Pictures from Sunday
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009These are pictures from Sunday evening service this week. Photos by Stephen Irwin.
Archive for April, 2009
Holy Week
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
The week leading to Easter turned out even better than I had anticipated.
Wednesday began our 36-hour church prayer. It was powerful. Individuals from the church prayed in 30 minute time slots at the old church building. They were specifically praying Jesus’ Holy Week prayer in John 17. I love the emails I have been receiving from them in follow-up to this time of prayer for our city. A big thanks to Kirsty for leading.
Thursday evening we joined with some other churches in the area for a combined worship service that included many ancient and modern traditions to reflect the diversity of the churches that were present. I just love getting together with the various church leaders. There are some great ministers here who care for the city and the kingdom of God.
Friday night, Brian Luse, Wade, and Leah put together a Seder - Passover dinner. It was well led and well cooked. There were about 70 there including the children. This Seder meal powerfully drove home to me how fantastic it is to be apart of an amazing team that can do together what none of us can do alone.
Much of Saturday was preparing for Sunday, which exceeded my expectations.
There was such a joy present at both Easter services on Sunday–a feeling of triumph. I enjoyed worshiping and preaching at the services even more than usual. Andy Ashworth and team chose some great music, the message went well and God seems to have been speaking to people’s hearts.
To top it all off Kellie put together a fantastic Easter afternoon brunch. Great food, great people, and to top it all off a 120 egg Easter egg hunt for the kids (eggs hidden by Mark and Dan). A great weekend - He is Risen!
Anticipating
Monday, April 6th, 2009
(photo: freefoto.com– Island of Skye, Scotland)
I love my church. Yesterday was particularly amazing. God was clearly working with many of us in some deep places in our hearts. During the share times at the end of both services, there were so many amazing shares; people encouraging one another, people sharing a verse or two, people testifying to what God is teaching them, people sharing about what God is doing in their lives. Both in the morning and in the evening I found my eyes misting-we all heard shares from places of joy and pain, from answered prayer to needing prayer. Powerful stuff.
As I look ahead to this ‘holy week’ I am very excited about all that is happening. On Wednesday night I get to spend time training some gifted men whom God are raising up to lead his church in the future. On Thursday night I get to spend time with the other local churches in a combined worship service. I am looking forward to connecting with some of these godly people I haven’t seen in a while. On Friday evening our church is doing a Seder feast all about Jesus led by Brian Luse, Wade Thompson, and Leah Aston. All of this followed by Easter Sunday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I hope to have some great pictures of all this for next week’s blog. Until then, keep praying for us that God would guide us clearly, strengthen and encourage us, and bless our work at advancing his kingdom in our day.
Ceilidh-March 2008
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
Last week some people in our church put together the greatest Ceilidh (Kay-lee) I have ever been to. The church looked sort of like a grand hunting highland hall complete with a blow up stag head mounted on the balcony.
We ceilidh-ed, we ate the most amazing of desserts, and I even sported a kilt. (pictures below)
While enjoying the evening I kept saying, “Nobody told me church-planting in Scotland would be so great!”
I love my church… you guys are amazing.
(all photo’s by Michael James Libolt Photography)