Hello everybody, and welcome into another Agape newsletter. I’m almost out of breath from typing the subject line to this email, so I’d better get started before I run out of steam. 

Ultra quick summary of TWIA (This Week In Agape): 

1. Family Friend Day this Sunday - invite a friend! 

2. Sunday message on knowing your spiritual gifts (part 2) 

3. High School Senior recognition this Sunday

4. Baptisms this Sunday (now you see why I’m almost out of breath!) 

5. Angel Food canceled after this month (see below) 

6. The Nest Tuesday, May 26, Food Pantry Wednesday May 27th. 

7. Kids worship practice (for Family Worship Sunday on May 31) Wednesday night May 27th, led by Greg Cusimano

8. Family Fun Day next Sunday

Wow! That’s a lot of stuff going on this week, though in case you are worried about getting too busy, I would point out that everything going on (except the Nest) is on either Wednesday or Sunday. This Sunday in particular is chock full of chocolaty goodness: Not only are we having a special “invite a friend” day, but we’re also going to celebrate baptism with at least one person - possibly more, celebrate the graduation of several of our high school seniors, and find out more about our personal Spiritual Gifts. Please allow me to urge you to look around your office today, (or your neighborhood…or your Facebook profile…or your email address list) and think of somebody to invite to fellowship and worship with us this Sunday!  I really think that this Sunday is going to be special, particularly as we celebrate Baptism, as we go deep in the Word of God, and as we welcome Marc Fischer back from his month long singing sabbatical! 

Last Sunday, we learned about the Spiritual Gifts of teaching, mercy, encouragement and message of wisdom, and how to know if you have those gifts. If you missed it, check out our online sermons page for the message in full: http://agapepinson.com/sermons_online.htm. This Sunday, we’re going to examine a few more specific Spiritual gifts (including message of knowledge, helps/service, healing and 3 or so more) We’ll also be talking about how there are no Aquamen and no Supermen in the Body of Christ. What in the world does that mean? I hope you come Sunday and find out! 

In Missions news, I need to let you know that this month will be the last month that we will be doing the Angel Food program. The good news is that there are at least two churches within ten miles of Agape that are still doing Angel Food, and if you are interested, we’ll be glad to get you information on their Angel Food program (times, locations, etc). 

Speaking of Missions, we will have our homeless ministry, The Nest, next Tuesday night, and we need your help! We always need people to help us load up food and chairs and tables, and then drive downtown with us to build relationships with a group of people referred to in Matthew 25 by Jesus as “the least of these”. (read Matthew 25:31-46 to find out how important the least of these are to the heart of Jesus!) The following night, Wednesday May 27 we will have food pantry at Agape, and guess what? We need your help there as well! We need your help with getting food ready to be given away, as well as carrying food to the car, and praying for people who come for food. Often, all it takes is a question or two (asked to the person that you are helping with food) to get into a deep conversation/prayer time with them - a time that could very well be life changing. Come join us Tuesday and Wednesday if you can! 

Also Wednesday, beginning at 6:30, we’re beginning our inaugural once a month youth worship night, combined with our friends from New Life Baptist church in Remlap. John King is working with the youth leadership at New Life to raise up an all youth led band who will be leading our youth group (and their youth group) in a once a month time of worship. In addition, Greg Cusimano will be working with our children that night also (beginning roughly at 7:15) to prepare them to lead/participate in Family Worship on Sunday, May 31. 

I’ll write more on Family Fun day in next week’s newsletter, and also at the beginning of next week. Suffice to say that it is shaping up to be a great time of fun and fellowship. More details to come very soon in regards to the Man food cook off, as well as the bake off. Stay tuned! 

Finally, I received a very important prayer request via email earlier today. Susan Gambill wrote asking us to pray for her mother, Martha Goggans, who had a stroke this week. Pray for healing and comfort for Martha, but also pray for Susan that she will experience and know God’s peace and Love right now. 

Here’s some interesting and edifying links for you: 

*****     This video was forwarded to me by by my own dear Janet, and it is fascinating and alarming. Did you know that both Germany and France (as well as most of Europe) will be Islamic nations by 2050, if not much sooner? Did you know that roughly half of the babies now born in     Belgium and the Netherlands are Islamic? This video contains some mind boggling demographic statistics. If that sounds boring to you, let me assure you that it is not - your jaw will drop several times in this video: CLICK HERE 

*****     Nancy Leigh DeMoss on Carrie Prejean’s recent profession of faith and bold stand on marriage….This will surprise you, but I believe DeMoss is absolutely right. CLICK HERE  (Carrie Prejean lost the Ms. California pageant by professing to uphold traditional marriage and    disagreeing with gay marriage). 

*****     You know you want a John Calvin bobblehead doll, don’t you? CLICK HERE 

*****     Catholic church unveils a statue of how Jesus might look today (in jeans, with modern haircut, etc) Is this intriguing or disturbing? CLICK HERE 

*****     Ray Ortlund on Gossip: CLICK HERE 

See you Sunday! 

Chase