Weekly Update

Hi GCN Family,

This past Sunday we concluded our service by praying a sending prayer over all those teachers, students, and school workers headed back to school. Filled with the Holy Spirit, our prayer is not just for safety (even though we want that!), and it’s not just for good grades (those are good!), and it’s not for success in athletics or band or other extracurriculars. Instead, our primary prayer is that the Holy Spirit would send our students, teachers, and workers into those schools as missionaries, sharing the love and hope of Jesus with people in need.
 
It’s easy to bemoan the evil in the world, but if that’s all we do then we’re not being the church. A church who huddles together, complains about all the things “out there”, and just holds on for dear life is no church at all. Remember Jesus’ words? He said, to Peter, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) Last time I checked, gates are not offensive weapons. I’ve never seen a soldier carry a gate into battle. No, gates are defensive measures. Do you see what’s happening here? Hell (and evil and the enemy) is on defense. The church is on offense!

Students, teachers, and school workers, as you head into a new school year, filled with the Holy Spirit, you are being sent as missionaries.

Businesspeople, and IT workers, and custodians, and construction workers, and government workers, and nurses, and doctors, and stay-at-home parents, and (fill in the blank with whatever it is that you do…): Filled with the Holy Spirit, you are being sent into your workplaces and your homes as missionaries.

Here we are, Lord. Send us!

A few other things:

1. Welcome Home Sunday. NEXT Sunday, September 7th. Who are you inviting to join you? Invite anyone in your life to join you for this special Sunday. We’ll celebrate baptisms together in our 10:30am Worship Service. Then, we’ll gather for a picnic party for all ages. Won’t want to miss it!
2. Pastor Willeme Thomas will be joining us this Sunday (August 31st). He’s a pastor in Seaford, DE. He’s also one of the foremost church planters in the Church of the Nazarene. He’s responsible for planting dozens of churches throughout the United States, mostly Haitian congregations. We’re blessed to have him with us and bring the word.
3. Thank you for donating 75 backpacks and school supplies! On Monday, some GCNers partnered with the Stewartown Resource Center to hand those backpacks out. Check out the pictures!

Much Love,

Pastor Brian