we're well underway into 2010--we had a wonderful holiday season and we're continuing our focus on the Gospel of Matthew. we had been participating in the annual Christ Birthday Observance theme (as set by our national women's organization) entitled "Follow the Star." we used the beginning chapters of Matthew's Gospel to direct our Sunday Morning message series, and now, we're continuing there through Easter (which will be April 4).
we're looking at the Gospel a little differently than before -- Matthew records many of the questions asked by Jesus, as well as questions that were asked of Jesus, as evoked by his teaching and ministry. many of these questions begin with "Why," and so, we're looking at the texts to understand not only the answer, but what prompted the question.
and, during our Sunday morning worship services, we will be continuing to practice community prayer through new patterns or exercises. at 6th Avenue, we learn a different method or pattern of prayer each month to help us grow in the practice, peace, and power of prayer, individually and together as a Church. this first month of 2010, we're doing a series of prayers called, "New Year, New..." prayers:
- New Year…New Hopes – and we’ll commit our hopes, our goals, our resolutions to prayer—asking God to bless our hopes; remember, “now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work in us” (Ephesians 3:20). pray with confidence: what is your hope for 2010?
- New Year…New Risks – A better year may involve risks—let’s ask God to prepare us to risk change(s) for improvement. As we pray, we’ll ask God, in the spirit of the serenity prayer, to “grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
- New Year…New Friends – The Gospel is best spread relationally, from friend to friend; so, we need to be continually open to beginning new friendships. There may be someone near you, or who will be, in this next year that you don’t yet know very well. Pray to be open and ready to share the love of God with a new friend in 2010.
- New Year…New Growth – We want to pray along this theme in three areas: 1) in personal growth – how do you want to grow in your faith relationship with God? 2) in growth as a Church family – how can we better experience and express love toward one another at 6th Avenue? And 3) growth in number – how can we better invite and include others into our Church family?
- New Year…New Missions; to that end, Julie N. will share about her recent trip to Trinidad where she visited the West Indies Theological College, where she may attend in preparation to follow God's calling to foreign missions. Zach, who is still waiting and praying through the process of going to serve the Lord in England, will share how we can all take up the mission of prayer and practical encouragement to imprisoned Christians around the world. AND, we’ll have the Lopez Family as special guests with us--they had been serving one of our sister churches in Falkville as youth pastors until recently; they’ve now resigned and are preparing to follow the Lord’s call on their lives as foreign missionaries. as we hear these testimonies, we will also pray for them, and be able to better pray for ourselves in pursuit of the mission(s) God would have us pursue in 2010.
Sunday nights, we're still taking questions that are raised by our own study and journey in our open Q&A times, as well as the questions that go with or come out of our discussion times. the discussion series for Sleepyheads is from Matthew 5-6-7, what is typically referred to as the Sermon on the Mount.
and, we're looking at creating greater community among our children, youth and adults through a new Wednesday Night format that will precede Kids Club, Underground and Adult Bible Study.
2010 is going to be a great year--we're off to a good start with great plans--we hope you'll be able to participate with us as we continually seek to "Glorify God by Touching the World for Christ," as we "serve love pray."
see also www.Visit6th.com
