Agape Newsletter, March 20, 2009

Hello everybody! Have you been enjoying our incredible weather this week? I certainly have! The grass and weeds have as well, so I had to get on the tractor yesterday and do something about it. I always enjoy the first few grass cuts of the season, before it dissolves into monotony. But, hey, you aren’t here to read about the weather, or grass cutting, are you? No, I didn’t think so. Here’s what’s up at Agape this week: 

1. Sunday message: Spiritual gifts: How the body works, and what the gifts look like in action. 
2. New small groups launch on Sunday, April 5. 
3. New deacons and deacon ordination
4. The Nest next Tuesday, March 24
5. Food pantry next Wednesday, March 25 (and changing to one Wednesday night a week in April) 
6. Prayer time: Join us this Sunday morning at 9:15 in the front of the sanctuary! 

 

This Sunday, we will be continuing our series on the gifts of the Spirit. We will be focusing on how the Holy Spirit has distributed the gifts to us (like a body), how to know what gift God has given you, and what some of the spiritual gifts look like in operation. Hopefully this will be an interesting and encouraging message for you personally as we find out how to know how God has gifted you, as we dig in the scriptures for truth on the gifts, and as we watch/listen to demonstrations of the gifts in operation. I hope you can join us for worship, prayer and word Sunday! 

As I’ve mentioned before, we will have two new small groups beginning on the first week of April. David McConnell and Michael Fargarson will be leading a group for young couples as well as families with young children. Greg Cusimano and Monte Owen will be leading a small group for parents of teenagers and other couples. How do we define “young”? We don’t! If you want to be in the young class, go for it - if you want to be in Greg and Monte’s class, then you are welcome there. If you have some kids who are young, and some kids who are teens, then try out both classes and see where God has you fit in! If somebody would like to help me find a word for Greg and Monte’s class, that describes couples who are slightly, uhhm, more seasoned than “young”, I would appreciate it! Middle or medium just doesn’t seem to work, and we certainly don’t want to offend anybody!    :)   I’ve also been asked about a group for singles, and have been thinking about that. Are you interested in a singles small group? Reply to this email and let me know if so. 

Brian Perkins has recently given the pastoral team his list of new deacons, which were elected by you, the congregation. Brian and Chris Z. took your recommendations, tallied them up, and then went and talked with the men that were selected and Biblically eligible to serve. Three of the men agreed to serve, and they will be publicly presented to the congregation (and ordained, if necessary) at the beginning of April. Unfortunately, those names are top secret, and if I shared them with you right now, I would be putting myself at extreme risk. 

What? You say you want me to tell you and put myself at extreme risk?! Well, that’s not very neighborly of you, but I’ll tell you anyway. John Talley, Monte Owen, and Mark Trimm will be our new deacons, joining Chris Zavatchen and Brian Perkins. Feel free to welcome them on board Sunday, and go ahead and start praying for them! 

The NEST NEEDS YOUR HELP! We will be engaging in our monthly ministry to the homeless of Birmingham this Tuesday night. We need help cooking, loading chairs, setting up, and cleaning up dishes when all is said and done. I know that doesn’t sound glamorous, but the hungry and homeless aren’t fed and ministered to by well wishing, and greeting cards! Besides all of that, we always have fun together, and God often opens the door to some neat ministry with the people downtown. Come join us at 5:30 (or when you can make it) Tuesday night to get ready. The van leaves around 6:30. We also need your help with Wednesday night’s food pantry. Come join us to help make baskets and pray and share the good news with people Wednesday night beginning as early as you can arrive. 

Now here’s some links for you to enjoy: 


*****     ESV study Bible is the Christian book of the year. I agree - it is a fantastic study Bible, the best I’ve seen. CLICK HERE 


*****     Court rules that Christian group must allow members into leadership who disagree with the group’s statement of faith. CLICK HERE 

*****     Persecution in North Korea; ministries working underground. CLICK HERE 

*****     Men, are we truly thankful for our wives? CLICK HERE 

*****     Stuff Christians Like: The Secret Bathroom: CLICK HERE (I haven’t found one at Agape yet) 

See you Sunday! 
Chase