To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
This is an exciting week in our history as a church as we anticipate moving into the new building! I can't wait to get into my new office, and to preach to you from the new sanctuary, and to delight in God's goodness to us together from there! Please continue to pray for our occupancy permit, it looks really good, but we won't be sure until it is in our hands...
Service will be at 10:30, please mark that down, and come early to find your new seats...We would like to reserve the back left seats (10 rows) as you face the pulpit as a scent free zone. We have people in our congregation who struggle with perfumes and other smells, so if you are one of these please sit here, if you come without perfume or cologne, please feel free to join them here, if not there are many other seats to enjoy the service in.
We would also like you to be aware of parking, if you are a senior, have a young family, or handicap sticker, please park as close as you can to the new facility! If you are able to walk, please do so, as we think parking will be at a premium for the first few months as we get the rest of the parking lot complete. Our leadership will be parking away from the building, and you are welcome to do that as well, we want you here, full of joy, and want to be as accessible as possible to new people and others.
This Sunday is Fathers Day. This is an important day to celebrate, especially in a world that so often confuses the role of dad. I praise God for my dad, and the model he has been to me of wisdom, loving care, priorities of God and home, and so many more things. I am very proud of my dad, and proud to be his son. Dad, I love you, and think the world of you. You are one of my heroes, and much of the good I see in my own life and family is due to your love and example. Make sure to take the time to tell your dad how much you love him and what you appreciate about him. It is also a great reminder for me of the importance of being a godly dad to my children. It is such a joy to have four boys who are seeking to follow God, and to remember my role in teaching (and modelling) them to be men who will love their wives as Christ loved the church, and follow God and His Word in every area of their lives. It is sometimes overwhelming as I remember the importance of my role, and the frailty of my life, so if you are a dad, take the time to evaluate how you are doing in God's desire for you as a dad, and commit again to seek to be His man in your family in His strength.
HAPPY FATHERS DAY!
The first full day in the office is going to be a day of prayer. Our plan for this will be Tuesday, June 23. As pastors we are going to spend the morning in prayer together. As you are working, or at home, or doing other things, we would encourage you to join us in making this a day of prayer focus. Please spend time in praise and thanksgiving. This is a time to celebrate the goodness of God and all He has done for us. This is also a time of prayer for what is coming, the joys and struggles. Pray as we take this next step in transition that we would be strong and of good courage. Please ask God that He would help us as we learn lessons from the Israelites, to remove any murmuring, or fears (no grasshopper complex) and to help us to be the kind of HOLY, TRUTH FILLED, MISSIONAL, LOVING church that He wants us to be. We need prayer and huge effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit. We have come so far, and yet have much work to do together for the Glory of God! There is much to be excited about, and much work to do! We need God's help to die to self and live for His glory together as a family loyal to God and one another.
Please also pray for our church meeting coming up on June 25. It is exciting to see new people stepping into ministries, and to have a chance together to plan for the future. Our church meetings have been a pleasure to be a part of, come filled with the Spirit as we seek to do God's work, God's way, for God's glory! We serve a great God!
This week Elizabeth Elliott died. She was an amazing woman of God, who served Him faithfully through the loss of her husband Jim, and beyond. Her testimony and faithfulness to God are worth celebrating as we rejoice that she is no fool in following her husbands footsteps to glory. "He is no fool to give up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose". May her life and death remind us to walk worthy of the calling we have received, and to live in light of eternity. Biographies are very helpful to read, and she wrote one about her husband that is well worth the read called, Through Gates Of Splendour, so that will be the book I will recommend this week. Christians should be readers, so choose a book, work through at your own pace, and share with others what you are learning. Examples of men and women like Elizabeth Elliott are tremendously valuable in showing us how to live for God in a difficult times.
Please take the time to praise and pray so that our hearts are prepared for Sunday...
Text: Joshua 1:1-9
Title: Now What?
We are finishing a journey, and starting a new one, exciting and joy filled.
What are your memories of what God has done for you in our current building?
What are you most excited about as we move to our Lord's new building?
As you read the text, what gave these people security as they moved into the promised land?
Why is being Word saturated so important as we journey forward?
How can you do this personally? How can you help us to do this corporately?
What ministries do you think God wants you to do in the new era of our church family?
We are 22 and counting, how will you help us live with passion for MINISTRY, NOT MAINTENANCE?
Have a great week!
We will send out an email as soon as we know for sure that we have the permit for Sunday! Keep praying and waiting with eager anticipation!
Service Time: 10:30
Service Place: NEW BUILDING GOD WILLING!
An excited FELLOW SERVANT OF THE KING...
Pastor Rob