Letter 5/27

May 27, 2010
Pastor Steve Mathewson
  

Larry Osborne, the lead pastor of North Coast Church (EFCA) in northern San Diego, writes: “The best-run churches and organizations are masters of the midcourse correction. They plan in pencil.” So, allow me to explain our own midcourse correction and “erase” something I said at our Sunday night congregational meeting! When asked if we were returning to two services this summer, I said “No.” Our ministry staff and I had made that decision several weeks ago. But, after reviewing this decision at our Monday morning staff meeting, we have decided to go back to one service for an eight-week period this summer. The reason for this is that it takes a bit of pressure off of our music and children’s ministries at a time when many of our volunteers are on vacations. With attendance being down in the summer, it is also great to have everyone together in one worship service.

So, here is the schedule. We will hold one worship service at 9:00 a.m. from Sunday, June 20 through Sunday, August 8.  This will be followed by an education hour at 10:30 a.m. There will be a Sunday School program for children and Bridge Groups, although both will have a slightly different format for this eight-week stretch. We will return to our normal two-service schedule on Sunday, August 15 – right around the time that everyone is back for the start of school! If you have trouble remembering the start date for the summer schedule (June 20), just remember that it begins on Father’s Day! And as for August 15 – don’t worry – we will be sure to remind you that our schedule is changing back again! By the way, the reason it is important for us to return to two services as fall approaches is so that we have space for growth.  

This summer, Rick Schwartz is serving as a pastoral intern here at our church. Rick and his wife, Jamie, have been part of our church family for the past year and a half. Rick has completed two years in the master of divinity program at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Jamie is currently a second grade teacher at Hawthorn Elementary School North in Vernon Hills. Rick anticipates serving as a pastor and possibly even planting a church. During his time here this summer, he will teach a class on sharing the gospel, help in our music ministry, and participate in a variety of day-to-day pastoral responsibilities. I appreciate the passion that Rick has for evangelism. If you have not met Rick yet, you will see him this Sunday behind the piano and keyboard during both worship services!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mandy Poplawski for her 14 years of service as a Worship Arts Assistant. Mandy is stepping down from this role so she can devote more time to her ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ. She plans to return to our worship team as a vocalist this fall.

On the personal side, wedding preparations are coming along well for Ben and Nicole’s wedding. We will leave for the Peoria area next Wednesday, and then the wedding will take place next Friday, June 4. We have family coming in from coast to coast – California to Massachusetts – and several points in between! It should be a great family reunion. 

This Sunday, May 30, I will conclude our sermon series – “Where Is God When Life Is Such A Struggle?” – with a sermon from Lamentations 3:1-33 on “God Is Still Loving.” To prepare for this, take some time to read the entire third chapter. Better yet, read the entire book! I’ll warn you that it is depressing. But that is part of the author’s strategy. Lamentations is a series of funeral poems that express grief over the ‘death’ of the holy city, Jerusalem. In the middle of this grief, the words of hope in 3:21-26 are all the more stunning! So be encouraged. I’ll see you on Sunday!