We wish we could’ve brought all of you to Orlando last week to take part in our denomination’s Pastors Conference. But you can get a taste of what the Lord did there. All four main session messages are available for you. We encourage you to set aside time during your commute or your workout or find another time to listen in. These will serve your soul.
Love one another. Pray for one another. Bear one another’s burdens. Teach one another. The list of instructions for Christian ministry goes on and on. What’s our strategy for doing all these “one anothers”? Gathering in small groups. 8-12 people who can truly know one another and commit to "one another” ministry.
If you’re looking to build vital relationships with other Christians, we invite you to check out a small group. You can find a group near you by clicking here. All groups meet on the first and third Wednesday or Friday of every month (next week!).
The annual Sovereign Grace Pastors Conference starts today (Tuesday) in Orlando, FL. Our pastoral team is there along with a handful of leaders from our church.
Though the pandemic has prevented many global partners from attending, current registration for the conference is around 600, with people traveling in from places as far as Costa Rica, Germany, Ethiopia, Italy, Mexico, Zambia, and the United Kingdom.
We’d like to ask you to pray for this special and strategic time for our family of churches. Here are some ways you can pray for everyone involved:
Pray that all that happens at the conference would celebrate the preeminence of Jesus Christ (this year’s theme) in a way that He alone would receive all the glory.
Pray that God would use the preaching to equip our pastors to live our lives, and pastor our churches, in a way that we make much of Christ as we faithfully serve His people.
Pray for our main session speakers: Jeff Purswell, Jon Payne, C.J. Mahaney, and Jared Mellinger. Pray also for Mark Prater, Eric Turbedsky, and Dave Taylor as they lead a “Sovereign Grace Missions” main session.
Pray for the work of the Holy Spirit as we spend time together.
Pray that God would give us opportunities to care for one another and strengthen our relationships.
Pray that God would use our time to strengthen and unite us in the gospel mission we share.
There are so many people who make our city what it is. Firefighters do a huge service to us and our community. They’re worthy of honor. And God calls us to show “honor to whom honor is owed” (Rom. 13:7).
Your kids are invited to help us bless the firefighters in Orange. See the details in the flyer above. RSVP to Kirsi by Sunday, November 21st if you and your kids can make it.
But we still feel the need to tell you. Enjoy your extra hour of sleep on Saturday night. Make sure you change the clocks on your oven, microwave, and in your car. We’ll see you Sunday morning to rehearse and celebrate the gospel!
It took a village to throw a party this big, but you were up for the challenge. Thank you for joining us and thank you for contributing to our Reformation Celebration. You were setting up, tearing down, cooking, running games for kids, and just being good friends and hosts.
All the photos are here for your enjoyment.
There are a handful of people who handled big parts of Reformapalooza. We want to specifically recognize and thank them:
Alice - buffet and drink station setup and teardown
Rosalind - setup, teardown, and hostessing
Chris - purchasing all grocery items
Zac - inside setup and tear down
Caleb - outdoor setup and tear down
Holly - event photos
Steve & Gina - cooking 200 delicious bratwurst
Mike, Lois, Ben, Zac, & Joey - creating and running carnival games for kids
We thank God for saving us by His grace. And we thank God for bringing us together to celebrate it!
We asked you to help us provide Thanksgiving dinner for our neighbors and you answered the call. Thank you for going out of your way to be generous. God will do more with your giving than we will know.
HomeAid is asking for volunteers this Friday and Saturday. If you would like to collect more food items or help assemble meal boxes, you can sign up here. A few of us are already registered to volunteer. We would love for you to join us!
We celebrated Reformation Day on Sunday. But often our understanding of important historical events can be dramatized. Luther’s famous “Here I stand” speech at the Diet of Worms is vulnerable to this. Take a moment to read three church history scholars’ descriptions of this momentous event. Let their perspectives cut through the noise and expose you to the true significance.