Saturday, November 29, 2008
Northwest Austin & Northwest America...Another Great Story of Unity
It seems that other parts of the country are experiencing the blessing of unity in their neighborhoods too!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
A Testimony of Thanks
Tonight believers from across the community joined hands and hearts as we welcomed the 2008 Pond Springs Thanksgiving Fellowship. What a night!
Everyone arrived at Northwest Fellowship -- this year's host church -- at 6:00PM and immediately were met with a bevy of exquisite sights, sounds, and aromas.
Walking in, what you immediately saw was a melding of hearts. Believers from across the community were smiling, shaking hands, and sharing stories. The mood was light, festive, and full of joy.
The low buzz of voices soon turned into a growing wave of excitement as conversation picked up, as children began playing, and as scrumptious food began making its way from the serving tables to the dining tables.
Many took the opportunity to venture out of their comfort zone and to find new people to meet, new stories to hear, and new excitement to embrace as the work of God in people's lives became evident.
After finishing off a fine meal with some of the best deserts of the season, the real action began. Not only were we blessed to share in the fellowship of a shared meal, we also began to share testimonies of the goodness of God. This part of the service was funny, thrilling, sober, exciting, moving, and altogether wonderful.
One child was humorously thankful for turkey. A mother, with eyes full of tears, was thankful for her children and their father. A passionate man brimming with faith was thankful for "coming down with cancer" and being able to minister to others whom he had met along the way. One man was thankful for the "riches of Christ" made evident in this very gathering. One woman was thankful for God healing her ankle. An introspective man was thankful for his mother and her guidance. A man full of hope was thankful for the way God had brought him to Christ through the untimely death of a young girl whose story had touched his broken heart. Many church leaders and pastors were thankful for the work of God in the community and the power of the Spirit in their churches.
Everyone who shared a testimony had something important to say about the work and will of God. He was the spotlight of the night. This chorus of testimonies swelled in tribute to the power, love, mercy, and grace of God. There were many more, but this small glimpse is enough to stir your heart in praise!
After testifying to the power and grace of God, our thanksgiving gathering rose to our feet to sing and worship. We sang with hearts and hands lifted up to the Most High, reaching towards heaven with a hope for the witness of Christian unity to continue to spread.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
What an anthem of celebration and worship! But, it doesn't end there. After this melody to the Master of Life, there were two more blessings of God waiting to unfold.
First, as we've done in the past, we gathered in small prayer circles comprised of representatives from all the churches. Here, on an intimate and tender level, we shared our prayer needs and then prayed for one another. The whole room was alive with entreaties to the Father of Heaven and Earth.
In my own little circle of petition, we praised God for his work of mercy, we thanked him for our loved ones, we celebrated new friends, we asked for the work of Christ to abound, we praised God for his amazing grace, and we thanked God for the power of the cross to tear down dividing lines of creed, color, and class. What a blessing it was!
Finally, at the very end of the evening, after two hours full of food, fellowship, and faith, the entire body of believers encircled the sanctuary, held hands and prayed to God as a final expression of our blessings, our thanks, and our allegiance to be one in Christ.
Driving home was like riding on a cloud. What a blessing it is to be part of a growing story of unity.
Perhaps you're a believer in the Pond Springs area looking for an opportunity to be a part of a growing movement of unity among God's people. Look us up one Sunday in the coming year (if not sooner). We'll be praising God, sharing Jesus, and fellowshipping together as we are led towards an ever-deepening unity of the Spirit.
Maybe you don't know Christ yet or maybe you have some questions about him. We would love to share with you about how He has transformed our lives. Each of us has a story. Jesus has blessed each in a special way. For us Jesus isn't about religion. He is about a relationship. We know Jesus from His word. We know Him in our hearts. And, we know Him from the work He has done in our lives. We know Him and the power of His resurrection and for this, we are thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Everyone arrived at Northwest Fellowship -- this year's host church -- at 6:00PM and immediately were met with a bevy of exquisite sights, sounds, and aromas.
Walking in, what you immediately saw was a melding of hearts. Believers from across the community were smiling, shaking hands, and sharing stories. The mood was light, festive, and full of joy.
The low buzz of voices soon turned into a growing wave of excitement as conversation picked up, as children began playing, and as scrumptious food began making its way from the serving tables to the dining tables.
Many took the opportunity to venture out of their comfort zone and to find new people to meet, new stories to hear, and new excitement to embrace as the work of God in people's lives became evident.
After finishing off a fine meal with some of the best deserts of the season, the real action began. Not only were we blessed to share in the fellowship of a shared meal, we also began to share testimonies of the goodness of God. This part of the service was funny, thrilling, sober, exciting, moving, and altogether wonderful.
One child was humorously thankful for turkey. A mother, with eyes full of tears, was thankful for her children and their father. A passionate man brimming with faith was thankful for "coming down with cancer" and being able to minister to others whom he had met along the way. One man was thankful for the "riches of Christ" made evident in this very gathering. One woman was thankful for God healing her ankle. An introspective man was thankful for his mother and her guidance. A man full of hope was thankful for the way God had brought him to Christ through the untimely death of a young girl whose story had touched his broken heart. Many church leaders and pastors were thankful for the work of God in the community and the power of the Spirit in their churches.
Everyone who shared a testimony had something important to say about the work and will of God. He was the spotlight of the night. This chorus of testimonies swelled in tribute to the power, love, mercy, and grace of God. There were many more, but this small glimpse is enough to stir your heart in praise!
