WALLINGFORD GROUP UPDATE

Mike and Teresa welcomed little Marcus into the world, last night December 16, around 7PM.  Weighing in at 7lbs 15oz and 19.5 inches in length, he's reportedly doing well, along with his mother.  Praise God!

We enjoyed a great time of prayer and fellowship last Wednesday in Greenwood.  We who were present missed you who were absent, and we planned a meeting for tomorrow (Thursday) night.  Waiting until January is too long! Let's meet at Uptown Espresso in Belltown, corner of 4th and Wall.  The Woods were going to have us over, but later realized that son Gavin has a school Christmas program from 7-8:30PM.

Some of us viewed the Finger of God film in November, and spoke about how it challenged us.  Continue to ask God to speak, challenge, guide and comfort us, and expect him to follow through.

We also talked about the OPEN HOUSE event, joining Emmaus Road, New Horizons, and Streetbean, to show hospitality to the neighbors across the street and in the surrounding blocks.  Jennifer agreed to be Emmaus Road's point person.  The GIVING GARDEN idea is still alive, too!  More information to come....

Two Sundays ago, I totally blew it by not looking ahead to plan for our group's turn in the Prayer Room on Sunday, November 30th.  Our next turn is January 4.  This time, let's be there to pray from 9:45-10:15AM.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER

JOYS

• Jason and Karin face many challenges, helping daughter Alex transition from one school to another; they have recently overcome difficult adversity, and have been blessed with the helpful support of someone from the church.
• Eric's Uncle heals from cancer, just as the prophecy was spoken; an event foretold through a total stranger, thousands of miles away, to Eric's sister.  God speaks in many ways!
  
• Valerie made it into the treatment facility she'd been waiting to enter; JP continues to be sustained.
  
• Kurt began a new work at the Women/Children's Center.
• Teresa was involved in a minor car accident last week, but she and the baby were OK; we pray for them as they make many adjustments, welcoming little Marcus into their lives.
• Jennifer signed on as Emmaus Road's lead person for the Open House event this spring, in conjunction with someone from Streetbean and New Horizons.  We'll be supporting Jennifer as we pull together to reach out to our Belltown neighbors through this event.

SORROWS AND CONCERNS

• Jennifer faces almost certain foreclosure, mounting debt, and no sign of a job; please pray with her!
  
• Valerie is in a much better environment, with greater treatment possibilities, but her challenges are overwhelming; please pray for her spiritual health, for faith which overcomes fear, for mental health, and for insightful, committed caregivers at her facility; pray for JP's continued sustenance, emotionally, spiritually, and in all ways, as he faithfully walks alongside Valerie on a very tough journey
• Sara experiences a rise in extreme anxiety, in the form of panic attacks; this is a troubling, unwelcome condition, which keeps Sara isolated from her family and spiritual community.

STEPPING UP TO PRAY: SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30

Did you know Emmaus Road has a "Pit Crew"?  To go along with the "Road Crew" nickname, around the theme of Emmaus Road, journeying, walking with God, etc., the Pit Crew is a small group of leaders who strategically move our church to pray.  They gently, persistently, and thoughtfully, infuse our church life with small but significant moments of prayer.  One of those times is Sunday mornings, prior to worship, from 9:45-10:15AM upstairs at New Horizons.  For the last few years, a very small group has been covering this prayer time.

Today, the Pit Crew suggests we expand this Sunday morning moment, not by trying to get everyone in the church to show up every Sunday at 9:45AM, but by rotating the prayer load through the small groups.  Every five Sundays, a different small group will show up and cover the pre-worship prayers.  In this manner, a much larger grouping of Emmaus Road will participate in praying for the Pastor, musicians, proclamation of the Gospel, etc., every Sunday morning.

The Wallingford Group missed the first date, October 26, because I (Eric) wasn't paying attention!  But November 30 is the next opportunity.  Can we commit to this?  It's a small thing to ask.  For those of us with kids involved in programs ahead of time, we're ostensibly there by 9:30AM already, so it's not really a new item to add to our already overburdened schedules.

