Tuesday Memo

Hi Five Oaksers:

I'm splitting my mid-week memo into two parts this week. Here are a few of things I want to tell you about today.

Hi Five Oakers,

There are several things I want to share with you today.

#1 – Get a recap of the weekend services with highlights of our prayers, readings and songs here.

#2 – We just sent out this postcard to 6000 area residents. Trying to make lemonade…

#3 – One of members wrote this some time ago as she reflected on inviting her neighbors to the Feed Event, and it fits well with last weekend's message:

Reasons Why I Wouldn’t Invite Neighbors

• We are not the most popular family on the block
• We are not the most involved family in the neighborhood
• We do not have kids the “average” ages of most on the block
• We are not the most neat or organized
• Our yard is not the most envied
• I am not the most extroverted person
• I am not the  most beautiful person
• We do not have a model perfect marriage
• I do not have super deep history with my neighbors
• Our garage is not the cleanest
• Our barking dog probably makes himself obnoxious barking too early or too late in the day
• I am not on board with some of the choices my neighbors make
• I am too busy to find the right words to ask others
• I assume others may want to help but are too busy as well—if I invite them, they’ll just say no anyway

The more I read over my list, the more I realized what sorry excuses these are.  It seems to me that Jesus’ philosophy was pretty simple—get involved in people’s lives!

I can do this by  providing food for the poor as I fill bags at FMSC. BUT also giving my neighbors the opportunity to feed  the poor could touch a spot in their own hearts that draws them that much closer to a relationship with Christ. 

The bottom line? Jesus promised—“  My Power is made perfect in weakness. All I need to do is be his instrument. He is responsible for the rest.

I look forward to seeing Him at work.

#4 – Yeah, this guy will be here Thursday and Friday for the Finding Faith movie. Read more about the movie here. 

#5 – 220 or so kids will be here all next week for VBS. I wish everyone could see their energy in the worship center when they sing and convene for large group. I wish everyone could see the youth who help lead this in preparation for leading it this summer on their mission trip. And all the dedicated volunteers that decorate the building and run this event. God bless you all!!!

#6 – Crazy energy and crowd for the Saturday service at the new time, 6pm. May have been our largest, non-holiday Saturday in years. Funny thing is I argued with our team against this time. I am happy to say I was wrong.

#7 – Here’s the message in 10 Tweets (“Worship Evangelism” in the Mission of God series):

1. Why is it so hard to invite people to a church service? Should we? What’s it all about, getting bigger?
2. There is a firm biblical foundation for inviting.
3. 1 Cor. 14:23-24 – Paul expected the unchurched to be invited.
4. The Jewish synagogues outside Palestine were teaming with seekers in the first century.
5. Temple court of the Gentiles: To get the nations as close as possible to God’s people worshiping.
6. Mk 11:17 – Jesus, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for the nations.”
7. Solomon anticipated seekers at the temple. “Sovereign Lord, when they pray, give them what they ask for.” (1 Ki 8:41-43)
8. Most of us need help leading someone to cross the line. Help is here every week. The gospel permeates our services. 100’s make decisions.
9. "Then in my 30s I find a church that helps me understand what it all means...my life changed that moment...crossed the line of faith…"
10. I’m so glad a neighbor friend invested in me (an unchurched kid) and invited me to his church.

I have a few more things to share tomorrow.

Blessings, Pastor Henry

Mid-Week Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

There are several things I want to share with you today.

#1 – Get a recap of the weekend services with highlights of our prayers, readings and songs here.

#2 – Here are your comments/questions from the Communication Cards:

• Great worship music today.[I loved it! Especially the new song with the hand motions. It was great having the elementary and middle school kids with us in the service.]
• Enjoyed the message, Henry!
• Great message. Great worship! Love the new song! 
• New coffee is good, and cause it is good.
• It would be refreshing to have the first third of the service, contain some variety – i.e. – drama, ministry highlight, (scripture reading from Bible). For those here each week it is so predictable/redundant with the same announcements. [I’m assuming you mean the explanation of the service order at the end of Preparation since that’s the only element that doesn’t change each week (i.e., the songs and Scripture readings are different each week). But I’m not sure. Anyway, the explanation doesn't vary much and is needed to put our own members at ease regarding guests (that’s the feedback we received a while back), as much as it is needed for the guests themselves (i.e., so they understand the response time). But maybe you meant something else. Unfortunately I sent you an email for clarification too late for this post. I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for your feedback.]
• Responsive reading (group reading) is more difficult without punctuation, (commas,) especially where there is a pause in the middle of a line; spelling is important too. This morning’s was difficult. It would help me speak out with a bit more confidence knowing I wouldn’t keep reading into a break and being the only one speaking. [Thanks for the feedback on this. I find that some weeks are harder to follow along than others.]

#3 – We received two comments back from the cards we send to first-time guests:

• 5/20 – I wish the congregation was more willing to raise their arms/hands while singing.  Too shy I guess, huh?
• 5/20 – We enjoyed the service.  All people were very welcoming.

#4 – The Spain short-term mission team has wrapped up its preparation meetings. Pray for the effectiveness of their mission as they serve at L'Arcada Camp.

#5 – The “Finding Faith” movie and its star Erik Estrada will be at Five Oaks on June 7^th. The movie is free. Check out the trailer. (If you receive this post by email, you will need to go to my website to see it.)

#6 – You’ll have an opportunity this weekend to get more information on who we support through our missions giving. You won’t be able to miss it.

#7 – Challenge for adults. That’s what I call the Global Leadership Summit. It’s for adults what the national Challenge conference is for our youth. It’s the best conference I go to every year. And because of the size group we send to the Summit, we get a very special price. Don’t forget to register soon before the price increases.

#8 - We completed another 8-week session of Story of God. Great group! 29% improvement overall on post-test from the pre-test on Bible knowledge. But that's not what Story of God is about. It's about being able to understand God's Word so that you can get more out of it when you read it or are taught it. And that's important so you can know God better and love him more deeply. The Word transforms our minds as we not only know God better but also understand our world and ourselves better. Is there someone you can bring to the Story of God fall session? Someone who is hungry for God but doesn't know him well or at all?

#9 – Here’s the message in 10 Tweets (“At Work and at Play” in the Mission of God series):

1. God not only custom-makes us for his mission, he custom-places us where he wants us for his mission.
2. You have been placed by God where you work and play for his mission.
3. Colossians 3:17 – Do everything as a representative of the Lord Jesus.
4. Our mission at work is diverse: produce something useful, do work well, reflect God’s character, help others.
5. Non-Christians can be motivated for different reasons to do all the above. But only Christians can be Christ’s reps at work & at play.
6. And only you can personally witness to what God has done in your life.
7. Your witness can impact someone’s eternity.
8. Imagine meeting someone in eternity that you helped to find God!
9. Do you believe there are people around you who are hungry for the gospel? (Mt 9:35-36).
10. You need a platform. “I’ll pray for you” or “I’m going to Bible study" can open doors to spiritual conversations.

See you on the weekend!

Blessings, Pastor Henry