EQUIP Conference, Prayer Requests for Prisoners, Ash Wednesday (Pastoral Emphasis for 2/11)

We welcomed our newest member who completed NMO & his membership interview: David Turner

Registration is now open for the upcoming EQUIP Conference on March 15 and 16. Registration closes on 3/10. This year's focus will be Build on the Rock: Submission. There will be breakouts this year (Men, Women, Married, Single (including youth)). 

Sis. Karen Gray is requesting that the church sign-up to pray for the women at a correctional institution as part of her service with the Kairos Prison Ministry during the weekend of March 7, 8, 9, and 10. Please stop by the Welcome Center or contact Sis. Gray directly to sign-up for a day to pray. The first name of those praying will be linked in a paper chain that will be hung around the meeting room so the women will know there are people praying for them.

 

Next Sunday, we're starting a new series in the book of Joshua entitled “From Promise to Possession”. As we look at how God brought Israel to take possession of the Promised Land, we can be confident that we will possess all that God has promised including Kingdom advancement to all nations and eternal life. 

 

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of Lent. For Ash Wednesday, we'll be anointing with ashes as a sign of mourning over sin and repentance to God. We'll be anointing right after Bible Study at 8pm. If you can't make it then, you can stop by the church from 10am to 2pm to get anointed by an elder. 

Lent is a time of fasting and prayer from Ash Wednesday to Easter. There are 40 days in Lent (not counting the Sundays). Fasting is the voluntary act of abstaining from something to grow in self-discipline. As Christians, we find our security and satisfaction in Christ. Therefore, we can give up something because Christ means more to us than whatever we are giving up. We ask everyone to join us for a church-wide partial fast for Lent. A partial fast is where you choose to abstain from certain foods and drinks instead of complete abstinence. Others may choose to fast from social media, television, streaming services, gaming, hobbies, etc. This will help you free up some time to spend in prayer, study, and reflection.  One item that I ask everyone to include in their prayers is how to engage and reach Northwoods Crossing, the local community around the church. We've already gotten some great ideas submitted, but before we act on any of them, I want us to bathe it in prayer. I want our outreach to be Spirit-led rather than pragmatic.