This is the new format for LifeShare. We are soon going to be discontinuing the emails you received before. If you want to continue to receive LifeShare in this new format, you will need to subscribe at http://www.lifeshare.live, where you can see posts about current happenings and posts from Pastor Dan and others.

The Fun Days of Summer

I know it’s not technically summer yet, but it is in the air. Schools are on summer break, families and friends are enjoying or preparing for vacations and it’s finally getting warm. These things and so much more mark a wonderful time of the year when people can enjoy the benefits of sunny days and warm temperatures.  Just last week my family and I went to Hueston Woods for the afternoon and enjoyed a picnic. It was great!

While summer has much to offer it can easily become a time of slipping away from the disciplines of our walk with Christ. Since schedules often shift in the summer we can find ourselves having to work harder to set time aside for prayer, reading and study of the Word and even attending Sunday morning worship. Also, since many One Another groups take a break during the summer, this regular accountability can cause us to be less focused on walking with Christ each day.

Proverbs 24:3 says, “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”  I encourage you to continue to build your spiritual house through this season by intentionally seeking God’s wisdom in times of quiet, prayer and study. Use the unique blessings of the summer season to engage God’s purposes in your life and honor him. Here are a few suggestions to make the most of your spiritual summer:

• Take a prayer walk through your neighborhood and pray for all to know Christ and how you might play a role in their spiritual lives.
• Host a neighborhood block party to build relationships or simply invite a few neighbors to sit on your porch or patio to get to know them better.
• While on family vacation plan out family vacation devotions for each day. (Perhaps build some connections with the places you are visiting.)
• Find a quiet place in a park and meditate on God’s word and then listen.
• Worship at another church while on vacation.
• Join in a 2^nd Saturday Project to serve others in our community.

Whatever you choose to do, take advantage of this great season and strengthen, not weaken you relationship with God through some creative ways. Don’t take a break from God, even though schedules get busier. God deserves our best and calls us to commit to Him in all seasons. Make this summer a summer of spiritual fun as you seek Him with all your heart!

Praying with you and for you,

Pastor Dan

The Story

Before Sunday be sure to read Ruth 1-4 and/or Chapter 9 of The Story. To see all reading assignments click here. To hear previous sermons in the series, click here.

Upcoming…

• Spirit Song – Kings Island – Friday, June 24, 8am-11:30pm, open to any attender of ECOB and your friends. $40 each includes the Christian Music Festival and Kings Island Park. Registrations due by Sunday, June 12, at the Youth Kiosk. For more information click here.
• Ellis Guthrie Golf Scramble – Saturday, June 18, 8:30am at Beechwood Golf Course in Arcanum. $32/person for 18 holes of golf and a cart. Sign up by June 12 at the Info Center. Contact Steve McCloud 937-603-2958 or John Carver 937-733-8604.
• Baptism – Sunday, July 10. Have you invited Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior, but have never experienced the blessing of water baptism? Contact the office or one of the Pastors no later than Wednesday, July 6.
• Ladies Summer Bible Study – begins next week for those who have registered: Tuesday, June 14, 6:30pm and Wednesday, June 15, 10am. Both sessions will be held in Room 101.
• Knights Basketball Camp– Thursday & Friday, July 14 & 15, 6:30-8:30pm and Saturday, July 16, 9:30am-noon in the Great Room. For info and to register click here.
• Soul Bowl – Richmond 40 Bowl is sponsoring a special bowling event with inspirational music on Sunday, June 26, 6-9pm at the Richmond 40 Bowl, 75 S. 37th St., Richmond, IN. $5/person, up to 6/lane, 3 hours unlimited bowling including all equipment. Contact Christina here.

This is the new format for LifeShare. We are soon going to be discontinuing the emails you received before. If you want to continue to receive LifeShare in this new format, you will need to subscribe at http://www.lifeshare.live, where you can see posts about current happenings and posts from Pastor Dan and others.

The Story

Before Sunday be sure to read Judges 2-4; 6-8;13-16 and/or Chapter 8 of The Story. To see all reading assignments click here. To hear previous sermons in the series, click here.

Upcoming…

• Ladies Summer Bible Study Looking For Lovely begins June 14. Check out all details here and register now through this Sunday, June 5, at the Info Center or the office.
• Baby Dedication is Sunday, June 12. Please contact the office by next Wednesday, June 8, if you would like to have a child dedicated.
• Rockhouse Kickball Cookout – is Wednesday, June 8, 5-8pm at Camden Road for all incoming Jr. and Sr. High students. What’s it about? What to bring? Click here.
• Spirit Song – Kings Island – Friday, June 24, 8am-11:30pm, open to any attender of ECOB and your friends. $40 each includes the Christian Music Festival and Kings Island Park. Registrations due by June 12 at the Youth Kiosk. For more information click here.
• Ellis Guthrie Golf Scramble – Saturday, June 18, 8:30am at Beechwood Golf Course in Arcanum. $32/person for 18 holes of golf and a cart. Sign up by June 12 at the Info Center. Contact Steve McCloud 937-603-2958 or John Carver 937-733-8604.
• Baptism – Sunday, July 10. Have you invited Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior, but have never experienced the blessing of water baptism? Contact the office or one of the Pastors no later than Wednesday, July 6.
• Challenge Conference – Students are looking for work to raise money for this Conference. If you would like having a student work for you, contact Pastor Josh.

