be available at church this Sunday or you can call in to the church office with your idea. We may not be able to accomplish everything, but we'll do what we can.
We'll be doing various projects like: * Cleaning up a person's yard. * Washing a couple's windows * Writing cards of thanks and encouragement for the police officers, firefighters, postal workers, and other public servants. * Picking up trash along the roads * Walking and praying through neighborhoods Here's the schedule: 10:00 Worship service as usual 12:00 Lunch of hamburgers and hotdogs at church 12:45 Break into service teams 1:00 - 3:00 Complete service projects For those interested, we'll gather at the church at 5:00 to enjoy pizza and the recorded Seahawks game. |
Pastor JeffThoughts about living as a Jesus follower and life at Community Covenant Church Archives
December 2020
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