Spring Into Action

 Volunteers Are The Life Blood of The Tree!

Spring is in the air and we want to encourage you to Spring Into Action.  According to a survey in Success Magazine (Sept. 2010), of people who volunteer:
      
 68% say it makes them feel physically healthier!
  73% say it lowers their stress level!
   92% say it enriches their sense of purpose in life!
 
Serving has it’s benefits.  It makes us feel better physically, lowers our stress level and gives purpose to our lives!  According to statistics, nearly 100% of people who serve feel better about themselves. 

My question, who doesn’t want to feel better about themselves?
 
We are here to help add purpose to your life – through connecting with Jesus and through connecting with others.  Serving helps strengthen that connection. 

You may walk through the church each week and think that the ministry areas are complete, but something is missing …YOU!

 
Yes, we need your gifts and talents.  We need your heart.  We want to connect with you!
 
Do you ever think “I can’t do anything for God. I have no special talent.”   Well, we want to show you differently. 

What do you love to do?  That is the first step to serving, working in an area that you love.

• Do you love helping those less fortunate?  Twice a month we have opportunities to partner with Harry Chapin and give away food to those in need.
• Do you love babies?  The nursery has opportunities for you to love on little ones.
• Do you love little kids?  Children’s church has opportunities for you to feed into the life of young children.
• Do you enjoy interacting with teens?  Our Straight Up Youth Group is an opportunity for you to make a difference in a young person’s life.
• Do you enjoy talking to people?  Our greeters and information desk volunteers welcome people each and every week.
• Do you have the gift of hospitality?  Join our coffee counter group or sign up to help with special events.
• Do you love to have people in your home?  You can facillitate a small group. All the material is ready for you.  Just invite your friends over.
• Do you love to make videos or graphics?  We are always looking for new ideas in this arena.
• Do you love to work with sound?  Sound techs play such a vital part in our worship service.

We have the opportunities – what is missing is YOU!
 
Will you partner with us today?

We aren’t looking for a long term commitment.  You are free to evaluate the ministry you choose to be a part of, see if it’s a good fit.  If not, we’ll move you to one that is.  We want you to be happy and fulfilled in the area that you are serving in.

So … what are you waiting for? 

 Fill out the form belowwith your name, email, and  telephone number and I’ll give you a call and we’ll discuss what opportunities will fit you best! 

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Thank you for your heart to serve!

Onward and forward!

Joyce

UNSTOPPABLE

New Series Starts May 2nd!

Summer Service Time:

10:10 am

 

 

 

Staying Warm

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
– Hebrews 10:24,25

It was a bit chilly this morning when we went out to the bus stop. Chase was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and as we stood on the street, waiting for the bus to arrive, he was complaining of being cold. He’s just like me, he likes to be snuggly and warm. I hugged him close to me, actually tucked him up under one of my sweatshirts, I had on two, I knew one wouldn’t be enough for me. As we stood there, with him snuggled up next to me, he said he was nice and toasty. I was actually comfortable before I snuggled up with Chase, but as I snuggled with him, I got even warmer. He snuggled with me until the bus came, then headed off to school.

Chase had needed the closeness of my body to help keep him warm this morning. He was cold on his own, but standing next to me, he was able to gain the warmth he needed. And although I wasn’t cold, when he was snuggled up beside me, I was even toastier.

When I’m feeling cold in my spirit, it’s important for me to be around other Believers, to ignite that spark, get that flame going again. And on the flip side, even when I’m sailing along, pretty comfortable in my walk, when I get around other like-minded folks, it sparks my spirit even more and keeps the flame burning stronger, that iron sharpening iron concept. And I can help keep their spirits on fire as well.

A lone coal, regardless of how hot it is at any point, will eventually burn itself out if it’s left sitting on the hearth alone.

We need the encouragement and support of each other to keep our fires burning. That is why God tells us to not forsake the gathering of the body.

We need each other to stay warm!

Father, thank you for the wonderful support group that you have brought into my life. That I don’t have to sit on the hearth alone Lord. That you are always bringing people into my life to encourage me and who I in turn can encourage as well.

I Love You Jesus.
In Your Name I Pray!
Amen

God Bless You!

Love,
Joyce

It’s All Because Of Jesus!

Keeping Your Word

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Psalm 37:5,6

On Saturday, I had to have a little life talk with Carson.  Thursday night he had told us that he was going to go to school on Saturday and work a concession stand for one of the games.  It would give him service hours for National Junior Honor Society.  No problem, Bobby said he’d run him over and then go pick him up when he was done.

