PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR
Another home run blog post by Perry Noble -
DREAMING
Got an interesting quote from an old friend’s FaceBook page today. He didn’t say whether it was his own, nor did he give a source, so now it’s mine!
When our memories exceed our dreams, the end is near.
Wow, I said that really well. It’s a statement that resonates with me in a special way because I will pass several significant milestones in the next eight months.
On December 20th, 2009 Gill and I will celebrate our Ruby Wedding Anniversary – 40 years together and the smartest thing I ever did.
On June 26th, 2010 I will say farewell to the 50’s and we will (quietly) celebrate my 60th birthday.
On July 25th, 2010 I will have been in pastoral ministry for exactly 40 years, which seriously seems like just a few years, indicating that I really must be getting old.
Now, you don’t need to email me and tell me I’m being presumptuous. I know all those things are subject to whether God has planned for me to be around for them, but there’s no harm in thinking about them is there?
I’ve amassed an amazing amount of memories. Many of them are lost in my overloaded mind, to be brought back to life by an old photograph, a conversation with a friend or a friend request on the aforementioned FB.
So many wonderful memories of people, places and experiences, reaching right up to yesterday’s huge events for our church. But thankfully while those are part of my life, they are not my whole life, for while I remember often, I dream with even more regularity.
I would need another lifetime to see everything I dream come to pass, so I guess at some point others will actually watch them happen, but that must never stop me dreaming.
SUNDAY STUFF
+ Woke up today to every preacher’s nightmare – no voice. Had a slight cold this past two days and this morning I was struggling, but we got by. Now my head is banging, my sinuses are congested and I don’t feel too sharp. But that’s okay, this has been a great day.
+ One sure way to quantify whether you’re hitting your mark as a church is to see whether people are coming to faith in Jesus and that is reflected in baptisms. We baptized a number of people three months ago and today in our quarterly Celebration Sunday services there were a whole load more.
+ Turned out we were a bit stretched for set-up in Ronkonkoma, but the guys rose to the occasion – superb team.
+ I drank several cups of coffee to try to ease my throat. Worked somewhat.
+ Frank couldn’t make it today because of sickness at home, so I ended up baptizing in Ronkonkoma. Loved it. 5 people testified to their commitment to Christ by being baptized in our horse trough! It’s not the how that matters, so much as the why.
+ I have had the joy of guiding one of the guys through part of his journey to faiith, so it was an unexpected privilege to be the one baptizing him.
+ Jaime Saponieri belted out a great song before communion. That woman has some gift there.
+ Love the atmosphere at our church.
+ Mastic was packed for our first Celebration Sunday over there. Insane. Biggest crowd since we started in September. Had to find spots for extra chairs.
+ Biggest total attendance on a regular Sunday ever.
+ Great job with the worship by our friend Michelle Margiotta. I love having her there and am thankful for the couple of Sundays a month she has been able to give us.
+ So we baptized 22 people in Mastic. Okay, it was a little chaotic in the limited available space, but it was a terrific service. These folks are the firstfruits of our labors over there.
+ Today was a special day for everyone who had any part in the launch of our second campus. They gave, they worked, they prayed, they believed and they celebrated this morning.
+ This was a special day for our pastors and for the whole church – huge!
+ We got word at the end of the Mastic service that we can use the theater for a Christmas Eve service. So we’re plannng for a Christmas Sunday service for both campuses on Sunday December 20th in Ronkonkoma and a Christmas Eve service for both campuses on Thursday December 24th in Mastic.
+ I’m shot now. No gym this afternoon – no nothing. Just my chair and football.
+ I love this church.
TOMORROW
We have had quarterly Celebration Sundays for several years now. There are two major components to these special occasions – baptism and communion. While the significance of communion is clear, let me emphasize why people getting baptized is so important to us as a church.
I want to underline why tomorrow will be so very significant.
+ People get baptized because they have come to faith in Jesus and/ or are taking an important step forward in their walk with God.
+ Baptisms mark changed lives.
+ Baptisms mean we’re achieving the purpose for which we exist – influencing others for Jesus.
+ Our first baptisms in Mastic show it is good and right for us to be there.
+ They mean that the sacrifices by our folks of time, energy and money were an excellent investment for the kingdom.
+ A day when we will baptize at least 23 people indicates that we are not simply maintaining momentum since we went to two campuses, but that momentum has radically increased.
Great day ahead – early night needed.
AS GEORGE SAID …
I have a real problem with the fact that Wal-Mart stores will be open tomorrow. Shows they value profits more than family – their priorities suck.