SHIFT TO 2ND/4TH WEDNESDAYS

Wallingford Group, our dear sister Anna-Marie is back in school; not just teaching, but taking classes at night!  To accommodate Anna-Marie's new schedule (because let's face it, she makes our group sizzle), we're shifting to WEDNESDAY evenings, 2nd/4th of the month.  I think I've checked in with all of you, and Wednesday evenings generally work for everyone. My wife Alicia wants to continue with the Post Alley Group on the 1st/3rd Wednesday evenings, so this change works for us Likkels, too. HOWEVER, due to Thanksgiving and Christmas being on the 4th Thursdays, I scheduled our Wallingford Group for the 2nd/3rd Wednesdays in November and December. I will probably be bringing baby Greta along on those 3rd Wednesdays. Should be interesting, hearing her contributions....

The Elenbaas's prepared a delicious meal and hosted a fun game night!  It was great sitting around the table and getting to know each other better.  Mike and Teresa said they'd do it again, and hopefully we'd have an even fuller table.  Thanks you guys!

It's time to get ready for the annual Dessert Extravaganza for New Horizons. Remember, each small group makes a contribution....

Next Wednesday, we'll view the Finger of God film; I have it at my office.

Continue to pray for one another; especially for Mike/Teresa's little one, and for Jennifer's work and housing challenges; the last recent possible tenant turned out not to be.  Continue to lift up JP and Valerie in prayer.

I'll be in Leavenworth this weekend, so I'll see all of you next Wednesday at the Woods.

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

We've been exploring the topic of Spiritual Gift for a few weeks.  Here's a little summary of what we've been up to and where we're going.  I'll update it as we continue to meet.

So far, we've read Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12.  We've been wondering aloud together, what our spiritual gifts are; some of us have shared stories of our own, or loved ones, who have experienced the Spirit's power in direct, supernatural ways.
We have also been listening to the testimony of Jill Austin, of Master Potter Ministries.

We plan to view the Finger of God film (soon as I get over to my local Christian book place and order/buy it).

Another book resource suggested was Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God by Gordon D. Fee.
Another book, Fresh Wind Fresh Fire, was written by Jim Cymbala, Pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle.

Most of all, we gather and pray.

WALLINGFORD GROUP ON THE WATER

Here are scenes from July 8, out in Jason's boat.

Captain Jason

Ballard Bridge drawing up or down?


Gasworks Park beneath the sails


Sails of all sizes


Gavin and Josiah


Josiah and Gavin


Anna-Marie and Jennifer


JP and Jason on the boat


Last Chance to get away from Lake Union sailboats


Mike and Teresa Elenbaas

JULY 8, 15, 29?

It's summertime, and the Likkels are heading out of Seattle during the first and fourth weeks of July.  That leaves July 8, 15, and 29 as great Tuesday night opportunities to gather for small group.  One of those would be a great BBQ night, too!

For those who've been following through with Philippians, we're almost finished!  When we complete our final discussion of the final part of the final chapter of this letter, let's talk about what to do next.  Alter our group format?  Continue along the same path?  I would like to hear people's thoughts.

See you Sunday morning!

May 21: PHILIPPIANS 3:17-4:1

This was our plan for May 7, but only Kurt Munson and I were there; we talked about home improvement, mostly... So now this is our plan for May 21, a WEDNESDAY night.

What is "worship of stomach", "glory in shame," and the kind of thinking solely focused on things of the earth (Philippians 3:18-19)?  Did Jesus say things like this?

What does Paul mean by "citizens of heaven" (Philippians 3:20; also Colossians 3:11)?  How significant is this to the people of Philippi (see Wright's background commentary, pp. 124-128)?  

Our challenge for May 21 is to speak this passage in our own words, telling Paul's and the Philippians' story, but then our own story, too.  First we must figure out the story in the text; next we figure out how it is visible in our own lives and context; what "this allegiance to Jesus will mean in terms of the other claims to allegiance which press upon us" (p. 127).