February 11 – “Sunday Specifics”

We had another pretty good crowd yesterday at church.  Fifty-one people.  The Leadership Team is already talking about ways to create more space.  Work has already begun on cleaning out a storeroom to be used for Bible Studies.  Adjusting the seating arrangement will allow us to set up some more chairs and increase our ability to hold around 100 or so people.  That’s about twice what we have now.  Exciting stuff.

The children’s sermon was a lot of fun, as usual.  One of the youth in the church brought up her little dog that she adopted.  The little guys had a chance to ask questions, and we determined that McKenna had to pay the price and promise to take care of the puppy.  Great lead in to the main teaching on being adopted into the family of God.  A family in the church donated a trove of trinkets to be used as gifts for the kids.  Of course they went over well.  Who doesn’t like a gift? 

The Leadership Team is looking at doing some creative ministry on Friday nights.  Last Friday there were twelve students at a movie night at the Bell’s house.  The Stone Family is heading up a team to develop some events that could end up being oriented for the whole family.  Meanwhile some of the Leadership Team requested some specific training in evangelism.  After some discussion they decided to put a little pressure on each other.  Those who want to will share their personal testimony and how someone would go about becoming a Christian. 

I got a lot of feedback from the new folks who have started coming about the Ash Wednesday service this week.  They were all very interested in hearing an actual explanation of why people walk around all day with a dirty forehead.  And with all the excitement surrounded the last two weekends in Galveston, they were also excited about the explanation of the history of Mardi Gras. 

I also had a great talk with one of the kids whose family has been coming for a few weeks.  He is a teenager who loves fishing, so needless to say, we hit it off right away.  I’m going to try to give him a call as soon as the weather clears off some, and we’ll do some fishing in the canal near his house. 

It has been exciting, but honestly it loses some of its zip for me because Chris can’t be a part of it.  Some of the folks have been really nice.  One couple sent home a plant with me yesterday.  Another gifted me with a great looking Hawaiian shirt.  Others send their love and tell me to give Chris and Mom hugs from them.  It is hard to communicate just how much that means to us. 

Psalms 65:11 says, “You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.”

Father, thank you for showing us some of how you are at work around Seaside.  Please give us your eyes and your wisdom so we can see outside of the box and be true extensions of you.  Amen.