| Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 Life can be challenging. Storms, both literal and figurative, are a part of life. There are times when things don’t go as planned and we face difficulties that can seem like a minor hiccup or may even seem insurmountable. In such moments, praising God might be the last thing on our minds. However, the Bible encourages us to give thanks in all circumstances, not just when everything is going well. Last week we had our annual 4th and 5th grade Dude Camp at Forest Glen National Park. You may recall that this was when a huge storm blew through south Texas with high winds and lots of hail. As a result of that storm, the camp lost power. This would normally not seem like a big deal; we were camping after all. However, the generators were not working properly and the camp works on well water which means we also lost water. Bathrooms were no longer usable, and our big finale game that required filling up water balloons wasn’t going to happen. Being responsible for 125 humans became a bit daunting. I quickly began adjusting our schedule: coming up with contingency plans for worship, games, bathroom breaks and meals. As we gathered for chapel the kids pulled out their flashlights to begin singing before our lesson. Standing in the back I was overcome with emotion as we sang the words “You are here, working in this place. I worship you, I worship you. You are, Way Maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. My God, that is who you are!” WOW! Losing power seemed frustrating and unsettling, yet, even in those frustrating moments, we are called to praise the Lord, which is exactly what the campers were doing! They were not hindered by their circumstances and continued to have joy and give praise! When we praise God despite our surroundings several things can occur. First, we acknowledge that He is in control, no matter what our situation may look like. Praising God in the tough times strengthens our faith. It shifts our focus from our problems to God’s power and goodness. This act of faith helps us trust in His plans when we encounter future difficulties. Second, not only does it shift our focus, but it can transform our perspective of dwelling on our current troubles and start seeing the blessings we still have. This in turn can bring peace and hope amid adversity. And lastly, it can be a testimony to those around us. It shows that our faith is not dependent on our circumstances but on our relationship with God. I am not suggesting that we ignore our problems, but instead, focus on God’s goodness and faithfulness despite the difficulties. Throughout the power outage, I was reminded that “all things we go through is an opportunity to make us more like Christ!” The power eventually came back on. Despite not being able to have our big finale game or our normally scheduled meal in the cafeteria, we had a grand and holy experience sensing the Lord’s presence! Lord, help us to praise you in every situation. Give us eyes to see Your blessings knowing that everything we go through is an opportunity to make us more in Your image. Strengthen our faith and change our perspectives so that we may always rejoice in Your goodness knowing that You are a “WAY MAKER, and a LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.” Amen. Tena Roher |
| VBS Volunteer Training |
| If you are a VBS volunteer, please make time to attend one of our VBS training sessions. There are two sessions available, Wednesday, June 19th, and Sunday, June 23rd. Both meetings will take place at 4:00 pm in the Coffee Cafe. Again, you only need to attend one training. Contact Tena Roher if you have any questions. If you are interested in volunteering and haven’t signed up yet, you can complete registration by following the link below. VBS Volunteer Registration |
| Roof Construction |
| Roofing work begins on Friends Center, the Education Building, and the breezeway by the church offices on Monday, June 17th. Due to the nature of the construction the main doors to the office will be closed until the project is complete. Staff will still be working, but please call the church office if you need to come into the offices so we can safely direct you into the building. Thank you for using caution when on campus. |
| Summer Activities |
| Friends on the Patio Men and Women are invited to join us next Tuesday, June 18th, at Dunn Bros Coffee to enjoy each other’s company in conversation and music. We would love to know what you want to discuss, please fill out the suggestion form by clicking below. Topic Suggestions Friends Summer Outings is meeting at Palm Beach tomorrow. It’s not too late to let Ms. Tena know you are heading down! Tickets can be purchased online ahead of time for $15/person. Next week, due to construction, we will meet under the big porte cochere at the worship center. Come in clothes that can get messy as we will be painting rocks for our playground rock flower garden. Visit our website for the full summer schedule. Friends Summer Outings Weekly Information |
| Camp Quaker Haven |
| Camp fun continues this week! Be praying for travel as our high schoolers are headed home and for our junior high campers as they begin a week of deep diving into the camp experience. May camp be more than just a week a way from home, but instead, a formative moment in their faith journey. |
| Summer Sundays |
| Coffee Cafe Conversations |
| We had another great round of conversation this week over the importance of persistently searching for God. Each week we will continue to explore different topics and have opportunities to get to know someone new. We hope you can make it to Coffee Cafe Conversations on Sunday mornings this Summer at 9:00 AM! |
| Bridal Shower |
| Please join us as we celebrate Elaina Roher and her upcoming wedding to Daniel Hixon at a bridal shower on Sunday, June 30th in the Coffee Cafe from 3:00-5:00 pm. A link to their registry can be found below. Elaina and Daniel’s Registry |
| New Artwork in the Coffee Cafe |
| It always gives us great joy to see our young people using the gifts that God has given them to bless our congregation or our community. Recently Evelyn Barmore presented our church staff with a beautiful painting of the church which she created using chalk pastels. Her artwork is now hanging in the Coffee Café – stop by to see it when you get a chance! Evelyn, who recently completed 5th grade, is the daughter of Blake and Jennifer Barmore. You might have seen her on a Sunday morning in the church foyer helping her grandparents, Mike and Anna Barmore, to welcome people as they arrive for morning worship. Thank you, Evelyn, for using your creativity and artistic talent to bless our congregation! |
| Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5 |
