The Lighthouse - June 1, 2015

Praise in the Park

We had an awesome time with Praise in the Park this past Sunday. After a delayed start due to a tree limb cutting off power, we sang praise to our Creator, honored our 2015 graduates, talked about what is next for us as individuals and as a congregation, and joyfully welcomed our confirmands as new members in the body of Christ. It was quite a joy to share in baptism and confirmation in the river with these awesome teens! These kids worked hard throughout the class, had great discussions, and planned a fundraiser to help save lives from malaria. Because they exceeded their goal, they earned the right to each throw a pie in my face after our worship. Through the generosity of several donors, we as a congregation are able to give a subscription to Devozine - a teen devotional magazine by the Upper Room - to each of our confirmands. I am very proud of each of these youth - Austin, Baylor, Brenna, and Chandler - and know they are and will continue to grow to be great leaders of God's people. Please pray for them as they begin this next step in their journey with God!

For more sights from our Praise in the Park, check out our Facebook page or our website.

Blessings on the journey, Jim

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Breaking Bread

What makes the church the church? What makes us any different from other community organizations. This Sunday in worship, we continue reading from Acts 2 as we look to how the early church responded to the gift of the Holy Spirit and the growing community of believers after Pentecost. Join us as we learn more of what it means to be the church and as we break bread together at the communion table!

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What's Next?

In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Jim asked us to note the three people closest to them and challenged us to pray for them over these next four weeks (until the start of VBS). He suggested we take five minutes each day to pray that each of these three folks would see one way that God is calling them to serve that day and then to pray for our church to discern what God is calling us to do next. If you were there Sunday, think of three people outside your family whom you regularly sit near in the sanctuary and pray for them. 

Living in Community

• Many thanks to everyone who helped make Praise in the Park possible this past Sunday! Special thanks to Linda and David Shifflett, Adam Shifflett, Tyler Shifflett, and Keith Robinson for setting up the sound and musical equipment in the park, to Gary Kerlin for the loan of a portable piano, to Dianna Chandler and Susie Hardy for putting the bulletin and lyrics sheets together, to Bob Chandler for the use of his generator when the power went out, to Sue Good, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, Dinah Watson, and Jordan Miller for honoring the graduates, and to everyone who made the potluck possible! We have much to be thankful for.
• Congratulations to our 2015 graduates: Kyle Groves (JMU - Engineering), Haley Mowbray (Spotswood), David Holsinger (Spotswood), and Elizabeth Curry (Fort Defiance). May God bless you all on the next step of your journeys!
• Welcome to the newest members of Christ's Church: Austin Dansey, Baylor Robinson, Brenna Smith, and Chandler Watson.  Congratulations on your confirmation and on raising almost $270 to save 27 lives from malaria!

Upcoming Events

June 9 - 7 pm - Administrative Council Meeting
June 14 - VBS Adult Leaders Meeting
June 14-19 - RENEW Youth Mission

Mark Your Calendar

Annual Conference - June 19-21
Vacation Bible School 2015 - June 29 - July 3