Wise or Otherwise

Dear Friends,

This morning I am reflecting upon the past few days at the Oregon Ministry Network Summit (Oregon Pastors Conference), and I am so encouraged by the leading of the Holy Spirit in the direction, vision, goals and implementation of our Network leadership. Pastor Bill (Superintendent) is a wonderful encourager and leader to the Pastors of this state and he has taken bold leadership steps to create a healthy, vibrant team and vision for our Assemblies Network Family. I am proud to be a member of this family. Thank you for your prayers over Pastor Steve and I, and it was a special treat to have my Dad join us on Wednesday as well.

This Sunday I will begin a new teaching series entitled "Wise or Otherwise? - Wisdom from Proverbs". For me, and I am sure for many of you, I have found the Book of Proverbs to be both intriguing and pointed in its appeal to the human issues we all face. Although this compilation of pithy statements by King Solomon was written over 3,000 years ago, the Truth of God hits home in our lives today. The root meaning of the word proverb is "to compare, to be similar" - Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, and it is in the form of short sayings containing a nugget of truth, as a comparison illustration, or an example (wise or otherwise). I am looking forward to this study of God's Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to encourage, equip, counsel, give warning, and even redirect through God's Wisdom in Proverbs.

I was encouraged by your participation at our Team Ministry Celebration Dinner. You and others are truly living the value "To Serve" within our church family. Each of you fulfill a very important part of the ministry and service of our church family to one another and to our community.

This Sunday Night at 6:00 PM we have an opportunity for you and your family to slow your pace of life, to quiet your spirit, and to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to you. In this meditative, reflective and prayerful time you will experience a special time in God's presence. Prayer Chapel - Sunday, April 26th, 6:00-7:00PM.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

Quick Note

Dear Friends,

Just a quick note this Friday evening as the Sun is sliding behind the trees. I am was so encouraged by our Easter Services last Sunday. What a wonderful Resurrection Sunday! We had around 85 in attendance, which left less than 20 open seats scattered around. I am thankful for everyone that served in all the activities and services Easter Morning: Charlene & Kathy with a delightful brunch, Amy & Melody with a fun and soggy Easter Egg Hunt (I am still eating the candy from Aliya's basket), Pastor Steve and the worship/sound/media teams, Ushers/Greeters, Coffee & Refreshments, etc. You are a blessing.

I am thankful for all the gifting and service that many freely give to our church family, and we have a special dinner to celebrate what God is doing in our church. This Sunday we have our Team Ministry Celebration Dinner after service. If you are active in ministry within our church with worship/sound/media, kids, youth, teaching, food, coffee, cleaning, meetings, ushers/greeters, etc., then YOU are invited to this dinner.

This Sunday, lets come ready to worship, connect and serve! The Holy Spirit is working within each one of us, calling us to a deeper fellowship with Him. Let's continue to worship Him in spirit and in truth and in the unity and love found within our church family. I can picture each time we come together as the body of Christ, our Heavenly Father has His welcoming arms to embrace us within the joy, peace and hope we find in Him alone.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

"Easter Celebration"

Dear Friends,

As I look out my window at the freshness and beauty of the budding flowers, I am reminded of the new life we have in Jesus Christ our Lord. Easter is that day when the Body of Christ around this world gather in Mega churches to coffee shop churches, from extravagant Passion Plays to a simple gathering in a basement sharing communion under the threat of government persecution to remember Christ's death and resurrection. Yet, what each and every one of us celebrate and worship is the great debt we have in the sacrifice of love offered to us in Christ's death and resurrection. As the beautiful hymn states:

He paid a debt he did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay.
I needed someone to wash my sins away.
And now I sing a brand new song:“Amazing Grace.” All day long.
Christ Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay.

The Apostle Paul reveals the truth of God's character, His plan of salvation and our future, and His everpresent unmeritted favor as a gift to us.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Eph 2:4-8

This Sunday, I am looking forward to our Easter Celebration Worship Service with you, as we proclaim our love and devotion to our Risen Lord and Savior!

Thank you - to our two teams that went out Wednesday night on our invitation/prayerwalk. We blessed the homes then left an Easter invitation doorhanger.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim

Dear Friends,

We had a wonderful Sunday Morning Service last Sunday, with Pastor Steve and the Worship Team leading us with inspirational and beautifully crafted songs both contemporary and old. Pastor Steve is a gift to our church family, and as I raise my hands in worship to God, I give thanks for the talents and gifting God has given to us through our Praise and Worship Team. I am also very excited about my parents joining our Pastoral Team this summer. As my Dad shared Sunday morning, he will be leading The 50 Yard Line ministry to those 50+ in age. With their 30+ years in ministry and giftings as grounded Biblical Teachers and Pastoral Care, they will have an immediate impact on our church family.

As I write this e-note, I can't help but get excited about the plans God has for us as a church family. As Christ shared with his disciples in Matthew 9:37-38, "The harevest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few." The greater Damascus community desperately needs the hope, love and forgiveness that can only come from Jesus Christ, and there is a shortage of laborers for this monumental task. "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." The Lord has called our Pastoral Team, Ministry Team Leaders, and each one of us to be the "sent" laborers into His harvest field. I can feel God's calling, blessing and equiping upon us as a church family, and I can see His divine hand at work in establishing skilled, highly qualified, and mature Pastors and leadership within our body. The harvest is at hand...are you ready?

Easter is one of our opportunities as a church, to invite, share, and celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is a graphic reminder to each one of us the depth of Christ's love and sacrifice, and His divine power over sin and death. We serve a risen Christ. If God has placed a family member, friends, or co-worker on your heart that needs Christ's hope in their life, then simply invite them to our Easter Services. You never know, a simple invitation may lead them to Christ and a new life for eternity.

You are my joy! Looking forward to seeing each of you this Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim