Faith-Valpo

This Week: Pulpit Exchange

I'm excited that this weekend we have a shift in our campuses.  I will be preaching @ Faith-Dyer, Scott Gibson will be in Cedar Lake and Dave Weemhoff will be bringing it strong @ Faith-Valpo.  It's a great way to have the different campuses experience different members of our teaching team and it just continues to promote the "One Church in Multiple Locations" reality we are living in.  We have collaborated on the message and are exited to kick off our Advent Series, "Have I Got a Story for You."

(That's not Dave in the picture, it's the Archbishop of Canterbury and I'm sure he's a little too busy to pay us a visit.) 

Remember, 9:30 Sunday mornings, 1155 S. Sturdy Rd., Valpo.  Be there!

Jason

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow most of us will gather in homes and around tables with family and friends with a purpose of being thankful.  (Hopefully, you will also gather @ 9:30 for our corporate worship service of thanks.)  As we do, I just wanted you to know I am thankful to be your pastor.  It has been great getting to know you, watching you come to visit, or even making Faith-Valpo your church home.  I love the ownership many of you have taken in our ministry and facility to make Faith-Valpo a welcoming place for people no matter where they are in their relationship with Jesus.  I can't wait to see what we can all be thankful for next year!

Jason 

Discovery Class This Sunday!

 

This Sunday, from 12:30-2:30 we will be having our Discovery Class @ Faith-Valpo.  If you have questions about what we believe, or who we are as a church, this is for you.  If you are already a member of another church but are feeling called to make Faith you home, this is for you.  Or, if you are ready to make a public profession of your faith in Jesus Christ, this is for you.  So, if you fall into any of these categories, or just want to hang-out with us for a couple of hours Sunday afternoon, come on out.  I just ask you let me know you are coming so that I can make sure I have enough materials there.

Building Community, 1 Hot Dog @ a Time

A couple of weeks ago following our Sunday service (9:30 a.m) we had hot dogs in our lower level that we hadn't used for Trunk or Treat.  Unsure of how many people would be ready for hot dogs @ 10:30 in the morning (since most people don't buy them @ Home Depot @ 7:30 in the morning as I do), I told the team to use their best judgement.  Over 100 hot dogs were devoured and the community time was great. 

We still have some hot dogs so we're going to do the same thing this week.  Come join us for our second week looking @ Christ in the Drama of Life and stay for a free dog!

Jason

Love of Sundays

I was reminded again today about how much I love Sunday mornings.  I get up around 5:15, shower, get ready and then go to Faith-Dyer to pick-up all of our transfer material.  Then, it's back home to wake-up the troops so they can get ready.  (We actually have our dog trained to say, "Toby, wake-up Justin" and she jumps on their beds and licks their faces until they're moving.)  About 7:15 we hit the road to make the 23 mile, 41 stop light trek from our house to Faith-Valpo.

Today I just had the feeling all morning about how blessed I am to do what I do and to do it with you.  Whether you call Faith-Valpo home, come to visit, or are apart of another Faith-Campus, it is such a joy to be with you in ministry.  (Don't tell our Stewardship Team, but I would probably do Sunday mornings for free.)  What a joy to see people serving, worshiping, exploring and just generally being together.

I also realized that if I didn't get up so early on Sundays I would miss views like the one above.  I took it from the doors at Faith-Dyer while getting the transfer bins.

Can't wait til next Sunday!

Jason

Happy Birth Day John!

Tomorrow we start a 3-part series looking at the theology we hold to as a church.  A great excuse to cover this topic is the fact that this year would have been John Calvin's (pictured above from his high school yearbook) 500th birthday.  He is one of the most influential reformed theologians and we will be looking at how our theology and doctrines shape us and our church over the next few weeks.  Would love to have you join us.  Studying our theology and doctrine helps us follow 1Timothy 4:16 which says:

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

See you in the morning!

Jason

Trunk or Treat

This Friday, from 5-7 we will be hosting "Trunk or Treat" at all of our campuses, including Faith-Valpo.  It is a great outreach event to our community as we provide a safe alternative to Trick-or-Treating.  Thanks to all who have signed-up to bring and decorate cars, I can't wait to see what they look like.  (Of course, I still need to figure out what I am doing.)  If you are available to help in any other areas let me know.

If you haven't yet checked-out Faith-Valpo, this is a great opportunity to come and meet some people. Hopefully I'll see you there.

Jason

Making Room for Life

 

This weekend Pastor Bob brought a powerful sermon on "Hope for the Burned Out" and talked about the pace that many of us live our lives.  A great book that helps you address questions on this topic is  Making Room For Life by Randy Frazee.  While some of the concepts would be difficult to live out, the topics discussed are worth the read, and discussion with those closest to you.  (Randy was the Senior Pastor @ Pantego Bible Church when he wrote this and was able to control his schedule.  Little glimpse:  Do all work between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. allowing for 6-10 p.m. for relationships.  Because he was Senior Pastor he could call 6 a.m. meetings.  I don't know how many of the people I meet with would be up for that.)

Take a look and let me know what you think.

Jason

Trunk or Treat

 

Our family just returned today from a week away and I just realized we have less than a week until Trunk or Treat.  Next Friday from 5-7 p.m. we will be hosting this event as a way to reach people around Faith-Valpo.  What happens is people from Faith-Valpo decorate the trunks of their cars, backs of their vans, and beds of their trucks and people come around and get candy at each trunk.  It's fairly easy, lots of fun, and great outreach!  Our goal is 30 cars for Valpo.  If you can help, let me know.  I'll give you more info @ tomorrow's service.  See you then!

Jason

Thanks for all the help!

    
  

Thanks to everyone who came out for our work day last Saturday.  We got a lot done, from painting and organizing to cleaning half of the playland!  We're hoping to do this once a month, so check back here for details!

Jason