This Sunday - Family Fun Day!

I'm really looking forward to this Sunday October 3 when we're at a different location to have our first (annual, maybe?) outdoor worship service and family fun day.  The weather is supposed to be great, we have alot of people signed up and there's still room for more.  Contact me if you would like to sign up.

My post last week already needs to be revised.  I thought that last Sunday we would be

"finishing up our first series, the Foundations series.  It's been a good start and challenging us to sure up the core beliefs of our faith.  While we've only had three messages on this, I suspect that this may be a series that we will come back to from time to time."

Well, my suspicion is correct - there will be a fourth message in the Foundations series.  I'll be giving a message to everyone - adults and kids together called "Lost and Found."   Pray that this is helpful to all - it's tough to speak to all ages and keep them interested, but I'm very excited about what God has showed me and I look forward to passing it on.

We're hoping for a great day!

Can't sleep...

Having a hard time getting to sleep - that's happening more lately.  Realized I hadn't posted in a few days, so here's the latest.

The room changes worked out OK this past Sunday.  The launch team is to be commended for their eagerness to transform a hotel into a welcoming church gathering.  Kudos to the team!

This Sunday we're finishing up our first series, the Foundations series.  It's been a good start and challenging us to sure up the core beliefs of our faith.  While we've only had three messages on this, I suspect that this may be a series that we will come back to from time to time.

On October 3rd, we're off campus and going to hold an outdoor service followed by a family fun day.  Pray for good weather and also that this will be a nice opportunity to invite friends to our gatherings.

OK...now to settle down and hopefully catch some shut-eye.

Peace!

Flood??

On Thursday night when we had the big storms, our family was heading to our daughter's school when Joe called and mentioned that there was a flood in the hotel.  Since we were in bad thunderstorms (and were hearing about tornado's in Queens on the radio), I assumed that the weather was the cause.  However, it was not.  A worker was moving a table and knocked off the sprinkler head which dumped a few inches of water on the floor in the room where our childrens area and nursery are.

This room had just been renovated a few months ago and they don't know how much damage is major or can be just cleaned up.

I went to the hotel yesterday, and it looks like the room won't be dried out for Sunday.  Thankfully the hotel is arranging to put our kids in two different rooms - one for the nursery and one for the children's ministry.  However, who would have thought that we would be making these kind of changes so soon?

Let's pray for the people who work in the hotel - they could use a lift.

We anticipated opposition, but I never dreamed of a flood!

The First Service

(click picture for a bigger view)

Here's a picture of our first service at the Crowne Plaza on September 12.
I think we're off to a great start.

More pictures...

Thanks to the Lord for a great start!

Our first Sunday went great!  We really sensed God's presence during the service.   The Kids service was great too.  The Launch Team did an outstanding job.

Here's an email that one of the NBC pastors received from someone who attended.  It lines up with my feelings:

Just wanted to share with you the blessing of SUNDAY at Island Christian Church service.  Nothing like a new birth. As I entered into the hallway and was met by greeters I sensed the real Joy and expectation of God doing a special work. The chairs had almost all been filled, and worship time was just beggining. Bob welcomed all  and said that this was a special "MOMENT  IN TIME". From that point on God truly brought his glory, everything was right. Worship was powerful, Joe's message was joyful and commanding.... I was blessed to expierence a sense of AWE. Not awe, can't wait till Joes done speaking, but AWESOME SERVICE.  Thank you for all you do.

Please pray for the new guests who God sent our way, and also for those who couldn't make it that they will get out this coming Sunday.

We thank the Lord for a great start and look forward to next week.

One Day to Go!

This time tomorrow morning we'll just have finished our first service.  Wow!

I would ask you to be prayerful throughout the day.  Pray for the service, the children's ministry, the nursery.  Pray that those who received invitations, door hangers, saw or heard an ad would come.  Pray that God would fill the place with the presence of his Holy Spirit.  Pray that as people hear the Gospel they would "receive the Word in the good soil of their heart" and respond in faith.  Pray for the message, the worship.  Pray that each of us has extra strength and that we all very welcoming to our newcomers.


To God be the glory!

10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3 days til launch!

I can't believe that there's just three days to go until we hold our first service!


Yesterday we had the Northport Baptist staff retreat day at the Crowne Plaza.  We setup the place as a dry run for Sunday and it really gave us a tangible picture of how things might be on Sunday.  It was great!

I have also updated the church website http://www.ichristianc.org/ with some more info and also created pages on Facebook and Twitter for the new church.  If that doesn't mean anything to you, don't worry - ask a kid!  However, I created a Facebook Event for this Sunday, so if you are on Facebook, please check it out, and use it to invite your friends.  "Like it.."  too!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=100309590032485&ref=mf

Please pray that this is a great Sunday where God is glorified and lives are changed.  Thanks!