Tomorrow, we launch our two worship services!

Tomorrow, I get to do something I've always wanted to help a church do... go to multiple worship gatherings. It's a hard shift... but one that is so helpful for growth.

The second church that Sharon and I pastored had two worship services, but the first one we pastored didn't and we worked hard to get them to that point so that the steady growth we were seeing would continue, but the core value of community was like a snake... it kept us from going to two worship gatheirngs and shortly after we left, the growth went the other way!

I am so proud of Community of Joy leaders and folks... we are making a HUGE step for us to go this route and I pray that it will pay off in a big way immediately!

Yes, there are some trade offs, but they are worth it to see Kingdom growth!

Other great items for sale on ebay...

Here are some original painted and pen and ink turkey calls that I have for sale on ebay... all artwork done by my friend, nationally know wildlife artist, Wilhelm Goebel!

For Wil and Chris

One of the prints that we are selling on Ebay by nationally known wildlife artist and friend, Wilhelm J. Goebel! You can find these prints, originals, and turkey calls on ebay by going to my store... do a community search for bwhnter83 and you will find the store!

Time to Throw in the Towel....!

Time to Throw In the Towel….

Yes, you read that right! It is time for us to throw in the towel already!

October is a big month for us at Community of Joy! We are throwing in the towel in many ways! It will be the first full month since we threw in the towel on one worship gathering… we now have two! One at 9 a.m. and one at 10:30 a.m.

On October 7 @ 6:30 p.m. you are invited to come to the ministry center to participate in a special worship gathering called the Love Feast, which is modeled after Jesus’ last supper with his disciples recorded in John 13. In this meal that Jesus shared with his followers, he threw in the towel as a way of reminding us that we are called to serve the world. Come join us for this special time… childcare provided as well as a simple meal, an opportunity to serve one another by washing feet, and an opportunity to receive communion.

On October 21, in both of our morning worship gatherings we will have a special time of dedication for our ministry center and then an Open House from 2-5 p.m. Our District Executive Don Booz will be on hand for the festivities. We have invited area Church of the Brethren congregations and the community to come and see what God has done! This day will mark the official day when we throw in the towel on the MAJOR renovations we will do to the ministry center! We hope to have only small punch list items left to do after this date!

It’s time for each of us to throw in the towel! Read John 13:1-17 and consider how you can throw in the towel by serving others in the name of Jesus and with the love of Jesus. We truly want this building that we purchased to be a ministry center and we want to be good neighbors… so, how can you/ we throw in the towel and make an impact in the life of our community and neighbors? How can we share Jesus’ love?

Won’t you join me in throwing in the towel as we humbly love and serve Jesus?

Together on the Journey….

WOW! Gotta appreciate Earl Holland!

Just yesterday, I was thinking that I needed to call or email Earl Holland from The Daily Times concerning our Open House at the Ministry Center in October... and when the phone rang just a few moments ago... it was Earl Holland beating me to the punch... he called to check on the progress of things.

What a great reporter he is! What follow up! Thanks Earl!

The above article was Earl's first one on CoJ!

Do you know that Sunday we go to TWO worship gatherings...!

Just don't want any one to miss the fact that on Sunday we go to two worship gatherings!

We will do our more traditional flavor at 9 a.m. and it will only be an hour!

We will do our more contemporary flavor at 10:30 and who knows how long it will be???! Actually it will be no more than an hour and a half sometimes... but most times closer to an hour and fifteen!

New Series to begin Sunday....

I am again, taking a title from one of my favorite musicians... Todd Agnew's new CD is titled "Better Questions". In it he says that he has come to discover that he often has better questions than answers when it comes to his life as a follower of Jesus.

I find the same is true for me!

However this series will not only raise questions, it will ask some tough questions and hope to stimulate our lives for following Jesus on the road of mission where everything is not black and white, but often gray and cloudy.

This week's question... "Does Prayer Work?" Just asking the question project some pretty heavy baggage! Stay tuned....

Five days to go...

until our history making event of going to 2 worship gatherings!

Keep praying that this will be a huge success!

Two Worship Gatherings begin on Sunday...

This Sunday, we will make history in the life of our congregation... we will begin two worship gatherings. The first will be at 9 a.m. and will be more traditional in flavor. The second will be at 10:30 a.m. and will be more contemporary in flavor. The first is guaranteed to be an hour and the second makes no promises as to length... except that it will be less than an hour and a half... most likely closer to and hour and fifteen!

Before and After....

Took a picture of the building for Sunday's slide show... it was telling to see the before and after of the outside... even more telling when the ramp rails finally come!

What Talent....the youth room....

The youth dreamed up the design scheme for their room... and one of their own, Christian Jones did the art work... It is a fabulous additon to our ministry center... the pics are of the artist at work in a progression including last nights' room full of 17 youth enjoying their very own room!

Thanks Christian and Belinda for doing such a fantastic job!

More pics of the Neighborhood Pork Roast...

Kudos to the Master Chef!

What a great pork roast Master Chef Walt Townsend does! It was scrumptious! Thanks Walt!
These were definitely better than the ears you did last time!

Another GREAT day in the life of Community of Joy!

WOW! How can one not feel good about what happened yesterday at Community of Joy with our Neighborhood Pork Roast?!

To begin with the weather was superb! A light breeze and lower humidity... lots of sun, made for a very comfortable climate in which to enjoy the festivities, food, and fellowship.

Then there is the team of folks who put it all together! The outreach team did a fantastic job organizing and planning the day.... the games were fun, the food was delicious, the connections were great!

I wish we had a way of knowing just how many people came... but there was no way to count... needless to say, the response from our neighbors was phenomenal!!!! Some came for worship at 10:30, some came for the 1 p.m. start of the Pork Roast, and some came throughout the afternoon. Many came as a result of our personal invitations, many more came as a result of our door to door invitations in the two block radius of the ministry center and some even came as a result of our vegas style sign! I am so happy that folks took us seriously in our invitation!

We really do want to be a place where relationships matter!

It was fun to have such a great day and we look forward to many more such events!

The day has dawned....

And the neighborhood pork roast is almost here! I can almost taste the pork! It should have been cooking for a while now -- it's 6 a.m. as I write.

The crews are coming and things are really starting to happen. Can't wait to see how it all goes! I hope we have lots of neighbors come to join us!

This is a big week for us as it is the Pork Roast today and then next Sunday the launch of our two worship gatherings.

I'm sure I will post pics later!