Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Just a quick reminder we are back to our regular schedule this week. Prayer at 9:30am EMU Site, Service at 10:15 and 11:00 at ALIVE! in Lenawee County.
Tomorrow we are continuing our journey through the Letter of St. Paul to the church in Ephesus. This week we will be looking closely at Ephesians 3:14-21 often called the Prayer for Ephesians. It begins with one of the only two words that the Bible uses for the posture we are to have physically in Worship. To bow and to be on our knees or before the Lord. The only other option is to stand with hands raised as the priesthood of all believers. He goes on to pray that they know who they are in Christ and that they are able to allow the MYSTERY of God's Glory, LOVE and POWER through HIS SPIRIT, fill them to overflowing! In the first part of Ephesians 3 Paul refers to the MYSTERY of God's plan and purpose in Christ to unite Jews and Gentiles in one covenant. He uses the word MYSTERY 4 times and uses the word "together," 3 times in 3:6. He ends this important section by saying we can, in Christ and through faith in him, approach God with freedom and confidence. So it is no surprise in this prayer he prays that we may be strengthened with POWER through his Spirit, so that Christ may DWELL in us. That we should be rooted and grounded in LOVE having power with all the saints to grasp how wide, long high, and deep is the LOVE of Christ. This is a MYSTERY that he prays we will KNOW (intimate relationship), this love that surpasses all knowledge (beyond comprehension yet experienced in Christ) that we my be filled to the measure of all fullness in God! GOES WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT: "TO KNOW CHRIST AND MAKE HIM KNOWN." If this isn't enough, he ends with this MYSTERY statement "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his POWER that is at work within us." In case you were trying to measure the fullness he blows the idea out of the water with the word "immeasurably MORE than we ask or IMAGINE!" He uses the Greek word "Dunamis" or POWER (the word we get "dynamite" from) 3 times in this prayer to let us know where our knowledge, strength and works (Greek word "Energeo") come from Christ through the Holy Spirit's POWER!
Tomorrow we also have a special treat at EMU. We have a young couple from the University Christian Fellowship (King of Love) next door who are going to be going to Indiana to study and prepare for two years to respond to the calling, on this young newly married couple, to do College Ministry. They are a great example of my desire for our College ministry. Jonathon and Sarah will share tomorrow. May we inspired to see what the Lord can do with willing hearts and minds that seek HIS WILL and plan! Many students come to College and have a plan. Yet the Lord can do even immeasurably more with them than they think or imagine...
Thanks to all those who helped with the Picnic last week. I thought it went great! Thanks to those who help with Ann Street Music Room I just got to hear another great concert! Thanks to the those who organized and took time out to attend the shower for our daughter Sarah! We are looking forward to the arrival of our grandson Josiah in the next month!
Please check out the kitchen at the EMU site you will be impressed!
Please keep the Upward Basketball Camp in your prayers! This is our co-sponsored outreach in place of VBS. We have more children this year and many without a church home. If you feel that you can help please talk to Paul ASAP.
Please keep praying for the Stewardship in our congregation..... we are so blessed with great opportunities but also challenges. We are restructuring things to find better ways of reaching the campuses of EMU, WCC and Concordia. Also the communities surrounding us. I know the Lord has a plan please be intentional about praying that we are discerning HIS will and plan for us.
Congratulations to Paul Knickelbein, as he has been accepted into the Specific Ministry Pastor program and we will be going to St. Louis and the Seminary for his orientation the last week of August. Congratulations VICAR Paul.
Please keep Paula Butler in your prayers as she is recovering from Surgery at St. Joseph's and asks for our prayers during her recovery.
Check out the announcements:
LOOKING AHEAD
We still have another month of summer, BUT it’s time to look forward to September. On September 9, we will start our
Sunday mornings with Sunday School for the children and Bible Class for the youth and adults. We will begin all classes
at 9:15am. We look forward to a year of learning and growing in our relationship with Jesus.
PRAYER AND HEALING
The Prayer and Healing Team will be here on August 8 for prayer ministry. They will be in Pastor’s office. People who
would like to be on a healing team should also come.
COLLEGE STUDENT INFORMATION
If you are a college student or a parent of a college student, we need your contact information, please. Please send us
your address, phone and email so that we can keep in touch with you or your student during the school year. You can call
the church office or email Joanne Zuellig at jzuellig@crossandres.org.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
During July, we will collect comb and hairbrush sets for Operation Christmas Child.
During August, we will collect paper (pads that fit in a shoebox) and pencils. We have a red box set up in the
sharing space for your donations. Thank you for your generosity!
UPWARD CAMP NEEDS!
Upward Basketball Camp is coming up on August 6-10. THAT’S ONLY 1 WEEK AWAY!!Your help is needed to help with
a number of things.
People to help set up each morning at 7am at Washtenaw Christian Academy.
People to prepare and serve the picnic lunch at noon on Friday, August 10
Most of all, your prayers are coveted.
Please call Paul Knickelbein at 216-0261 to volunteer in reaching out to the families who participate in this camp.
WEDNESDAY FAMILY NIGHT
Wednesday nights will be devoted to family time and worship here at Cross and Resurrection!
Start Date: Wednesday, September 12
Schedule: Dinner—6-7pm
Prayer and worship—7pm
Small groups, classes, etc.—7:30ish
Close—8:30pm
There will be more information coming your way soon about this great time of fun,
fellowship and enrichment. You are encouraged to participate with your whole family!
Yours in Christ our Loving Lord and Savior,
Pastor Bryan
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