Monday Memo

Here are most of the comments and questions from the weekend Communication Cards:

// I really enjoyed this sermon. It was a great “piggy-back” to our woman’s study (soul shift) this week. A “you” attitude vs. a “Me” attitude.

// I get a little teary-eyed when you talk about why we take communion.

// Great challenges, Henry – to focus on looking outside our circles to bring people in. also, I was brought to a deeper level of worship watching another person worship.

// Loved this sermon, Henry. Such a great reminder to all of us to keep our circles open, and for all of us to stretch ourselves in ways that may be beyond our comfort. We all have difficult levels of comfort with this, we all can stretch. [And someone caught me in a closed circle after the last service!]

// Worship to "Oh God" was amazing. Thank you Nathan. [Agree. Love those quieter moments when we're not singing but meditating on the message of a soulful Communion song.]

// Nathan – great communion.

// The song Nathan sang – wonderful, needed. Thanks!

// Classic car show in the parking lot on 4^th of July? [Noted! Thanks.]

// Can we leave a few pens by the chairs that are outside the service? When we need to be out there due to noisy kids it’s hard to find pens for filling out the comment cards, writing checks, taking notes, etc. Also, there are dead bugs by the windows. [Noted]

One More Thing

Hi Five Oakers, It's the weekend and there are a few things I want to share with you:

The Weekend

How many 2am friends do you have? If you had a need, aside from family, what friends could you call for help at 2am? Will Mancini says that's a good gauge of closeness and community. But here's a higher standard. How many of your friends could you call for help if you knew they were on there way to go and see a Vikings game? Okay, I'm only partially kidding.

In this weekend's passage, Jesus has just returned to his adopted home town of Capernaum. Word has spread about his teaching and miracles and everybody is rushing to see him. One man is home, unable to go because he's unable to walk. But he has four friends. Four friends with tickets to the game who are moving in the opposite direction from the crowd. They are coming to get the man who can't walk because maybe, just maybe, Jesus will heal their friend.

FYI

Tom Wilson on "Europe's Euthanasia Craze"

Europeans' disinterest in perpetuating new life is fundamentally linked to their permissive attitude on euthanasia. For in most European countries abortion has long been available on demand and it is hardly surprising that societies that negate the absolute value of life at its outset, then negate it toward its end, and finally come to negate it in its entirety.

Jeni Carlson on "Family Worship Weekends 2015"

At the Tree House @fiveoakschurch, we see parents as the primary spiritual leaders of their children's faith journey. In partnership with parents, we want to provide opportunities for kids to join with their parents in the worship service.

One More Thing

"It is strange to be known so universally, and yet to be so lonely." (Albert Einstein)