Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,                                                                March 22, 2011

Greetings!  As promised last week, here’s a summary of the third service in our Percentage living series at Christ's Community Church, Giving God a Percentage of my Time: Serving, Witnessing, & Inviting.  These weekly emails will not only summarize our worship, but outline the opportunities we have during the week.  The emails are meant to remind and encourage us as we continue our journey through this program.  They are rather long, but will hopefully provide you with a helpful resource!

To open the service, the congregation reviewed together the March 20th Scripture from Brad Carlson’s handout (see week 1 summary), “I cannot be separated from the love of God” - Romans 8:35.

Marian Mortenson was our guest speaker for our Percentage Living Moment (well, maybe it was longer than a moment ;-).  She spoke about the people that have influenced her in her life.  She admitted it has been a process—it just didn’t happen over night!  Growing up, her father was a pastor and she watched him literally give the sweater off his back to a hobo.  Her parents were foster parents and ended up sharing their home with a very scared little 5 year old girl. Marian also spoke of a tough time when she suffered from depression and entered a 12 step program for emotions anonymous.  This is where she learned to “turn her will and her life over to God or ‘Let go and Let God!’”  She also learned to use her spiritual gifts by being a team leader at CCC.  She has used her gifts of administration, organization, among others.  She believes as long as you use your talents/skills/abilities to glorify God, that is a spiritual gift.  She encourages us to serve the Lord with gladness.  There is good news . . . Jesus is alive and we need to share this good news.  She also encouraged us if we haven’t picked up a Lenten devotion to do so and share with others; invite them to enjoy it!  

During the celebration time, we sang:  “In Christ Alone,” “Fill Me Now,” “All Who Are Thirsty” and “Make Me a Servant.”  During the offering the women’s chorus sang “Amazing Grace.”

Ted Bergstrom delivered the children’s chat.  He showed the children a small container of dirty rice.  He talked about how the amount that was in the container was all the food that some children in the world had to eat for one whole day.  He mentioned that locally some families are going through challenging times (possibly a mom or dad lost their job or were in an accident).  Sometimes these families are helped by CROSS.  He also mentioned the tsunami in Japan or that in a time of war people may need help.  He paraphrased a Scripture . . . Jesus said, “If you help someone out, it is just like you are helping me out!”  He encouraged the children to care a little more and “soften their heart.”  He had some stones that he passed out as a reminder to the children to not let their hearts turn to stone, but remember to care for others.

Kris Kothrade offered prayers of the church. Bruce Kalland read scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16; Matthew 25:31-40;  Mark 10: 42-45

Felicia Enns sang special music, “Speak to Me” by Audio Adrenaline.  Here’s a clip from YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGf1_QqPji4

The message for the day was titled, “Giving God a Percentage of Our Time.”  I stated that the central point of today’s message is God calls us to serve others and that he has given each of us spiritual gifts for service.  By discovering and using our spiritual gifts, we can better serve others and be a blessing to them.  We need to consider discovering and using our spiritual gifts.  What does scripture tell us?  If we want to be successful kingdom dwellers, we have to serve others.  Jesus calls us to serve others . . . reach out and serve others in Jesus’ name. 

We have many options to serve locally, CROSS, disaster relief, Simpson Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, prison ministry, mission trips, etc.   A slide was shown stating the UN goals for next millennium.  These goals were also adopted by the Moravians.

What would it take to provide something for these goals . . . Service!  Embrace Jesus’ love for each and every being.  Robert Pierce, the founder of World Vision once said, “Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.”  We, too, need to be moved to compassion for God’s beloved children so that we serve in His name. 

The greatest service, of course, that we can offer is to introduce others to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We can do that in many ways, including inviting people to church.  We can simply saying, “I just want you to know you are always welcome to visit my church!”

The sermon ended with a challenge, “Don’t let your heart turn to stone . . . be open to serving witnessing and inviting others!”  I handed out baskets of polished stones.  The congregation was invited to take a stone to remember today’s message. 

Marian offered the Percentage Living Challenge.  Be open to serving others!  She shared a recent experience at the post office.  She was able to provide a stamp to someone else and still had enough stamps to mail a Lenten Devotional to the Koskis.  She also shared a story about a turtle at the lake.  Each time that turtle sticks its neck out it takes a risk.  Don’t be scared, be open and willing to taking risks.  If you are doing it for God and doing your best it doesn’t have to be perfect . . . it is good enough!
The closing hymn was “Good News! Our Christ has Come!”

The service ended with some slight technical difficulties in displaying a song from YouTube.  Josh Wilson, author and Christian singer, tells of how recent floods in Nashville, Tennessee in 2010 inspired him to write this song.  Here’s a verse from the song, “I don’t want to live like I don’t care.  I don’t want to say another empty prayer.  Oh, I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else to do what God has called me to do myself.  I could choose not to move . . . But, I refuse!

His inspiring story and an intro to the song are found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6md9teDFMU
The full song is here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbH0IWZL05s

Let’s be inspired to do what God has called us to do! 

After the service many members joined together in the activity room to make sandwiches for the Simpson Shelter.  We have the opportunity to attend Empty Bowls, a CROSS fundraiser, on Thursday from 3-7pm as another way to serve others.  We will also be talking about servanthood at the Lenten service on Wednesday night and will attempt to play Josh Wilson’s song, “I Refuse,” then.

Next week the guest speakers are Noel & Kristin Johnson.  They will be presenting, "Glorifying God in What I Earn:  Percentage Savings & Spending.”

I hope you can join us this Sunday as we continue the Percentage Living program. Our activity of the week will be to consider taking a personal financial assessment with the goal of establishing a budget and spending plan. 

With the greatest of hope,
Pastor Jenny