My dear partners in ministry,
I hope you are having a marvelous and restful holiday. I am pretty thankful for a day to rest and sit in my office at home for a little while. There are some significant challenges in the life of our congregation and we faced some things, prayed through some things, and cried out to God together yesterday. I need to do some catching up emotionally. I believe that it part of the secret of God’s Sabbath principle. We can easily press through life and keep ourselves from feeling until it shows in our health. The church family is carrying some pretty heavy burdens and hurts at the moment and I need to work through the emotions attached to them all. It will be nice to have Adam start this week and to see Pastor Karen return. I’m afraid neither of them knows the onslaught of venting they are headed into! I would ask each of you to make this season one of intensified prayer for the church and its ministry. There are relational needs, health needs, unity needs, financial needs, leadership needs, personal challenges, grief and needs for strength to endure. Please fight for the Oak Grove Body in your prayers.
I enjoyed visits with Norma D this week. Had the privilege of praying with Jeri before her successful surgery this week. Got Michael S moved into the ministry house for the moment. Thanks to Tom, Eric and Ira for their assistance. Had a great Spanglish time at ping pong. There was a good crowd on Wed night. Thanks to Pastor Diana for filling in for Karen again with the children. NA started some new meetings at the house. There are three nights of recovery going now. The D.I. continued its intensive on Friday night and Michelle Mc taught through the pain. Brave young lady. The ministry of reaching, teaching, mending and sending was solid this week.
With the rising sun Andy and I arrived at church Sunday morning. Vaughn was hard at work. I quickly realized that I had forgotten to get communion cups and a couple wall hooks to hold up the banner. I was pretty angry with myself but thankful that Andy and Vaughn got the banner up and for the many who volunteered to get communion supplies for me. I found a folder in my father’s things that held a collection of prayers and meditations that he had written over time. I thought they were pretty good, so I’m using them as meditation for the chapel in his memory this month. Pastor Diana got me anointed for the day and I prayed for the worship team. It was a thrill to see Harvey on the drums for the first time.
Fair attendance yesterday for a holiday weekend. I saw a new couple visiting by the room dividers and Ira had a couple of guests. I didn’t note any other visitors. I welcomed everyone but got distracted by an apple that came rolling out from under the seats. Funny stuff. We prayed and sang some very good, familiar stuff. Darleen filled in for Destiny and sang a song that not only spoke to our theme but powerfully proclaimed her own place of desert. Very brave. Patsy shared with our children in Pastor Karen’s absence and shared the scripture for the day well but also led us into communion. I felt all the more terrible about forgetting supplies! Thank you Patsy! The children wandered off into the most capable hands of Ron and Linda in Children’s Church. I started our series on the desert from Numbers 11. I hope it was a new twist on an old story that made it relevant and powerful. I tried to challenge us all to look at the areas of our lives where we are sick of something and rise to a greater level of trust in God in that area. It led to some very serious prayers and an honest look at some deep hurts. Prayer time really rattled my heart. The music during prayer time was perfect and I found myself praying the words of the songs. Thanks to all the worship team. To watch the service click here.
Sunday night I motored the new bike down to church for service. Carlos is having some serious problems with his voice so Red Calling led worship. We sang some golden oldies and some brand new stuff. I really enjoyed it. Renee, Elaine and Emily were there to teach the children. Pastor Jorge did his piece of the true vine out of the end of Luke 9, the three encounters with those who would proclaim a desire to follow Jesus but needed to do some other things first. His message ended with Luke 9:62 which was a cornerstone from my message in the morning. Interesting how God works! It was a great night of fellowship that ended with a 45 minute social in the parking lot. To watch the sermon click here.
Notes I can remember:
- Adam starts on Tuesday!
- Pastor Karen returns Thursday.
- Next Tues is the COGS luncheon.
- Kairos is the end of the month. Sign-up to pray and bring cookies.
That’s all for today, except to say thank you to you again for all you do – continue to connect with God, each other and the world.
Know that I love you – Denny