This week, Brett and I are on vacation, but we will be back Sunday and are looking forward to an exciting day! This coming Sunday we will finalize Luau details and also we will vote on our new property! Are you ready to step forward into God's plan for our church? I know I am, and I am so excited to be taking this journey with you!
On August 4th, I am preaching from Matthew 9 and 10. I am going to be talking about the call of Jesus on the lives of the disciples. We will discuss the instructions that he gave them and we will learn about the process of outreach. Come as we prepare for our Luau, the biggest outreach event of our year. It's coming soon, on Saturday August 10th! Are you ready to meet with the people?
I love you and I am praying for you while I am gone,
Pastor Shannon
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Sunday July 28, 2013
Hello! I hope that you are keeping cool in this weather, it's warm but beautiful! Brett and I will be leaving at the end of the week for vacation. Elder Ken Evans is on call in case of an emergency.
On Sunday we have a special treat! Missionary Dan Kihm will be with us. For the last 8 years, Dan has been a senior Pastor in Anderson, IN. He and his wife Christy are leaving soon as missionaries to the Netherlands. He will share first about his coming ministry in the Netherlands and he will also preach about external discipleship, following the same series that we have been in the last few weeks. I hope you will come and hear from this man of God!
This Saturday Berlin Center Camp Meeting starts! There are a lot of great opportunities for children, youth and adults! Check it out here: Berlin Center Camp Meeting.
Blessings~
Pastor Shannon
On Sunday we have a special treat! Missionary Dan Kihm will be with us. For the last 8 years, Dan has been a senior Pastor in Anderson, IN. He and his wife Christy are leaving soon as missionaries to the Netherlands. He will share first about his coming ministry in the Netherlands and he will also preach about external discipleship, following the same series that we have been in the last few weeks. I hope you will come and hear from this man of God!
This Saturday Berlin Center Camp Meeting starts! There are a lot of great opportunities for children, youth and adults! Check it out here: Berlin Center Camp Meeting.
Blessings~
Pastor Shannon
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
The Institution of the Church
A group of my friends
and I have been having a discussion on the topic of the institution of the church, and as I began to think about
it I started with “Why do *I* love the church?”
The church has been
a parent to me in a sense: a stable foundation that has always been there. It
is one of the few things that has been a constant in my life. And sure, there have been moments when I
disagree with the way the church functions, but still I love her. I speak fondly of the church and get
defensive if someone insults her. The
church has made me who I am. For better
or for worse, I am where I am today and who I am today in part because of the
institution of the church. To my great joy, the institution of the church is
why I have dear friends and my husband. I love the church.
This is my basis,
what has kept me generally positive towards the intuition of church. However, it speaks only to why *I*
am able to love the church, and my situation is different from many.
In addressing the
issue of why it is cool to love the institution of the church and to stay
committed even when it’s difficult…I will address you as I address any person
who is trying to understand why I do what I do (which happens often).
And to them, this is
what I say, it’s cool to love the church because I believe in the good it can
do….I believe in what it can produce. Although
the church does not always function as it ought to function, much good can come
from this institution…here are just a few:
Love: Any person who
has heard me preach knows that this is my foundation, the most important
thing. Human beings want to be loved, we
crave it, we desire it and *I* think we need it to survive. The church can give that to us. If the church is functioning correctly she
will live in love, she will function on love, love will be her foundation
because “God is love” and so should the institution that follows God.
Unity: The church
gathers because of one thing, God, who brings together all people. People of all ages, all races, male and
female, tall and short, baseball fans and football fans, republicans,
democrats…we may have no other reason to gather but for connection to God. And
the place we gather is the institution of the church. People need unity, they
need to feel accepted and to belong – the church is this place where (ideally)
ALL are welcome, ALL belong.
Jesus: Yes, the
institution of the church is how people can meet Jesus. And Jesus is what
people ultimately really and truly need.
When the institution
of the church is functioning properly, so much good can come from her. So many people can find what they are looking
for. This is why it’s ok to love the church, even when it’s difficult, because the
potential is enormous.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Sermon July 21, 2013
Greetings! I pray that you are well this week.
We have been talking about discipleship, this month with a special focus on external discipleship as we head toward the Luau - our largest outreach event of the year. A few questions I've been asked regarding my faith life: why become a Christian before you're on your death bed? Is there any reason to follow Christ besides to get into heaven? If we believe the only point of Christianity is getting a place in heaven, why do we disciple others? I want to address these questions, so come Sunday as we hash this out. Read 2 Corinthians 4 in preparation.
We had an exciting meeting this morning! If you want information regarding our future place of worship please contact me.
I am praying for each one of you!
Pastor Shannon
We have been talking about discipleship, this month with a special focus on external discipleship as we head toward the Luau - our largest outreach event of the year. A few questions I've been asked regarding my faith life: why become a Christian before you're on your death bed? Is there any reason to follow Christ besides to get into heaven? If we believe the only point of Christianity is getting a place in heaven, why do we disciple others? I want to address these questions, so come Sunday as we hash this out. Read 2 Corinthians 4 in preparation.
