Our pastors were just away on a retreat. And they’ve come back down the mountain with some important updates and plans for our church. They’ll be sharing all you need to know to be a happy, productive church member at our next member meeting.
It’s an open meeting; all members and regular attenders are invited. Pack a lunch or bring cash for Buck-O-Slice pizza.
Deacon Les Card and his wife, Sue, are hosting a diaper drive this Sunday and next Sunday to help children experiencing homelessness. A collection bin will be available in the lobby both Sundays.
The items needed are diapers, baby wipes, and baby food. Details are available here. Contact Les with any questions.
Thank you for showing the love of Christ in big and small ways.
Jesus said He would make His disciples ‘fishers of men,’ but that doesn’t we can’t also be fishers of fish. Join us for a fishing trip to enjoy God’s creation and one another’s company.
If interested, contact Ben Esposito and he’ll get you the details.
Chapman students are graduating this weekend. A big congratulations to all who’ve completed their degrees!
Commencement means a big influx of guests into our little downtown. Give yourself extra time for parking this Sunday and get your lunch reservations in quickly.
We can’t wait to see you on Sunday.
We gather every Sunday to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed. God's Word is preached and the Holy Spirit transforms our hearts. We expect to encounter Jesus and be equipped to better serve him each week.
Thanks to all who missed the sermon because you were serving during the service. We are grateful for you and couldn't have done it without you. Enjoy listening to the recording.
There’s plenty of content on the internet that we should skip right over. But every once in a while, an article appears that’s worth our time. This one from Desiring God is one of those.
How valuable is your presence on Sunday morning?
Perhaps you don’t have an official assignment or you’re wrangling little kids or you’re an introvert or you’re struggling with weakness and tiredness or you don’t know what insight you have to offer others. If you identify with any of those descriptions, then we encourage you to read this article and be convinced afresh that your role in our church is indispensable.
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable. . .”
1 Corinthians 12:21–22
“Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.”
Hebrews 13:18
Starting tomorrow, Pastors Eric, Mike, and Dustin are taking a 3-day retreat to pray, discuss, and plan. They love serving us as undershepherds of the Chief Shepherd. Our Savior is working among us through their leadership and service.
Join us in praying for them over the next few days:
Ask the Lord to refresh their hearts as they seek Christ together.
Ask the Lord to bless them with fruitful discussions and plans for future ministry.
Ask the Lord to give them guidance and wisdom.
Ask the Lord to meet them in their times of prayer and fellowship.
Ask the Lord to continue to grow their friendships with one another.
Ask the Lord to fill them with His Spirit as they lead.
Ask the Lord to care for their families while they’re away.
Thank you for loving, following, and praying for our pastors!
Read the following from our denomination’s Director of Global Missions, and rejoice and pray with church members from around the world.
Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
For our family of churches to bear much gospel fruit, we must continue to abide in Christ, because apart from him we can do nothing. Jesus’ words capture our utter dependence upon him. Without him, we’ve got no hope. But with him, great things can happen!!
One of the ways that we abide dependently on Christ is through prayer. For Jesus says a couple of verses later in John 15:7, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Asking is a practical expression of abiding dependently on Christ, and so here’s how we can be doing that, together as a family of churches, over the next month.
Please continue to pray for the Ark Church in Dnipro, Ukraine asking God to protect them, and to use them to meet practical needs, and to offer gospel hope to people impacted by the way.
Please pray for our two planned Chinese Church Plants for the US (Charleston & Maryland), for grace, provision, and the raising up of two strong church planting teams. If you are Mandarin speaker yourself, maybe the Lord is calling you to be a part of one of these endeavors?
Please pray for Jeff Purswell as he heads to Guadalajara (May 9-11th) to serve at the Mexican Pastors Equipping Retreat.
Please pray for Billy Raies, Steven Avampato, Jeffrey Jo & Pastor Ray as they head to Nepal (May 23-27th) to serve at the NIM Network Conference with our dear friend Barnabas (SG Key Leader in Nepal). Over 400 pastors, wives and missionaries will be present, from 163 different churches. Please pray for grace and wisdom as they speak at this conference, as well as grace and wisdom as they get extended time with Barnabas to think through the next five years of SG Nepal, as we plan together for the future.
Please pray for Ed O’Mara and Rocca Dalia as they look to plant a Sovereign Grace Church in Torino, Italy, later this year. Asking God to provide housing, financial resources, and a Sunday meeting place.
Please pray for Dave Taylor & Riley Spring (SG Australia) as they head to Liberia to serve at the Gracelife Pastors & Planters Academy (May 16-23rd), teaching on SG Church Planting. Please pray for safe travels, and receptive and faith-filled hearts. That the Lord's will may be done in these West African Nations, all for His glorious Name.