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Hello and Happy New Year! We are jumping right back into the swing of things after some much needed time slow days and time away from the office. Scott and I had a really nice holiday week. We enjoyed time with our family and friends and some lazy days at home! 

This week we get back into the swing of our regularly scheduled Wednesday Roots Nights. Joining the church family for these evenings of fellowship and discipleship would be a great “New Years Resolution!” As Kevin shared in his announcements and sermon yesterday, his Adult Bible Study will meet weekly on Wednesday Nights and take that week’s BELIEVE belief, practice or virtue the next step further. I’m sure you will find those small group discussions a meaningful supplement to our Sunday Morning learning!

The Lil’ Roots and Bridge Roots (4th-6th) will start a new curriculum unit on Spiritual Gifts this week. This will be a fun connector to our conversations on the Holy Spirit in our last unit on the Trinity. The Youth Roots will continue their mentorship curriculum - the boys discussing “Kingdom Character” with various men in our church family, and the girls following the “More Than Pearls” mentoring resource. It takes many willing hands to make Wednesday Roots Nights work, I count each of our wonderful volunteers a super special blessing! 

Back to BELIEVE for a minute… It is exciting to hear the chatter and energy from you all around this new series! Pastor Kevin and I look forward to the fruit that will certainly blossom out of this endeavor together. As your Sunday School teachers have likely shared with you, should you desire additional BELIEVE resources (i.e. the BELIEVE Book, extra study guides, etc.) please reach out. I am trying to always keep extras “in stock” in my office, but we are at the mercy of the delivery services! Hopefully many of your book requests will be fulfilled by this upcoming Sunday! Thank you for your patience for those who have already requested one. 

I am excited to head to Black Rock Retreat with some of our Jr. High Youth Roots this weekend for their winter retreat! You can be praying over Hannah Kreider, Kennedy Kreider, Cassidy Grumbling, Colton Houghton, Drew Housekeeper and Trey Zander this weekend. Prayers for the Advisors, Kerri Kreider, Karl Auker and myself will also be appreciated! We’ll be studying Isaiah 55:10-11 this weekend!

 

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

Our Key Question: Who is God?

Our Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 13:14

 

How Every Generation Lives This Out: Find three other verses or passages where our three-in-one God shows up as the Trinity!

 

Check Out This Week’s PODCAST

*This season of the “The Dig” podcast is specifically designed for EVERY 

GENERATION to deepen their understanding, ignite their curiosity and grow as fruit-producing, God-glorying disciples! Don’t miss out! To make it easier for you to find and listen, you can now grab “The Dig” episodes on the church website: https://www.mgcb.org/family-ministries/the-dig-podcast--8 

 

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

I’m reading and praying through Isaiah 43 in this first week of the new year. This morning I was comparing all the different names or attributes of God that are revealed in just this one chapter to the many different characteristics that are true for me because I am in Christ. 

This chapter is probably a pretty common “new year” chapter, as verse 18 and 19 say “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Truthfully, that’s what led me to spend some time in it this week. But more than the reminder of what our God can and will restore, this morning I was reminded of this beautifully kind, sovereign, creative God who calls me, and you, HIS.

 

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

Something to Read: It’s sort of something to read… but doesn’t this Search the Scriptures: Psalms 1-72 Word Search Devotional look fun!

Something to Listen to: Really loved this podcast episode! It’s not just for families with children! Give “Helpful Habits for the New Year with Justin Whitmel Earley” a listen!

Something to Follow: This new RightNow Media Study with J.D. Greear looks awesome! Give Everyday Revolutionary a try!

 

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

PRAY for our Jr. High Youth Roots as they adventure on their winter retreat this weekend!

PRAISE for all the excitement and energy behind the start of the BELIEVE series!