LIFE TOGETHER  

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was imprisoned and martyred in Germany during World War 2 for opposing Hitler, wrote a book, Life Together, while teaching at an underground seminary in Germany. He also wrote The Cost of Discipleship, his better known work. His letters written from prison have also been published.  

Sometimes his ideas are esoteric and hard for me to grasp. I find myself laboring as I read and feeling a bit weak intellectually. Yet, I think his basic ideas, that I can surmise, are very good. The Body should use its gifts to help each other and in unity reach out to those who need to commit themselves to Christ and His cause. Christ opens up the way for us to God and to each other. I love how he keeps coming back to Christ. Unity in worship is not in agreeing on what music to sing but on agreeing to lift up the words to God in Christ in the Body’s worship.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
Everything happens through Christ and for Christ. The church’s life together is always through Christ. We cannot help another person except by going through Christ. I love this. He is always reminding us that Christ takes precedence over all else. Christ is the means of our life with God. Christ is the bridge for life with each other. Christ is the way for us to reach out to others. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s secret for life is Christ. Every believer already knows the secret.     

Of course there are other significant ideas in his book but this thread runs through it. It’s a thread I want running through our lives too. This fall after finishing “God Saturated” in Psalms and two weeks in Hosea—“Nothing Changes Without Love,” we start a nine week series on “Life Together.” Yes, I’m borrowing (or perhaps stealing) the title of Dietrich’s book for our series. We will be going through some texts that call us to Christ and his great purpose for us. It’s like a team play book—full of the plays God wants us to learn.    

I remember in high school the coach showing us our team’s offensive and defensive plays and then saying, “We’re going to do them until we execute them perfectly.” I learned by practicing in sleet and hail that the guy was serious. Sometimes we practiced in the dark while our parents waited with the cars running. But the coach ended up with the number one football team in the state. 
When we open The Book, God gives us the plays. They are all about life, living life together with Christ and for His cause. It is a life that challenges us to the core. A life that makes us feel weak, strong, humble, thankful, inadequate, powerless, glad and significant. It is the best life possible. It is a life only possible in and through Christ. His life, death and resurrection transcend everything. He is enthroned above all things, holds all together, draws history and the future toward its inevitable consequence—His glory. And we get to know Him.  

This fall we are highlighting a series, Christianity Explored. This video series comes out of All Soul’s Church in London. It is one of the best tools I have ever encountered. Every session is biblical and well illustrated. Watching it, I’ve been compelled, “My neighbors have to see this! Everyone I know needs to see this! What a great tool!” I hope you can see it and feel compelled. You will want others you know to watch it too. 

Other ministries are getting on track for the fall. Remember to pray for and register (August 31^st—registration closes) for our women’s retreat, Living Life Together. Small groups are getting organized (challenge yourself to participate in new ways) too. Children’s Sunday School is ready with refreshed and excited teachers. Youth ministry is riding the wave from the summer and ready to grow inward and outward. Between services, new sessions are starting for adults, too, on September 7^th.  

Ready to live Life Together,    Pastor Brad

Moms Connected is a community where friendships are built, personal growth occurs, and God’s

desire for your life is explored! 

We meet from 9:30-11am on the second Thursday of the month, September through May.

While mothers enjoy their morning, their children will also be enjoying a fun, age appropriate

program including stories, crafts and snacks.

There is no pre-registration required.   Child  drop-off  begins  at 9:15am.  Cost  is  $3 for  mom 

only;  $5 for mom and one child; $6 for mom and two or more children.  This includes childcare,

refreshments, program and speaker.  

Also, join us for Café Play, a Moms connected play group that meets the last Thursday of each

month from September through April.  It is a relaxed time of play for kids and fellowship for

moms.  It meets at E-Free from 9:30-11am.

Deacon's Team

Our mission is to serve those around us when they are in need, 
through tangible acts of mercy and kindness.

Through your continuing support of the Deacon Ministry, we have been able to help meet needs within our church body and the community. A Deacon Ministry box has been placed on the information center in the church foyer. This can be used for confidential communication with our team about possible needs in our church body. This box will be checked weekly by a member of the Deacon Team. This is just another communication tool for the team to become aware of needs. Thank you for your generous giving to the Deacon's Benevolence Fund, which, in turn, allows us to help others. The special offering is taken on communion Sundays, however, an offering designated for the Deacon's Fund can be given at any time. If you know of needs within the church body, please notify the church secretary or a pastor, and they will contact a designated deacon.