David sends this note for the newsletter:  We want to thank everyone who joined us for our Crossroads’ study that was focused on The Gospel. If interested, the entire series is available to download from our website. We are currently seeking the Lord’s guidance on our next Crossroads series and if He is willing, we anticipate that this will start sometime in early 2009. Again, thank you to everyone!!

Two weeks ago in a message on our Vision for 2009, I talked about how our National Visitor’s Center in Washington DC has a plaque at the entrance which says, “We have built no temple but the Capitol. We consult no common oracle but the Constitution.” In addition, in the visitor’s center, our national anthem was incorrectly identified as “E Pluribus Unum” when in fact it is, “In God We Trust”. In a follow up to that, I’d like to tell you some things about our National Cathedral in Washington D.C. This is a “church” in name only, but it is often the “church” that presidents and dignitaries go to in Washington. It is far from Christian, instead embracing people of “all faiths and no faith”.

This week, I read a mind-blowing article by the faith/religion writer at the Washington Post, one of our nation’s most prominent newspapers. In this article, she discusses where President Obama should go to church. She suggests the National Cathedral, because it is so pluralistic. The National Cathedral is a nominally Episcopalian church that celebrated it’s 100th anniversary last year. With a “One Spirit among many Nations Festival.” This is how the Post described the celebration,  ”With a background of sound and lights, the festival drew believers and nonbelievers from all over the country. “We wanted them to experience their humanity,” says Lloyd, [the Dean/pastor of the church] “to have the sense that they shared a common life with each other.”

Later in the article, the writer admiringly mentions that Deepak Chopra, a Hindu/New Age guru spoke at a recent packed out National Cathedral service. Chopra, when asked about Obama, said that he believes the president elect has “transcended spiritual identity.” I don’t know about you, but I read this article, and I see the foundation for a coming one world religion. It might be closer than we’ve imagined. All it might take is some sort of global crisis to get the ball rolling. Oh wait. We’re in the middle of one right now! (article source: http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/sally_quinn/2008/11/obamas_should_choose_national.html)

Tuesday, December 23 - The Nest homeless ministry Christmas party.

This Sunday morning at Agape - Vision Sunday part 2! Sunday after worship, we will be continuing our message series on vision 2009 - that which God is calling us to as a church for next year. The first part of the message is now available on our website: http://agapepinson.com/sermons_online.htm.

We will be continuing to discuss our calling for 2009, and this will be a message of HOPE for the future. If you have been struggling thus far during this holiday season (with depression, lack of focus, the blah’s, worry, etc) then the message Sunday will encourage and lift you up, I believe.

Also - partly sparked by David McConnell’s excellent message on baptism at Crossroads this past Sunday (again - listen to it online at: http://agapepinson.com/sermons_online.htm),
We will be having a baptismal service the last Sunday of the year - December 28th. If you have not yet been baptized, then please let me know, and we will baptize you that Sunday. If you listen to David’s message, you will realize the vast importance of baptism! Also - if your kids have given their lives to Jesus, but have not yet been baptized, then this Sunday will be the perfect Sunday for them.

Speaking of eating and fellowship: Next Sunday (December 21) we will be having a very special Christmas service at Agape. We begin at 10:00am with a covered dish breakfast together. (everybody needs to bring some sort of breakfast dish - more details next week). After our meal together, we will enjoy and participate in a worship service that will be led by our worship team, as well as our children and dance team. It should be wonderful!

Also note that we will be voting on our 2009 budget this Sunday, December 14th, right after our morning worship and word. If you would like to look at our budget, we’ve posted it on our website:http://agapepinson.com/online_resources.htm You will need Microsoft Excel to view the budget proposal.

Propel - Finally - our calling is not to reach and disciple people merely to grow our fellowship, or to help us out. We are called to propel people into their calling and destiny in Jesus. Sometimes that means they will stay and serve with us at Agape - other times it means that they will serve elsewhere - even in other countries. It’s our job to send them out - or propel them - to where God is calling them to be.

This Week’s Schedule:  (This month’s schedule online at: http://agapepinson.com/calendar_of_events.htm)

Sunday night: 5 pm Sunday night at Crossroads, David will be teaching on: ::

Baptized!