This Sunday we neared our rental facility when we noticed a blanket of glistening snow covering the parking lot. With a little bit of encouragement and a few stray snowballs thrown at each other the kids and some adults did a great job carving out footpaths for people to follow to the entrance.
Inside for our service we wrapped up our study on core values that will guide us as we seek to be a people that show God’s glory in the community. With the last value being Daily Mission we considered how the people of God have the joy of proclaiming the word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. To pursue that goal of being faithful missionaries we noticed how we will need to 1) love the church 2) love those outside the church 3) keep the Gospel central.
One of the ways we are excited about loving those outside the church is by the kids and adults going to the local nursing home to sing carols and share about the meaning of Christmas. We are looking forward to encouraging these sweet people and loving them.
Another fun way we are connecting with those outside of the church is through neighborhood cookie parties. These are really simple evenings where we invite neighbors to bring some cookies to our homes, hang out, and take some cookies as they leave.
Please pray for us that we would be a group that grows in our love for each other and the community. Our desire is to be a church that the community will one day wonder how they ever got along without us being around. Singing at the nursing home and eating some cookies with friends doesn’t sound like much but neither did five loaves and two fish before Jesus met the needs of thousands!