We had an exciting meeting this morning! If you want information regarding our future place of worship please contact me.
I am praying for each one of you!
Pastor Shannon
Friday, July 12, 2013
Sunday July 14, 2013
Hello! This week I will be preaching from Genesis 1:26-27. How can these verses be a basis for evangelism or outward discipleship? Come and find out!
Also, plan to stay after the service for an exciting announcement regarding our future place of worship!
Also, plan to stay after the service for an exciting announcement regarding our future place of worship!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Sunday July 7, 2013
Greetings! After a long week of the wonderful Global Gathering and many meetings - it is nice to be home. I pray that you are well as we start a new month!
This Sunday I will begin preaching about Discipleship. We are going to look at inward and outward discipleship over the next two months. As we head towards our annual Luau (on August 10th) a time where we meet many people who do not have the hope that comes from Jesus Christ, we are going to talk about outward discipleship. Maybe you use the term evangelism? or witnessing? Whatever you call it - the idea is the same. The Bible calls us to "make disciples" (Matthew 28), to "seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10), to be God's witnesses (Acts 1). Why? For what purpose? Let's find out!
I am praying for each one of you,
Pastor Shannon
This Sunday I will begin preaching about Discipleship. We are going to look at inward and outward discipleship over the next two months. As we head towards our annual Luau (on August 10th) a time where we meet many people who do not have the hope that comes from Jesus Christ, we are going to talk about outward discipleship. Maybe you use the term evangelism? or witnessing? Whatever you call it - the idea is the same. The Bible calls us to "make disciples" (Matthew 28), to "seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10), to be God's witnesses (Acts 1). Why? For what purpose? Let's find out!
I am praying for each one of you,
Pastor Shannon
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Global Gathering 2013 #2
Hello!
After the last part of the week I am so excited to share a few things with you. The Global Gathering was such a wonderful week of fellowship, worship and the joining together of the people of God. You still have the opportunity to experience the services: Global Gathering Services.
As I noted earlier: along with our sister churches (Pastor David Aukerman from Mt. Haley Church of God and Pastor Jonathan Frymire from Orchard View Church of God) I got to meet our delegate Sudipta Nanda at the Global Gathering. Sudipta is such a lovely man, he is sincere and fun! I was delighted to meet him and listen as he shared about his ministry. Read David's reaction to the connection: David on Sudipta and connectivity.
During the week the offerings from every service went towards Water4 (go to their website to check it out). We gathered $106,000 and an anonymous donor pledged to give $4 for every $1 donated. Therefore the Church of God will send over $500,000 to build wells for clean water! We also packed over 260,000 meals. The experience was truly a time where I saw the people of God at work. But it can't stop in Anderson! We've got to continue the mission to help meet people's needs (both physical and spiritual). And so I bring the challenge back to you, what can we do? How can we continue to stand together and share God with the world?
After the Global Gathering, ministers and delegates from Church of God churches gathered for our annual GA (General Assembly). At this year's session we welcomed a new General Director, Rev. Jim Lyon. Please be in prayer for Rev. Lyon as he begins the responsibility of leading the Church of God into the future.
If you have more questions, I'd love to tell you more! I come back to you excited and ready for the ministry we can do at Harvest Point Church.
~Pastor Shannon
After the last part of the week I am so excited to share a few things with you. The Global Gathering was such a wonderful week of fellowship, worship and the joining together of the people of God. You still have the opportunity to experience the services: Global Gathering Services.
As I noted earlier: along with our sister churches (Pastor David Aukerman from Mt. Haley Church of God and Pastor Jonathan Frymire from Orchard View Church of God) I got to meet our delegate Sudipta Nanda at the Global Gathering. Sudipta is such a lovely man, he is sincere and fun! I was delighted to meet him and listen as he shared about his ministry. Read David's reaction to the connection: David on Sudipta and connectivity.
During the week the offerings from every service went towards Water4 (go to their website to check it out). We gathered $106,000 and an anonymous donor pledged to give $4 for every $1 donated. Therefore the Church of God will send over $500,000 to build wells for clean water! We also packed over 260,000 meals. The experience was truly a time where I saw the people of God at work. But it can't stop in Anderson! We've got to continue the mission to help meet people's needs (both physical and spiritual). And so I bring the challenge back to you, what can we do? How can we continue to stand together and share God with the world?
After the Global Gathering, ministers and delegates from Church of God churches gathered for our annual GA (General Assembly). At this year's session we welcomed a new General Director, Rev. Jim Lyon. Please be in prayer for Rev. Lyon as he begins the responsibility of leading the Church of God into the future.
If you have more questions, I'd love to tell you more! I come back to you excited and ready for the ministry we can do at Harvest Point Church.
~Pastor Shannon
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