Hope!

It was wonderful to hear The P's Journey of Hope yesterday and to see "J" in church with us. How great is our God! One thought that hit me while listening to C and J talk about the trip to Ethiopia to bring "J" back, was the thought that it could have been distracting for some to hear "J" making baby noises while they were talking, however, wouldn't we much rather hear him and know that he is here and part of the family, than to send him out because he is a distraction. This past week on Wednesday night we talked about the time when the disciples tried to keep the kids from getting too near to Jesus and Jesus said let the little children come to me. I pray that as we embrace "J" as part of the Family here, we will also learn to embrace all members of the family of Christ (kids and adults) and be glad that they are with us and seek to support and grow with them. Kids shouldn't be seen as a distraction but as an opportunity to invest in. Let's celebrate what God is doing in our family.

Thursday: Prayer Time at Noon. Join us during the season of Lent to pray for our community, church, personal requests and whatever else God leads us to.
"Lent is a time of returning to God. It is a time to confess how we keep looking for joy, peace and satisfaction in the many people and things surrounding us without really finding what we desire. Only God can give us what we want. So we must be reconciled with God...
The season of Lent, during which winter and spring struggle with each other for dominance, helps us in a special way to cry out for God's mercy." --Henri Nouwen


This weekend:
LENTEN SYMPOSIUM: ARE WE STILL OF ANY USE? THE RENEWAL OF CHRISTIAN CONVICTION IN OUR TIME Dr. Charles MarshProfessor of Religious and Theological Studies and Director of the Project of the Lived Theology University of Virginia
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 & SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16Cost: $25; includes dinner on Friday evening and refreshments on Saturday morning
You may download a registration form or get more info for the Dr. Marsh symposium HERE Myra and I are planning on going, please let us know if you are interesting in joining us