But we had a full week this past week and had been out on Friday night at a friend’s for dinner, and when Saturday morning rolled around, Carson was tired and decided he didn’t want to get up and go to school to work, he’d rather stay home and hang out with Chase.  And the more Bobby tried to encourage him to go, the more adament Carson became that he didn’t want to.

I asked Carson if he had committed to working this event.  He said, “No”, he’d just told them he might be there. 

I explained to Carson that he could stay home this one time, because he’d not made a commitment, but that it was very important to honor his word, whether he was tired or not.  If he said he was going to do something, he must honor that.

I work with a lot of volunteers at church.  Some are always on time, always doing what they said they would do.  Others … not so much.

Yesterday, our Pastor was talking about our commitments to God.  We make vows with him on Sunday, when we’re caught up in the emotion of the moment … we say, YES LORD, but then by Tuesday or Wednesday, we’ve let life get the best of us and we are back to … “No God, can’t do that right now.”

I want my little Carson to grow into a man of character … in life and with God.

I want to grow into a woman of character … in life and with God.

Father, thank you for teaching me how to be a woman of character.  I want your character, your spirit to fill me up, to flow through me, to flow out of me.  And Jesus, please teach my little Carson the same lesson.

I love you Jesus!
   In Your Name I Pray,
   Amen

It’s All Because Of Jesus!

Sharing God’s Love – Food Distribution

 

 

Thank you to all the Volunteers who participated in the Harry Chapin food giveaway Thursday morning, here at The Life Center. 

 

 

 

 

 

Over 12,428 pounds of food were given to more than 450 households.  What a wonderful blessing to be a part of. 

 

 

 

 

As one Volunteer shared with us, “I wish I could do this every day!” 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharing Jesus in Real Time! 

 

 

 

 

 

Living out the scriptures, “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40)

 

 

 

 

 

It was a blessing to bless the community … Thank you again to all who gave of theirselves to bless others!

 

 

 

It’s All Because Of Jesus!

What Does Jesus Want To Multiply in You?

After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews.

 When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread to feed these people?” He said this to stretch Philip’s faith. He already knew what he was going to do.

Philip answered, “Two hundred silver pieces wouldn’t be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece.”

One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.”

Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.

When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted.” They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves.   (John 6:1-13  – The Message)

We’ve all heard the story of Jesus feeding the crowd with 5 loaves and 2 fishes … but have you ever pondered how this concept could be manifested in your own life?

No … I don’t mean that you have to try to feed an army with breadcrumbs … but what has God given you that he can multiply? 

Jesus took what was available that day, blessed it and it became more than enough. 

He’s given you gifts and talents … are you allowing him to multiply what’s inside of  YOU??

Food for thought …

Father … thank you for the gifts that I have been given.  Teach me Lord to use them for your good.

I Love You Jesus!
   In Your Name I Pray,
   Amen

Be Blessed!

It’s All Because Of Jesus!

Victim or Victor?

On Sunday night we were reading the story of the healing at the pool, from John, Chapter 5.  As the story goes, Jesus had gone up to Jerusalem for one of the feasts, and he was walking through the pool of Bethesda, where many disabled people hung out.  It was said that once a day, an angel stirred the water of the pool, and if you could get into the water, you would be healed. So this was a popular hangout for those with infirmities.  Jesus came upon a man lying by the pool who had been an invalid for 38 years.  He asked the fellow an interesting question, “Do you want to get well?”

And the guy had an even more interesting answer, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Okay … So this guy made the effort to get to the pool every day, but when the water got stirred, he could never get into it for the healing. 

Seems to me, if I had someone help me get to the pool, after 38 years, I’d be asking them to stick around one day and help me get into the water.  Or something?  But the guy had determination, he hadn’t given up … he was continuing to make the effort to get there.

At first the guy’s response sounds like he’s a victim to his situation, but then we see the evidence of perseverance – he continues to come to the pool, in spite of the lack of  healing.  I believe this guy has some character.  How difficult would it be to continue dragging yourself to those waters day in and day out with no positive results?

There are always two ways to look at our situations.  We can be the victim, blaming others for what is going on in our lives.  Sometimes it just feels good to have that pity party for ourselves – but does it do us any good?  Do we feel better afterwards?  Are we any closer to Jesus?  Are we any closer to freedom or healing?

Or we can be the victor … taking responsibility for our actions and our reactions.  Although no wrong doing on our part caused the situation, we are looking for a positive way to remedy it.

Paul tells us:  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

So … am I a victim – living in the unfairness of my past, or a Victor, straining towards what is ahead! 

Father, help me to let my actions and my life portray the victory that I have already won through YOU!  Thank you that YOU are the Prize … life eternal with you. 

I Love You Jesus!
   In Your Name I Pray,
   Amen 

 
It’s All Because Of Jesus!