Notes from the Pastor: April 2008
Week of April 28, 2008
It's May ALREADY?!? Does anyone else feel that way? Like it’s too early to be May already? Well, May is upon us. Hope you’re ready. April was a great, albeit busy, month. Since I saw shock in your eyes when I stated in last week’s sermon that I think Jesus felt like the Ten Commandments were irrelevant for his followers, I have decided to turn to the Ten Commandments for my next two sermons. Study Deuteronomy 5 if you want to get ahead.
As we begin the month of May, I want to point out a few things in this brief note.
First, this Friday is First Friday prayer. Let’s come and give thanks to God and take our requests to him together. It will last from 7:00-8:00 PM at the Ranch.
Second, this Sunday we will have a brief informational meeting concerning the Monterrey mission trip in July. If you are even vaguely interested (as everyone should be!), please plan to stay for the meeting (less than 30 minutes) following the Connection Service. We will meet in the nursery area at Lindsay Lakes.
Third, two "Weekend to Remember" marriage weekends are happening in Houston this month. One is May 2-4 (yes, this weekend) and the other is May 16-18. These are great events to strengthen and vitalize a marriage. Talk to Dave and BJ Reichelt for more information.
Fourth, we will be having another "Worship at the Ranch" day on Sunday, May 25, before the weather gets unbearably hot. More information will be coming soon.
Fifth, I’m sure that Ed is still open to answer questions that you may have about his coming to RCF. Check out his blog at http://www.askpastored.blogspot.com/.
See you Sunday,
Chuck
Week of April 21, 2008
In 1991, DC Talk recorded a really cheesy song entitled "Nu Thang," whose main line was "God is doing a nu thang." As cheesy as the line may sound, we need to remember that God is about doing new things. We get stuck in our busy, comfortable lives and forget that God is on the move. God is neither stagnant nor silent. Jesus came to give us the best life that God could offer - an exciting life. That life brings opportunity, privilege, and responsibility. The Book of Deuteronomy is about God’s new thing for the Hebrews (soon to be Israel). And, that will be our sermon topic for Sunday. We will be finishing up Deuteronomy 6 this week.
Don’t forget the plans for this Sunday. We will be celebrating our three years of FaithBuilding. For many of us, this has indeed been a great FaithBuilding experience. We will celebrate the gift of the Ranch. We will celebrate in worship and with a lunch following the service. RCF is supplying the meat, so everyone should bring a side or dessert. We will also get an update and potentialities (don’t you like that word?) for the future. We are still planning to have the service at the Ranch at 10:30, with no 9 AM activities. If we are forced to cancel because of rain, the website will make that notification no later than 6 AM on Sunday, but hopefully we will know by Saturday evening.
This Saturday, the ladies will be having a garage sale to benefit Boys and Girls Country and the RCF Youth Ministry. I think the times are 8AM - 2PM. Boys and Girls Country are receiving some of the children from the sect in west Texas, so I’m sure they will have extra costs for that.
Remember, of course, that we will also be voting on whether to issue a call to Ed Wandling as our next senior pastor. You can check out his blog at http://www.askpastored.blogspot.com/. Check it out.
See you on Sunday.
Chuck
Week of April 14, 2008
Focus is a problem in our society. We are so busy and scattered in our responsibilities. As we discussed in the 9 AM class, electronic resources have become as much of a bandit of our time as a help. What should save us time and allow more focus keeps us less focused. In fact, many of you have probably lost focus on something you were doing to answer this email. Sorry about that.
During our Pursuit retreat on Saturday, we will talk about focus, and our decision to focus or not to focus. Our sermon Sunday morning is also about focus. You can spend some time with Deuteronomy 6:4-9 before Sunday, if you like, to get a head start.
A new ministry that we are beginning is a Sunday morning prayer ministry. This is the idea of Ann Kraase, who will have a sign-up sheet for pray-ers on the Community table Sunday morning. She will also be recruiting in the coming weeks. The idea is to have people praying before and after the service on Sunday, perhaps sometimes during the service. People who want to pray can to to this area in the back of the room and have someone to pray with them. I hope that many of you will offer your services for this important ministry.
Here are other things to remember:
1. Pursuit Retreat - Saturday, at Copperfield Church, 8350 Highway 6 North Houston, TX 77095. We will have continental breakfast at 8:30 and begin promptly at 9 AM. Lunch will be served, and we will have gluten-free lunch for those who need it. Child care is free and available - and it won’t just be babysitting. If you have not signed up and would still like to come, you will be welcome. We have had a few cancellations and we ordered a little extra food.
2. April 27 - We will have Connection Service at the Ranch, followed by potluck lunch. Everyone should bring a salad, side, or dessert. We are celebrating three years of FaithBuilding, as well as voting on a prospective pastor (see below).
3. April 27 - We will have a called business session at which we will vote on whether to issue a call to Ed Wandling as our next senior pastor. Remember that this service will be at the Ranch.
4. April 26 - The women would probably like you to help with and participate in the garage sale. Contact Shana Aitken (tweety1@flwm.org) for info.
God bless.
Chuck
Week of April 7, 2008
Pursuing God seems to be about listening. Most of us struggle to be quiet and listen to God. I know that I do. Our retreat on April 19 will include the discipline of listening and hearing God. If you have not already done so, please let Jenice or I know that you will be attending. We have free childcare provided. This will be a short email - life is busy, you know?
Don’t forget:
1. April 19 - Pursuit Retreat
2. April 13 - That’s this Sunday. Alfonso Saenz will be preaching. He is pastor of Pan de Vida Church in Monterrey. We will be ministering with his church on our mission trip this summer. Come and hear Alfonso and catch a vision for the trip.
3. Sermons online - Check out the "Sermon Audio" tab on the www.ranchnet.org website for sermons online, including Ed Wandling’s message from last Sunday. Also, while you’re at it, thank Donovan Baker for many hours of making the website look so good.
4. Baby Shower for CareNet, April 13 - Dale Edwards has details about this event. It’s for all the ladies of RCF.
5. RCF Garage Sale - Saturday, April 26. Bring all your unwanted goodies (in saleable condition) on Friday, April 25.
6. Last, but certainly not least, we will celebrate our FaithBuilding campaign with worship and dinner at the Ranch, Sunday, April 27.
Whew - what a month!
Chuck