As a reminder to them and to us of what it’s all about, here’s George Washington’s original Thanksgiving Proclamation -
WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;– for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;– for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;– and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other tranfgressions;– to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
PARTY TIME
I know it’s only Tuesday, but I can’t wait for the weekend. We baptize people every three months in our Celebration Sunday services and the last one at the end of August was especially significant.
That was our last time together in just one location, prior to planting out more than 50 of our congregation to launch the Mastic campus on September 13th.
Just thirteen weeks after those baptisms, we are set to baptize 23 more people this coming Sunday – with an amazing 18 of those being in Mastic.
So whatever your plans for the weekend, be sure to join us for a party and a half. It will be Celebration Sunday in both locations and what a day it’s going to be.
SUNDAY STUFF
+ I know I posted this graphic yesterday, but I like it. It’s for our Christmas teaching series that starts Sunday December 6th.
+ I’m tired tonight, but to repeat the words of George Whitfield I quoted this morning, “Lord I am weary in thy service, not of thy service but in thy service.”
+ Great morning at Church At The Movies. Haven’t got the attendance stats yet, but the Ronkonkoma cafe ran out of donuts and the Mastic cafe came up short on bagels, which all suggests we had good crowds. Certainly looked that way.
+ One Month To Live has been an excellent series. I taught the last part of it today.
+ Shared at both campuses that we are bringing John Bernor on board as part of our pastoral team. He will focus on student ministry, but we won’t be calling him our youth pastor. He’s simply one of our pastors. (I hate the title youth pastor, it’s demeaning. Come to think of it, I don’t like titles, period!)
+ John is experienced in youth ministry and has a proven track record. We’ll be officially welcoming him on board on Sunday December 20th.
+ We’re bringing both campuses together for a Christmas service on that date. It’s our 40th wedding annoversary too.
+ Had baptism classes at both locations today. Seems we have a total of 20+ folks getting baptized during our Celebration Sunday services next week. Excellent!
+ Michelle Margiotta led worship in Mastic. She’s the real deal. Did a superb job. www.michellemargiotta.com
+ Ronkonkoma had movies showing in four of the nine theaters, but they seem content to work around us, which makes life easier.
+ Had our first Next Level class in Mastic after service. That’s what we’re calling our new folks get-together nowadays. Doing one in Ronkonkoma on December 6th. Met some great people who look very settled with us.
+ Didn’t see much football. I saw the lions failed in their bid to remian the worst team in football by beating the Browns. Theiir second victory since the Mayflower sailed – an amazing achievement.
+ I have a lot of fun doing what I’m doing. That is a huge blessing.
+ Jace is staying with us for a few days while Charlotte is away. I love having him around.
+ Cooking for 14 for Thanksgiving. Will do some preparation tomorrow.
+ Tired – I think I said that = outta here!
GOOD NEWS COMING SUNDAY
I love the way God directs things in our personal lives and in church life too and our pastoral team has been encouraged to see something unexpected develop over the past couple of months that has led to an announcement I will be making Sunday that we don’t want anyone to miss.
We feel it is important that our whole church family hears it and that they get it straight from the horse’s mouth (metaphorically speaking of course). So be sure to be there.
Please don’t lose any sleep over this, but do be more than moderately excited.
This news is NOT:
+ That I am retiring or that any of our pastoral team is going anywhere.
+ That we have been thrown out of one of our campuses and will be holding street corner services throughout the winter.
+ That I am about to become a father for the third time.
+ That someone in our church won the lottery and gave it all to the church.
+ That Jose Reyes has asked if he could join Church At The Movies.
+ That we have a cut-price deal on a permanent building.
+ That we are going to start serving a full breakfast every week.
+ That I am going to be offering Weight Watchers groups in the foyer every Sunday.
+ That Rick Warren has asked to preach at our Christmas service.
+ That CNN has decided to carry our Sunday services live on their network.
+ That the President has asked me to fill a new cabinet post as Secretary for Religious Affairs.
Get the picture? Stop guessing or you’ll hurt your brain.
Just be there – Ronkonkoma 9.30; Mastic 11.00
Today was yet an other of so many occasions when I have been humbled at the privilege of being part of such a great church. A couple of years ago we were providing Thanksgiving baskets for 45 or 50 families, but last year those numbers soared and today we geared up for even more.
What a huge team effort – donations from so many sources, picking food up from Long Island Cares, shopping for all the stuff we stiill needed, preparing the baskets (boxes actually) and then handing them all out to a record 127 families today.
There are a lot of people who should enjoy their own celebration considerably better because they made Thanksgiving for hurting families.
Pulling this off has been a substantial achievement. Thanks and congrats to all, especially to our incredibly hardworking Grace Care Coordinator Kerry Tooker.