Connections

Pray for our Missions Team now on its way to Chicago !

Our team left this morning for its work with Inner City Impact and missionaries Tyrell & Rachel Shoemaker in the Chicago area. What a courageous and willing band of Christ-followers they are ! Please join me over the next four days in praying for Mary Owens, Julie Pettijohn, Lee Pettijohn, Larry Shoemaker, Kaylyn Walker, and Marlon Walker ! Their itinerary is the following :

Thursday : travel and arrival in Chicago. Meet with Tyrell.
Friday : Soup Kitchen ministry at the Providence Soup Kitchen. Following that, the team will stuff backpacks, set up gym activities and food for Saturday’s ministry.
Saturday : This will be the heart of the backpack ministry to schoolchildren in the area. They will be handing out backpacks and connecting with people from 12 – 4:00 pm.
Sunday : attend Tyrell’s and Rachel’s church for worship, then travel back to Hermann.

Thank you for being so willing to support and pray for Emmanuel’s ministry to the world nearby and far away !

Connections

Our theme for fall ministry at Emmanuel is “Connections.” What does that word mean to you ?

As I think back over past years of growing and serving the Lord together, it’s apparent that you have a heart for a church that is not just serving itself but which is openly, intentionally making contacts with people in the area who may need a vibrant and abundant new relationship with Jesus Christ. Recently, I had the opportunity of going through some old pictures of life and activities at Emmanuel. Each picture showed people living and loving and opening their arms to one another … and at every step broadening the circle in some small way to include someone else.

Jesus told His disciples to go and make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:19-20) …. The starting point for that wonderful work is making an initial connection with someone. While we don’t always see the fruit of the connections we make, connecting with people outside our own circle is, nevertheless, the only starting point possible.

What are good ways of making connections at Emmanuel ?
Sunday mornings. A warm greeting and introduction of yourself to someone new at our worship service is a great start to connecting.
Sticky Groups. Sticky Groups are primarily for the purpose of connections. Our groups will be starting up again this fall at various times, in various locations, and at various frequencies during the month. Please speak with Brian or Anna Azevedo if you have a question about being in a Sticky Group. Or, send me an email or text and I’ll pass it on to Brian and Anna. One of our Sticky Groups is going to facilitate a special parenting class on Wednesday evenings during the Seedling time. Watch and listen for information !
Young People’s Groups. God has given and blessed a vision for growing involvement in the lives of young people, and that’s happening mostly on Wednesday evenings. Seedling (3-10 year-olds), JAM (Middle School), Overflow (High School), and Ignite groups (small study groups for young people) are all starting up and are places for kids – and parents and grandparents ! – to connect.
Sunday morning adult classes are a good place to connect for focused attention to the Word of God and for mutual support in life’s journey. We have three classes that will start up on Sunday, September 7, at 9:00 a.m., including a class for anyone interested in learning more about Emmanuel and membership. The other adult classes will be a study in the book of Acts, led by David Kiser, and a study on the topic of “Faith,” led by Scott Parker.
One-on-one discipleship. I never cease to be amazed at how God brings individuals together for this very special style of mentoring that happens practically every day of the week at Emmanuel. If you’re interested in being a mentor or in having a mentor, please let me or Judy Gloe know that ! We would love to make that connection happen for you !
Ladies Monday Night Bible Study. This study group has been a wide-open connection site for ladies at Emmanuel and their friends from all around Hermann. The study starts up again Monday, September 15, and you’ll be hearing about more details and sign-up opportunities soon !
Personal invitations. As God gives you a burden for people you know in the area, take time to open your home, life, and church to them. The best kind of evangelism and discipleship still occurs on the individual level as God, by His Spirit, empowers you to be a witness.
Finally, we have a Kick-Off Sunday and carry-in dinner Sunday, September 7. Join us if you would like to connect or re-connect. Let’s spend some time together and kick off the school and ministry year together ! Plus, we’ll worship through the Lord’s Supper and have a short time of “family update” from our elders. Hope you’ll mark your calendar ! More information coming soon about what you can bring for the meal !

Yesterday, I was watching a video produced by the Alumni Association of Columbia International University (where Diana and I attended seminary). The video asked the question about that school, “What has changed … and what hasn’t changed ?” I couldn’t help thinking that so much in that video is true as well of Emmanuel. :

So much has changed over the years …
The church’s physical location has changed : new building, new classrooms, coffee shop, new & improved entrances, additional property.
Our dream of a vibrant ministry to young people and young families has grown into a reality.
With all this change, it’s important to remember what has not changed :
Where we’ve come from,
And where we’re going,
The tradition that now spans generations,
And the mission that drives us : Celebrating God’s Presence, Demonstrating God’s Love, Communicating God’s Good News, Assimilating People into God’s Family, and Educating God’s People.

Let’s have a great fall of connecting !
(If you want to see the real video – the one from CIU, not my version of it – you can view it at http://animoto.com/play/eaYlv0lVa5JxcEIaHUBmAg)

Other notes :

Worship this Sunday :
We will conclude our summer “In a Nutshell” series with a sermon on “The Bible in a Nutshell,” using as our text Hebrews 4:12-16. See you at 10:15.
The Gospel of John study class for adults continues to meet at 9:00 a.m. in the Conference Room. All are invited.
Ministry Team Leaders :
Don’t forget that the Steward Committee has asked us to begin preparing our budgets for 2015. As you put your budget together, please eventually submit it to the Elder responsible for your ministry area – Spiritual Formation for Adults : Chris Neale ; Young People & Families : John Gloe ; Fellowship & Sticky Groups : Jeremy Talley ; Support Ministries : Mike Mahoney ; Missions : Scott Parker ; Worship : Tom Rea.

Fall Activities Calendar
A fall activities calendar will be available the next several Sundays at church. In the meantime, be sure to …
read your worship bulletin,
keep an eye on the church website (www.hermannefree.com),
and check the bulletin boards in the church and at He-Brews Café.

Hope to see you Sunday !