Thursday, January 29, 2009

Parting with the Painful - Offering Praises for the Positive

This Sunday, February 1st, will be a significant day for Neighbors Grove Wesleyan Church. Our Transition Team will lead the congregation to reflect upon our heritage. This will be a 3 hour event (including our morning worship service) focused on: Parting with the Painful and Offering Praises for the Positive.

During the worship service, the sermon will be based on Matthew 6:12 – “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”. This service will conclude by celebrating forgiveness, received and given, as we partake of the Lord’s Supper together. Forgiveness is the grace that enables us to break free of the bondage of past sins so that we can move forward into the future God desires for His church.

An afterglow time will follow the worship service. The congregation will divide into small groups led by Transition Team members. Each group will be given the opportunity to discuss these two questions: 1) What is the one thing in NGWC’s past that I have most needed to release to God so that we can move forward? 2) What time at NGWC did I feel most motivated and excited about our church? After these discussions the congregation will gather for a soup and sandwich lunch together.

Following the lunch, everyone will return to the sanctuary to celebrate God’s blessings upon the church during the last 30 years as highlights are given from the tenures of the last six pastors. As each former pastor is remembered, people will be given to stand if they came to faith or joined the church during these years. Words of affirmation and humorous memories will be shared by those who desire to do so.

Please join those who already in prayer for God to do a special work in our midst as the Neighbors Grove congregation gathers together this Sunday.

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