This is the new format for LifeShare. We are soon going to be discontinuing the emails you received before. If you want to continue to receive LifeShare in this new format, you will need to subscribe at http://www.lifeshare.live, where you can see posts about current happenings and posts from Pastor Dan and others.

The Story

Before Sunday be sure to read Joshua 1-2; 6; 8; 10-11; 23-24 and/or Chapter 7 of The Story. To see all reading assignments click here. To hear previous sermons in the series, click here.

Upcoming…

• Ladies Summer Bible Study Looking For Lovely begins June 14. Check out all details here and register now through June 5 at the Info Center or the office.
• Baby Dedication is Sunday, June 12. Please contact the office by Wednesday, June 8 if you would like to have a child dedicated.
• Storage Facility Project – We are just $7,000 away from our goal, and are extending the deadline for pledges to this coming Sunday. Information sheets and pledge cards are available at the Info Center. Thank you for prayerfully considering your pledge.
• Challenge Conference – Students are looking for work to raise money for this Conference. If you would like having a student work for you, contact Pastor Josh.
• Griefshare Support Group has begun, but it’s never too late to come, Wednesdays through August 17, 6:30 pm in Room 101.
• Office Closed – Monday, May 30, in observance of Memorial Day.

Last week in his sermon entitled ‘The Past and the Future’, Pastor Josh challenged us to consider how we can share our story to tell of God’s truth and character.  This challenge is applicable to any and all relationships in our lives with those we know well as well as the stranger.  The key is that we continue to tell these stories and to be focused on sharing them with the next generation.

As we move forward as a church in the coming months we are going to be exploring some different ways of being disciples and making disciples.  Some of these ways will perhaps challenge our preferences and comfort.  What we must be assured of is God’s desire to lead us into stronger relationships with Him.  We cannot forgo our obedience to that call.  We have taken solid, healthy steps over the years to be disciples and make disciples which have led us to this point.  It’s not that those were bad or ineffective.  They served the Kingdom well in their time.  However, in an ever-changing culture we must continue to seek with all of our hearts the best ways to engage in discipleship with the current culture.

In the coming weeks and months you will be hearing more about some changes we will be implementing in our discipleship strategy.  We want you to know that you are an important part of this because it is not simply a program to carry out but rather a way of life of the church.  We are incredibly excited as to how this will strengthen us individually and as a body of believers in our efforts to carry out our God-given mission.

Here’s how you can be a part of this journey at this stage:

• Pray, Pray, Pray and then Pray some more.
  • Pray for leadership wisdom and discernment.
  • Pray for logistical planning and details.
  • Pray for all hearts to be open to God’s calling individually and collectively to take our next step towards Christ.
  • Pray for how God wants you to share your story.
• Recognize that all changes require sacrifice from each of us. One of these current sacrifices is pushing ‘pause’ with our Family Camp Ministry for 2016.  We will hit ‘play’ again in 2017.  This ‘pause’ will allow us to focus more intently on this new strategy.
• Remember that God has and will continue to equip us fully as we seek His plan for this church.
• Know that we will be sharing much over the next weeks and months about this new strategy. Seek out that info and if you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask.

Thank you for being a church that wants to impact the current and future generations for Christ.

Praying with you and for you,

Pastor Dan

Around three weeks ago the elders presented a challenge to us to meet a need for a new storage facility at Camden Rd. The selling of the Barron St. facility has heightened this need for storage in a more obvious way than ever. Through much hard work and energy our property team has presented the elders with a solid plan for meeting this need with a new storage facility. Like most projects, this requires funds to make it happen. The goal of $65,000 is our target for us to commit to building this facility. I am pleased to say we are well on our way to meeting that goal with a total to date of 34 pledges for the total pledged amount of $35,287.00. Thank you, it’s a great start!

As excited as we are to be at this point, we haven’t achieved our goal. With that in mind, as you prayerfully consider your part, keep note of the following:

• This Sunday, May 22 is the final pledge Sunday. If you haven’t pledged at this point, please take some time to do this.
• Pledge cards will be available this Sunday if you don’t have one.
• Please be prepared to make your pledge by this Sunday. You can drop those off in the office this week if you want to do that before Sunday.
• While this project may seem unexciting it will prove to be supportive of our overall mission to make disciples in this community and beyond. Don’t underestimate the importance of this project in our overall ministry efforts.
• I encourage us all to be in prayer for this next step of ministry.

