This coming Sunday, instead of offering separate worship for the kids, we’re having the preschool and elementary kids join us in the auditorium for a time of worship together as families. We’ll have the usual message outline for adults and an interactive activity guide for the kids to go along with the message. Our goal is to make sure kids have the opportunity to see their parents worshipping and to experience corporate, adult-style worship.
The following Sunday, May 6, is Membership Matters Sunday and we’ll be presenting our Membership Matters class to the entire congregation as the Sunday morning message. We will talk about our membership covenant, what we believe as a church, and what it means to commit to the vision and values of Grace Hills.
This past Wednesday night, Grace Hills’ Student Ministry hosted a special night of student worship called Selah. Dozens of teens came and heard testimonies, participated in authentic worship, and two trusted Jesus. I’m thrilled at the movement I see happening amoung these courageous young people. Their stories inspire me and I’m proud that Grace Hills is alread the kind of church that will invest time and resources into them and that values what they contribute to our life as a church
Lastly, I want to ask you to begin praying now about an upcoming message series that will stretch from Mother’s Day, May 13 through Father’s Day, June 17. A couple of guests will be sharing in the series and I’m already praying now for you and your perfect real family. Rather than merely presenting a picture of what the perfect family looks like, we’re going to talk about how God wants to be at work in real families – families that actually exist around us. Some are broken, others are preparing, and still others are in a struggle for survival. Whatever your family life looks like, God has a word for you.
God doesn’t intend for anybody to live life without a family, and where circumstances leave us without a spouse, or parents, or children, the Bible lets us know we have a family with His people. He lovingly adopts us and calls us His own. Life is still tough, but it’s so much easier when we’re open to living it with others in a community of faith. I look forward to seeing you, my church family, this Sunday at 10:00 am!