WEEKLY NEWS
October 2 Edition
Keeping It Going Spiritually after the final "Amen"
I had a good question after worship Sunday. “Pastor Jack, how do I keep it going? I come to church and decide to follow Jesus, but it’s not as easy as it should be, especially as the week goes on. How do I keep the Sunday momentum going?”
Sometimes our experience (following Jesus is hard) and the Word (“His commands aren’t burdensome”) seem to be at odds.
Listen to my answer in this week’s devotional!
Pastor Jack
What's Kenny Marslender Up To?
Long-term ABC member (and Pastor Jack and Dawn’s son) Kenny Marslender works for the Creighton Community Foundation, a faith based non-profit organization that works with, mentors, and helps the students of the Creighton School District.
Kenny grew up in our church and has served as our interim children’s ministry director and occasional worship leader and preacher.
Last week, one of Kenny’s projects (a comunity garden) made the news. Here’s a report from ABC 15!
One of our Many Partners
One of the way we are able to provide many ministries is that we are willing–and even eager–to partner with others who serve the Lord in differrent ways.
One of those ministries is BBQ Mission, which comes to our parking lot every Wednesday (at 11:00 am) and serves a tasty meal at no charge to anyone who is hungry. They also provide a prayer table for anyone who needs extra prayer or wants to help.
You can read more about them at www.bbqmission.org or follow the QR code at the left. They now qualify for the “AZ Charitable Tax Credit Donation,” meaning that up to $470 per person can be donated and you will receive a $470 tax credit from Arizona next year!
They are a worthy organization and are serving Christ one meal at a time!
In addition, we partner with Mission of Mercy (for medical care), Lutheran Social Services (for our IHELP Ministry), the City of Avondale (for Project Connect), St. Mary’s Food Bank (for our monthly food distribution), and the Agua Fria Food and Clothing Bank as a local food bank that we can refer people to. (We don’t have space to store clothes–so we give them any that come in and send people their way!)
I Don't Endorse
I don’t endorse candidates or parties. I don’t even tell anyone (except for my family) who I am voting for.
But I do have hopes and prayers for the upcoming election that I would like to share with you. I have prayers for the candidates themselves, for Christian believers, and for the church–including ABC.
Read all my blogs at www.abcaz.net/blog. And I hope you can pray these same prayers with me.
Pastor Jack
Christ Embassy Church
Pastor Jack interviewed Dr. Jean de Dieu Ndahiriwe, pastor of Christ Embassy Church, following last Sunday’s worship service.
Our Mission Team will recommend in a special called business meeting on October 2 at 6:30 pm that we officially become their lead sponsoring church. (Technically, it’s what the North American Misison Board calls the “Sending Church.)
The church meets in Building A on Sunday afternoons. This will be a great way for our church to partner in reaching African refugees. Pray for them–and listen to the interview!
Pastor Hector Rivas To Retire
Pastor Hector Rivas has announced his retirement sometime around the end of November. He and his wife Connie will be moving to Colombia.
Pray for our Spanish Speaking congregation as they seek new leadership. Change in leadership is always both a challenge and a new opportunity.
And pray for Hector and Connie as they prepare to move!
If all goes as planned, I will have a surgical procedure on October 9. The procedure is part of a clinical trial to remove prostate cancer using short bursts of steam rather than radiation or prostate removal. It has shown great promise in early trials and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and Phoenix are now seeking FDA approval. My cancer is slow-growing and should not be a long-term problem since it was caught early. If this procedure does not work, all other treatment options still remain. The trial includes follow-up and testing for five years.
The procedure will be done at the Phoenix Mayo Clinic and will put me out of action for 2-3 weeks. Associate Pastor Jeremy Wiles will be preaching and leading in my absence.
This yard sale is the “big” fundraiser of the year for our Brown Bag Ministry. Bring items to sell anytime the previous Monday – Thursday (October 7-10) from 8:00 – 4:00 If you have heavy furniture (dressers, beds, etc.) please deliver them first thing on Saturday. We are not selling clothing this year!
It's MinistrySafe Renweal Time
To stay up to date we run a background check for all the volunteers that work with or around children every two years. So be on the lookout for an email from minstrysafe. I included the brand logo just in case you have any questions. Feel free to reach out to me @ [email protected]
Youth groups from 6 different churches came together at DNOW to discover what it is that unites them. Spoiler…it’s Jesus! The DNOW weekend was full and crazy and loud but more importantly, youth were discipled with the truth of the gospel!
Thank you Church!!
Youth and Childrens Study on Sunday
Prayer Meeting Online and In Person!
We meet for prayer every Wednesdays at 5:30 pm in conjunction with our Wednesday meal. We also have an online prayer group meeting on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm. You can join prayer meeting via zoom by following this link.
Food Distribution, October 2, 8:00 am
BBQ Mission, October 2 at 11:00 am
WAC (Wednesday at Church), October 2, 5:30 pm
Special Called Business Meeting, October 2, 6:30 pm
ABC Moms at the Park, October 4, 9:30 am
How To Study a Book of the Bible, October 2, 6:30 pm (Following Business Meeting)
Fall Festival, October 27, 2:00 – 5:00 pm