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It’s been a little bit since I’ve popped up in your email like this! With holidays and quick getaways, we’ve been out of our normal routine! I’m glad to be jumping back into a normal, five day week for the first time a bit. For me, this week starts the beginning of “summer” around here as we’ve transitioned to our Summer Worship schedule. Though there are no changes in the timing of our worship services each week, we began our summer programming schedule as of yesterday!

It was a really special Every Generation Sunday, yesterday! Thanks to all of you who participated in our new church family picture, it was so fun to see so much red! Special thanks to Lane Dillow, our in-house photographer for sharing his gifts with us! We’ll share the images with all of you after he’s finished editing them. 

The summer programming schedule means a new sermon series from Pastor Kevin - Great Stories from Genesis, a pause on Wednesday night Bible studies and Roots programs, new Adult Summer Sunday School electives starting next week, and a pause on Kid’s Sermons in the 10:30am Worship Service. Don’t miss out on the Roots Kid’s Bulletins available each week! Have your Roots Kid fill them out during the service and drop them off in the cart outside the sanctuary for a chance to win a prize!

Roots Parents are reminded to revisit their message from me last week that includes a video update regarding lots of summer dates and a few important reminders specifically for parents. These video updates are quick and efficient ways for me to share lots of important information at once and you can listen along while you’re on the go!

You’ve hopefully taken notice of the flyer in the Gathering Area advertising our upcoming Family Discipleship event that is next in the series following Bible Belles (Mother-Daugher, 2024) and Next Man Up (Father-Son, 2025). This year's event is “The Great Father-Daughter Adventure!” This event is open to Father-Daughter pairs/groups from 1st Grade up (including adults)! We’ll meet at Black Rock Retreat for a time of spiritual connections for dads and their daughters and an afternoon of adventure and fun around the camp! Lunch will be provided. Invite your friends and sign-up in the Gathering Area today!

Also, a quick reminder that the New Members class (6/10, 6/17) and the Baptism class (6/17) are coming up quickly! If you or a family member are hopeful to participate, reach out to myself or Pastor Kevin as soon as possible!

 

What WE’RE Learning This Week: A nugget of what our Lil’, Youth and Adults Roots heard this week

Our Key Idea: Every Generation Sunday

How Every Generation Lives This Out: Choose three people from other generations (older and/or younger than you) to pray for this week!

 

What I’M Learning This Week: Sharing what I’m reading and listening to lately

We're studying the Gospel of Mark this summer with D-Group, the women’s Bible study that I lead. Mark is a fast-pasted, action-oriented gospel narrative. So much so that Mark uses the word “immediately” over 35 times in the book. The use of this word creates urgency in Mark’s stories as “the word translated as “immediately” (eutheōs in Greek) means “without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening; soon; directly.” It is sometimes rendered “straight away,” “suddenly,” and “at once.””

I’ve been encouraged while studying through this book that God can indeed operate on “immediately.” When we are in persistent prayer over a season of time, some days it can feel like wasted breath. I’ve been there. I am there. But God can, when it’s within his will and perfect timing, respond immediately. To us, our response may be more of “it’s about time” but in God’s economy it’s always “right on time.” 

All of these “immediatelys” in the Gospel of Mark are increasing my hope! The answered prayer, the miracle, the beautiful surprise may be just one day away. So we keep praying with urgency and wait expectantly for what God is going to do immediately!

 

Make Every Week Count: Parenting, Grandparenting & Spiritual Mentoring Resources

Something to Read: I love the “Big Theology for Little Hearts” series, so sharing the Creation book felt fitting after this week's sermon!

Something to Listen to: This song just dropped from Rend Collective and it feels like a worship song we’ll want to sing all year long. Give “Evergreen” a listen!

Something to Follow: Roots Parents, here’s a great resource full of spiritually-rich, summer-friendly activities for your family!

 

How Can You Pray? Prayer Requests and Praises from Roots Ministries

PRAY for the teachers in our community! The final leg of the school year is fun, but tough!

PRAISE for the success of our college grads (and soon to be high school grads)!