No Small Matters–Spring 2011

Worship & Arts Family—

Regardless of the weather outside, the calendar tells me it’s Spring. Seems like a good time to get some items in front of you.

Schedule:  This week we will have the final Thursday Abide gathering at 12pm, including some time around communion together. These have been small, but wonderful times of pause in our week for refreshing in the Word, worship and prayer.  Holy Week gatherings include our Good Friday service (7:30pm), Easter Sunrise (6:30am at Moore Park) and Easter Celebrations (9:00 and 10:35am). Celebration Choir has 3 more Sundays until summer break (4/24, 5/22 and 6/12).

Sermon Series: We will be moving forward deeper into the book of James throughout this spring and early summer. I hope your heart is being challenged about what it is to live a life of endurance and joy, in light of the Father’s loving, merciful care and direction.

WA Year –End Gathering at Moore Park: Sunday, June 12 we will be hosting a year-end WA gathering at Moore Park right after church. Please mark your calendars for what will be a very fun time of reflection, celebration and food. It’s time to gather and enjoy what God has done in and through us this past year. More details to follow.

People:

From time to time we see significant transitions in our WA family. Let me bring a couple to your attention for prayer and connection. First, after nearly five years of very faithful service, Julie Martin will be leaving her position as WA administrator. She has been a core member of the inner-workings of our ministry and a huge benefit to me in this first season at EFC. Julie has been praying for some time whether this was the best long-term place of service, and is sensing some other opportunities ahead as the Lord leads. Please make sure to thank her for all that she has done to help this ministry run smoothly and with great impact through the years. We will miss her on the staff side of things, but thankfully get to continue worshiping alongside her on the worship teams.

Secondly, Zach Brenner will be entering into a full-time WA internship beginning June 1. Please be praying for him as he embarks on a season of development and discernment with regards to his sense of calling into Worship ministry.

Lastly, Allison Greenwald has taken on the key volunteer role of Faith Story Coordinator for the next ministry year. We are very excited to have her jump into this position and help grow this very important facet of our gatherings. I am always so encouraged by hearing what God is doing in and through other folks and looking forward to more of this under Allison’s leadership.

Last Thoughts: This week brings us to the focal point of the Christian Year. Whether you are someone who has leaned into the rhythm of the church seasons or not, we have a significant opportunity to pause, deepen and celebrate the life-changing reality of Jesus as we walk through these next few days.

Colossians 2 proclaims, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. “

My prayer for all of us is that we become more keenly aware of the suffering and sacrifice of the Cross, resulting in a greater celebration of the power of the resurrection.

Draw Near and Worship Big,

Wayne