After testifying to the power and grace of God, our thanksgiving gathering rose to our feet to sing and worship. We sang with hearts and hands lifted up to the Most High, reaching towards heaven with a hope for the witness of Christian unity to continue to spread.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
What an anthem of celebration and worship! But, it doesn't end there. After this melody to the Master of Life, there were two more blessings of God waiting to unfold.
First, as we've done in the past, we gathered in small prayer circles comprised of representatives from all the churches. Here, on an intimate and tender level, we shared our prayer needs and then prayed for one another. The whole room was alive with entreaties to the Father of Heaven and Earth.
In my own little circle of petition, we praised God for his work of mercy, we thanked him for our loved ones, we celebrated new friends, we asked for the work of Christ to abound, we praised God for his amazing grace, and we thanked God for the power of the cross to tear down dividing lines of creed, color, and class. What a blessing it was!
Finally, at the very end of the evening, after two hours full of food, fellowship, and faith, the entire body of believers encircled the sanctuary, held hands and prayed to God as a final expression of our blessings, our thanks, and our allegiance to be one in Christ.
Driving home was like riding on a cloud. What a blessing it is to be part of a growing story of unity.
Perhaps you're a believer in the Pond Springs area looking for an opportunity to be a part of a growing movement of unity among God's people. Look us up one Sunday in the coming year (if not sooner). We'll be praising God, sharing Jesus, and fellowshipping together as we are led towards an ever-deepening unity of the Spirit.
Maybe you don't know Christ yet or maybe you have some questions about him. We would love to share with you about how He has transformed our lives. Each of us has a story. Jesus has blessed each in a special way. For us Jesus isn't about religion. He is about a relationship. We know Jesus from His word. We know Him in our hearts. And, we know Him from the work He has done in our lives. We know Him and the power of His resurrection and for this, we are thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Body of Christ
As the Body of Christ in NW Austin, we believers want to exhibit Christ to our community. We don't just want to talk about the body; we want to be the body -- His hands, His feet, His heart.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Annual Thanksgiving Fellowship
Believers in the Pond Springs community have long been celebrating Thanksgiving together.This special time is always an important witness to the Pond Springs community and an important experience of God's goodness to his children who worship in this community.
Come join us on Sunday evening, November 23rd as area Pond Springs churches gather for a time of shared blessings, a time of genuine thanks, and a time of praising God with a grateful heart for his enduring grace, mercy, and love!
Area churches will meet for their usual local services on Sunday morning, the 23rd and then will meet together at Northwest Fellowship that evening at 6:00PM for our annual Pond Springs Thanksgiving meal.
See you there!
Harmony Hill
So, why "Harmony Hill"?It's a neat little story, really. Interestingly, very early on in our efforts to work towards unity and fellowship among believers in the Pond Springs area, Pastor Trey Kent made a stirring observation. Just across the busy roadway from the park where our churches have started gathering for praise and prayer, there is a little road. And, you guessed it, that road is Harmony Hill.
Trey movingly shared with us how he was out on a morning walk and happened to glance up at the road sign. In a spark of wonder, blessing, and inspiration, Trey immediately recognized the hand of God. What a fitting memento! God is working among us to shine a light of harmony in North West Austin and almost everywhere we turn, we see him doing something special through this effort. So, for any looking for a "sign" from God, we might just have one for you!
As we move forward in sharing our compelling stories of the work of God in our lives, we do it with a sense of true brotherly love and harmony -- an enthusiastic tug towards the shared values and truth embodied in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Like the old hymnal reminds us, Jesus died "on a hill far away" and on "an old rugged cross." And, now, two thousand years later that hill is the true hill that empowers harmony for all those who will follow Jesus!
Monday, November 10, 2008
A Vision for the Work of God Among Us
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Several months ago several churches in the Pond Springs area of NW Austin embarked upon an exciting mission. Encouraged by the moving of the Spirit among believers at the Pond Springs Church of Christ, believers up and down Pond Springs road have banded together, setting out to come together in praise and fellowship each 5th Sunday. Beginning as a joint fellowship and praise experience on 5th Sundays, this celebration of Jesus' prayer for unity continues to grow and to break new ground.
At the second 5th Sunday gathering, believers from several area churches (Northwest Fellowship, the Vineyard, Journey Church, and Pond Springs Church of Christ) had a special time of prayer. In small groups of 3 or 4 representatives from the various churches gathered together for a time of reflection on each others' needs and on petitioning and praising God. Our Lord blessed that endeavor immensely, showing us a glimpse of just how powerful the unity of the Spirit can be.
Just this past month, Northwest Fellowship blessed the community with their second annual Harvest Festival. This year Pond Springs Church of Christ was overjoyed to be invited to participate. Volunteering shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart, both churches poured their labors into sharing the goodness of Jesus with the community. What a joy it was to see Christians joined together, unified for a singular Kingdom cause! And what a blessing to see the community being shown the true spirit of Christian cooperation!
What's next? Well, the Pond Springs area churches have a long tradition of joining hands and hearts for an annual Thanksgiving fellowship meal. This year will be all the more special because of our fresh new commitment to Christian unity in our churches and among our community. We look forward to what God will continue to do as our unique and blessed fellowships find special times throughout the year to shine the light of God's unifying work throughout the community.
Perhaps you're looking to be part of a community of churches that knows that the love of Christ is higher than the walls of division. Come be a part of what God is doing. Visit one of our area Pond Springs churches, investigate the work of Christ, and share in the joy of faith, hope, and love as we all reach towards the future together.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)