To God's Beloved @ Cloverdale Baptist Church:
Summer is almost over, and I am not sure if we are ready for the fall. Like the old children's game, it seems to be shouting, "ready or not, here I come". It is exciting to enter into our very first fall in our new building! With so much going on, communication and engagement will be key! Please make an effort to know what is going on, and to choose to join in, and help us be a healthy church for the glory of our God. If you belong we need you to engage! If you don't belong quite yet, we long for you to find a place to belong in a smaller gathering of people.
I was listening to a sermon this week, and the preacher stated to his church family, "circles are better than rows". What he meant by that was to emphasize the need for smaller groups to connect people to one another and the church family. We have said, we must grow smaller to grow bigger, and that is the same idea. My encouragement to you is that you would join a smaller group this year, and offer love to that smaller group as you grow together. Sign up for Growth Groups and Sunday School will be at the welcome desk this Sunday. Sign up, get to know one another and grow together!
On September 5 we are going to be delivering flyers to our community around us, and we need your help! If we have enough people this becomes a simple fun ministry, if we don't, it adds work. We are looking for people who are willing to walk, pray, and deliver flyers. Here is a great short term ministry for you, if you are looking for a little exercise and a way to build our family at Cloverdale Baptist Church! Please reply to this email if you are willing to help, or let Rick Crompton know. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
September 13 is coming, and as we sharpen our plans we want to communicate them to you as clearly as we can so that you can advertise on social media, as well as so you can invite your friends, and participate in making this day special and God honouring.
Our morning service will be at our regular time, and will focus on us as a church family. You are welcome to invite your friends to this, and we will be excited to have our choir sing, and guest speaker, Dr. John Neufeld share with us God's Word. It will be a very special service followed by a luncheon put on by our Kitchen team. From 2-4 we will be having an open house. Coffee will be on the entire time, and at 2:30 we will have a brief (15 minute) sharing time. We will share the purpose of the building and praise God for the chance to use this facility to serve the community (The Gospel will be shared). We would love for our people to be around and show new people the building, and welcome people to our church home. We will have a cake following the 2:30 celebration.
Prayer: We had our last family prayer meeting last night (Tuesday), and as we move our passion for prayer into our small groups, please continue to pray. We believe that as our prayers go, so will go this church. Let Psalm 127:1 be a cry for us in our time of need to be a people who pray alone and together! PRAY PRAY PRAY!
Please be in prayer for Pastor Les and Deedee as they are arriving on September 1. It is exciting to anticipate what God will do through them in helping us connect and exalt God in song. They are looking for a place to stay as they transition that has low costs. Please pray that their house in Salmon Arm would sell, and please pray that as they transition here it would go well, and they would find us a loving welcoming place to serve!
If you want to grow as a Christian, you must do four things: 1. Read God's Word; 2. Pray; 3. Be Committed To Community; 4. Preach The Gospel to ourselves every day.
May I challenge you, as the business of September comes to make these things a priority! The small choices that we make will shape the big picture of who we are. Make these four small choices well.
Begin every day with a passage of Scripture and prayer. Let the words of that passage guide your heart into the presence of God, and rejoice in Him as you look for opportunities to accomplish the good works He has prepared in advance for you to do.
Sunday Is Coming:
Title: How Great Is Our God: God Is Jealous
Text: Numbers 25:1-18
Why do you think that God tells us His name is Jealous? Exodus 34:14
Why is the jealousy of God a good thing?
What does it mean that, God wants our exclusive devotion?
How did Phinehas display this?
How can we display this same passion for exclusive devotion to God in our own lives and church?
May God grant you an amazing week focused on Him, and living in His presence for His glory!
A fellow servant,
Pastor Rob