7-26-23

Community Updates from Dr. Bob: 7/26/2023

 

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)

 

So many of the Psalms and benedictions found within scripture wish us the joy of the Lord. I pray that we would all experience his joy more fully as we explore that theme together in Philippians.  As we experience the grace of God and partner together with him in the gospel, we discover the joy of being missionally oriented. For the more we orient our lives around the heart and mission of God, the stronger our inner experience of his joy and love. When we’ve been transformed by Jesus, when our heart increasingly reflects God’s heart, then we’re relationally connected and ready for the mission of Jesus. For the way of Jesus is the way of joy.

A practice of prayer

As a starting point, try this practice this week: send up brief prayers to God for everyone you come into contact with. That can be walking through your neighborhood and praying for those in the houses or yards or those you pass on the street. That can be praying for the check-out people in the grocery store. That can be praying for co-workers, friends, and family members. Just send up quick one-sentence prayers to God—eyes open—for each person you see.

See how this practice impacts the way you experience God and see the world around you. Are you developing a compassionate heart for those God loves? Are you seeing others the way he sees them? Are you more aware of the needs of those around you?

Let’s support one another as we continue to engage in ministry together that reflects the heart of God to people. As you’ll see below, we have many ways of doing that right now at Community Church Rancho.

 

Let’s celebrate our volunteers!

Have you considered all of the hours of volunteer work that go into making our church work? Everything from Sunday services, to small groups, to support groups, to our Sunday Vacation Bible school, to Student Ministries… and beyond. None of this happens without those people who are selflessly giving of their time and energy to serve others with a heart of compassion. If you know someone who is volunteering in any capacity, take a moment to thank them this week.

Wednesday Morning Prayer Walk

Remember that we meet every Wednesday morning at 8:30-8:50am to pray. Please join us if you can for this brief 20 minute weekly time of prayer for our community and for those who don’t yet know Jesus.  

Process Groups

These groups focus on needs we all have. So use this opportunity to invite someone to walk alongside you on this journey and sign up for a 5-week process groups. Because we all need support sometimes.

Start Party: A time to engage

Are you new to church or new to Community? Or ready to get connected and involved? Start Party is a great beginning point for anyone who is ready to get to know some people and get involved. It’s a BBQ with a purpose. Food and games for the whole family, meet some people, and learn about great ways to connect and grow. It’s this Sunday, July 30 from 5pm to 7pm at Community. Sign up here 

And a time to re-engage

 

Some of us aren’t new, strictly speaking, but are “new again”—returning to engagement in ministry. Maybe you dropped away during COVID or for other reasons and are now ready to re-engage. The Start Party is a great opportunity for you as well. Or you may wish to meet with one of our spiritual gift advisors. Click here to get in touch.  

As we enter into a season of re-engagement with ministry, let’s pray again together for the joy that God will bring along with that:

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)