Slideshow image

Hello and happy Monday! How enjoyable this fall weather has been! I’m particularly partial to the chilly evenings and mornings! It’s soon time to cut back the garden for the season, it will be sad to see it go. We still have lots of flowers in action there, but they too, are showing signs of fall. 

It was a lovely evening together last night at Love Feast, in celebration of World Communion Sunday. It was also a lovely time of morning worship, as we all found our ways back to our “normal” worship schedule! I enjoy getting to greet you all while checking in our Roots Kids in at the kiosk!

We had our first Wednesday Roots Night this past week. By the grace of God we filled all of our volunteer slots, and with excess!! I am so grateful for many of you and your willingness to say “yes” to investing into relationships with our Roots Kids and the work of the church by using your various giftings! As a reminder, Wednesday Roots Nights take place on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. We begin at 5:45pm with “family dinner” in the Family Life Center and dismiss to age-specific discipleship groups at 6:30pm. We are offering two adult options this year - a study on 1 Peter led by Pastor Kevin and a study on “Stories from the Wilderness” led by Katherine Tshudy and other women’s ministry leaders. 

On Sunday we launched “The Big Drop!” This event is in partnership with Solid Rock Youth Ministries and will serve as our fall “Family-In-Service” Wednesday Roots Nights. We are looking for family units (with or without children!), to run various pumpkin-themed activity stations, prep and serve food, greet guests or collect needed materials for the families in our community who will participate in this event. Sign-up by taking a card in the Gathering Area. Once the Witness Commission has made note of what “team” you’re on, they’ll return the card to you so you have a reminder of what you’re committed to collect/do. We’re excited about this community outreach event! 

In the Gathering Area, you’ll also find information about this year's CROP Walk, our upcoming Dutch Blitz tournament and a new Adult Grow Group specifically for those caring for their aging-parents. Don’t ignore all of those updates in your weekly bulletin! There’s much to get involved with or simply pray over!

 

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

Our Family Theme: God Loves Me

Our Root Text: Ephesians 3:17a-19 NIV

How Every Generation Lives This Out: Tell a Family Member... How do we study the bible with the H.E.A.R.T. method?

Check Out This Week’s PODCAST EPISODE

 

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

I’ve shared before that my Bible Study group (D-Group) is memorizing all of Romans chapter 8 in 2025. It has been such a fun challenge! We’re 34 verses down, only five more to go! I have always wanted to work at memorizing this chapter, doing it with friends has made it possible!

We just recently worked on Romans 8:32 which says “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” The phraseology of this verse is kind of tricky when you’re working at memorizing it. Many of us get tripped up on it! When the language is tricky it distracts me from the meaning of the verse that we’re working on memorizing. But this is such a beautiful verse!

It shows the partnership between God the Father and God the Son, it reveals God’s good plan for us all, put into action by the life of His Son. One of my commentaries summarizes it this way… “Our major struggle with prayer is not that God doesn’t answer. What upsets us is that he seldom answers in line with our plans or schedule. At those times we may think that God is intentionally withholding something from us. But God has already given us the greatest gift of all. Remembering God’s gift will help us see that God is working for our good even when we can’t immediately see it. God sacrificed his Son to save us, will he not invalidate that sacrifice by refusing to help and guide believers? Now, instead, he promises to give us everything else to bring us to the ultimate goal - our sanctification and glorification.”

Together they graciously give us ALL things! Amen!

 

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

Something to Read: Here’s a cool teen tool to share… 12 Truths Every Teen Can Trust: Core Beliefs of the Christian Faith That Will Change Your Life

Something to Listen to: We talked about this podcast episode in the Embracing Neighbors Sunday School class yesterday in our discussion about Gender from a Biblical worldview. I think “Dr. Kathy Koch - When Kids are Confused about Gender” is a solid listen. 

Something to Follow: This new email just popped in my inbox and I wanted you all to have it too! Check out this weeks “Everyday Rhythms” weekly newsletter” and sign-up for yourself! The Weekly Prayer Focus and the Conversation Starters are SO good!

 

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

PRAY for the families that we will get the opportunity to serve during the upcoming “Big Drop” event!

PRAISE for all of our faithful Adult Sunday School teachers!