Planning For 2015

Some of these things are still on the drawing board – being prayed through and planned – but they are clearly emerging with the leading of God.  I want to share my encouragement, help you be aware and praying as well as give the Spirit opportunity to begin leading you into your place with what is emerging.  Here are a few of the things on our horizon:

Start Preparing To Read The Bible More

More than any time in my life, I see the need for all of us to dig deep roots into God and His Word.  Let me encourage you to start preparing to read the Bible More.  Here are some things you can do, as well as some things coming up in January to help you start that life-changing habit.

• Get A New Bible – Put the Life Application Bible or the Gospel Transformation Bible on your Christmas list.  You can get ESV or NIV translation in either and they both have solid, helpful notes.

• Learn to SOAP – When things settle down in January, I will be looking for opportunities to help you learn and practice the spiritual discipline of Bible Reading and Meditation the SOAP way.  I began this week with our Steering Committee.  I will widen that to Sunday morning at 9 am beginning January 11.  It will be central to a worship service in January.  I want to sit down with you alone or with a few friends and begin walking you through SOAP.  Don’t know what SOAP is?  Trust me, I’d like to show you, and it can change your life.

Issues In Parenting And Education

I have been very taken by the research and books of Dr Leonard Sax – Boys Adrift, Girls on the Edge, Why Gender Matters. As a practicing pediatrician and PhD research psychologist, he brings interesting tools and insight to the conversation of educating boys and girls to become men and women in our culture.  You should be reading and digesting his books if you are a parent, educator or have an interest in our community.

But honestly, who has time and energy for that?  Boy do I sympathize with that circumstance!  In light of that, I will be looking to gather a handful of Christ Covenant folks who can invest time to help me plan and implement an effective presentation of his books – first to Christ Covenant, but hopefully, to interested groups through Spotsylvania County.  I’m picturing a 1-2 hour interactive seminar in a hospitable setting with other interested people.  Something much more doable than a 20 hour reading assignment after a full-day of work and parenting. 

And understand: I’m not just interested in giving information to the families of Christ Covenant.  I’d like to put together an experience that you can invite a friend, neighbor or your child’s teacher to.  Not to bait-and-switch them with recruitment to Christ Covenant, but as a commitment of Christ Covenant to be a blessing to our community.  That is how the Gospel of Grace works.

Summer Outreach and Training Events in Spotsy

Our Heavenly Father opened up an opportunity to host a multi-generational mission team from Faith EPC in Brookville, FL for a week of community outreach this summer.  This will focus primarily on “Backyard Bible Clubs” around Spotsylvania County.  Picture a small Vacation Bible School in your back yard.  In addition, we will have some evehts:  A Pool Party.  A Concert.  Seminars for students.  Through the week, the folks at Faith Church will join us with music, drama, teaching and lots of energy.  Leaders from Faith will be in FXBG in February to survey the community, meet leaders and people and begin praying for the summer.  We’re planning to share this week with Hope EPC and Sovereign Grace – Spotsylvania.  And all of this is at no cost to Christ Covenant.  It’s an outreach ministry of Faith Church and a central part of how they disciple students.  WOW!!

Gospel-Centered Discipling

Resolving EveryDay Conflict – Many Christ Covenant folks worked through this DVD based material by PeaceMakers ministry this fall.  I will be looking for opportunities and settings to continue sowing this seed deep into our lives as people and a congregation.
Vanishing Grace – Like REC above, this is a DVD based series based on a new book by one of my favorite authors: Philip Yancey.  Vanishing Grace explores how Christians live in the middle of hostility and rejection today. Philip Yancey delves into the reasons for the hostility and gives us models of different, more effective ways to communicate the Good News.  Check this video trailer: http://youtu.be/YHnEc4DaGsw
Kainos Movement – I’ve been slow to comment on some important events in our world that the Gospel speaks to and that God would have his people bring hope to.  One of those is race in our country.  Events in Ferguson and Staten Island alone raise this for us.  I’ve not had a chance to watch this entire video conference that this links to - http://live.kainos.is/ - , but early in the New Year, Mary Lynn and I will open up our home to watch it with everyone who can join us.  I want to learn more about the Kainos movement, but I recognize and trust many of the participants, and am taken by their vision.  

"Family Meeting" - After Worship, Sunday January 11

Plan to arrange to stay for a short time after worship for information, Question & Answer and your input on life and ministry at Christ Covenant for the New Year.  This will include financial updates, events being planned as well as other needs and opportunities.