Thank you for continuing to seek God’s heart as carry out our mission!

Praying with you and for you,
Pastor Dan

Coming Up …

GRIEFSHARE SUPPORT GROUP – Wednesdays, May 25-Aug 17, 6:30 pm. Call the church office to register.

BLOOD DRIVE – Thursday, May 26, 1-7 pm in the Great Room

BABY DEDICATION – Sunday, June 12. Contact the church office by Wednesday, June 8.

READING THE STORY AHEAD – Check it out here

ROCKHOUSE SUMMER CALENDAR – Click here

Servanthood

Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. … You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.
–Martin Luther King, Jr.

Becoming true servants requires that our actions are an outpouring of the love and grace that is in our hearts and souls. Most anyone can do an act of kindness for someone once in awhile, but the condition of the heart will set the path and pace for life of serving. Serving, like modeled in Christ, is the way of a disciple of Christ. You can’t truly be a disciple of Christ if you aren’t serving Him in your home, at your workplace, in your neighborhood, through your church. Last week on our Brethren Disaster Team trip to Detroit I shared during a morning devotion one of my favorite verses regarding serving:

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. – 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

This reminds us that through our belief and acceptance of Christ we are equipped and enabled to serve with the power of the one true God in unique and powerful ways!

The reason that I wanted to share this today is because I have joyfully and with gratefulness watched this in multiple ways over the past few weeks. It makes me so proud of what God is doing through you to make the name of Christ known and bring God glory. Here’s just a few of those things:

Even after having to reschedule our 2nd Saturday Outreach to a week later due to bad weather, eight people worked 35.5 man-hours to install privacy fencing on both the north and south side of the Homeless Shelter and a gate on the south side. On the 18th three people worked another 9 serving hours to clean up, remove supports and trim and dress the posts.

On the last Saturday of April a One Another group made up of 8 adults and 16 kids came out to spruce up the landscaping here at Camden Rd. by weeding and mulching. Their service helps make this place attractive and welcoming to our guests and reflects how we desire to care for them.

As we spent the last days of ministry at Barron St. with our GreenHouse Kids and RockHouse Student ministries programs for the year, each night was marked by prayer for others. The Sr. High youth spent part of their last night praying over the Barron St. facility specifically in how God will empower and bless L& M Products (the new owners) to use it as a sacred space for helping its employees, clients and the community. On the following Wednesday, in a multi-generational gathering that included the prayer balloon launch, prayers reached out to those receiving those balloons to make known God’s goodness and love.

Last week six people from ECOB gave an entire week to go to Detroit to help repair homes damaged by flooding and demonstrate God’s love in action on a Brethren Disaster Trip.

Over the last 2 months and with special concentration over the last few weeks, many have given countless hours to the move from Barron St. From sorting Kitchen supplies, to moving furniture, to sorting items for the sale, to staffing the sale, so many have stepped up to serve your God, your church and our ministry efforts. While at first appearance this may seem inward, we must remember that it is necessary to do these types of things to be good stewards of what God has given us. All of those things being moved, stored, and shared contribute to our overall ministry efforts. God will use every part of it, even if it seems mundane and non-spiritual to us.

Yesterday as we began the moving sale, a story was shared with me that a member of this church came in and purchased a box full of kid’s trinkets and toys. She knew of a ministry that used these types of items to bring joy and encouragement to children suffering from cancer. She was taking this box of goodies to give to them.

Finally, last night I had the joy of gathering with around 30 volunteers who have served in the Wednesday Night GreenHouse Kids ministry this year. These adults have poured many hours of time, prayer and planning into reaching kids and families with the message of Christ. Thanks for making a difference!

Each of these examples, and I’m sure much more over the last month here at ECOB alone, demonstrates with wonderful humility how to administer God’s grace in its various forms. Praise God! Hallelujah!

Praying with you and for you,
Pastor Dan

Coming Up …

• YOUTH BAKE SALE THIS SUNDAY!
• STORAGE FACILITY PROJECT – Information sheets & pledge cards available at the Info Center. Please prayerfully commit by Sunday, May 22.
• ROCKHOUSE SUMMER CALENDAR – Click Here
• CHALLENGE CONFERENCE – Students are looking for work to raise money for this Conference. If you would like having a student work for you, contact Pastor Josh at the church office.
• GRIEFSHARE SUPPORT GROUP – Wednesdays, May 25-Aug 17, 6:30 pm in Room 101. Call the church office to register.
• READING THE STORY AHEAD – Check it out here
• CHURCH CALENDAR – Want to know about coming events? See the Calendar here