“My goal in life is to pack the bus to heaven before I die or Jesus comes back… preferably the later!”
Bryan Bywater
I came across this picture today of a note my now college freshman daughter wrote thirteen years ago. It reminded me of all of you who are at the “Jesus Bus Line” with me calling out to those lost and looking for “The Jesus Bus”.
… and this girl sent me this text last week (I asked if I could share)
“we went out in CrU [Campus Crusade for Christ]today and evangelized on campus!
i was able to have so many great conversations and share the gospel with people-
i wanted to share with the family because i was reminded of the times in high school when i wanted to hide my faith because of fear of being judged,
yet now i am sharing it at school because i want no one to go without
hearing the gospel. God is so good!”
… all places, all times, all people… let’s pack the bus together for The Lord!
Last Week’s Update…stay connected!
Hey Family,
Stunning day as always!
Served: ~100+
Last week's leaders: Kenny, Bryan, Geoff
Next week's leaders: Geoff
Next week's preacher: The Holy Ghost and Geoff
Gifts
Last week's: Underwear
Next week’s: socks
Looking Ahead
We have been in need of folks bringing food and sandwiches. You can sign up online to bring food, make sandwiches, volunteer, or provide funds to keep the ministry operating.
GIVE HERE TO SUPPORT US FINANCIALLY
SIGN UP HERE TO HELP SERVE.
SIGN UP HERE, TO PROVIDE FOOD DONATIONS
Service
Such a beautiful Saturday that started out on Friday Night as Deb Serra and some young friends made the sandwiches for the day! Many hands make light work, and work for the Lord fills the house with love!
Our friend Ed read Psalm 37 for us. It was a Holy Moment. You could seen and feel The Spirit speak to him as he stood in our midst;
“…Do not fret, trust in the Lord, do good, take delight in the Lord, commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still wait patiently for him; do not fret…”
Kenny often says the pubic reading of Holy Scripture by God’s assorted people is his favorite part of the service. I would have to agree. Al followed up and others as well. Kenny added to each reading and drew us into the Holy Presence of God.
I preached on trusting God and expounded the many times in Scripture God had proven himself faithful to His covenants.
Then we broke off into prayer groups and I noticed Isis had a group over by the steps holding hands with a new family and praying deeply. She has been homeless on and off and has had many struggles but is growing in faith and joy. A few weeks back she shared she had finished both a carpenters apprenticeship and food prep course and was looking for work! If you have ever seen her nails you would be in shock too! Look at what God is doing!
We called back in and Kenny handed out communion so I jumped over into the lunch line to help it move. I spent years working at Starbucks and know how to keep a POS (point of service) line moving. Kenny smothered the line in love after he finished and I wandered over to the underwear line to check up and found a woman I had never seen before dressed very nicely handing out underwear and loving up on folks. I asked her name and appologized if we had met before…
“Oh no honey, I was just walking by and saw what you all was doing and asked if I could help so I jumped in!”
This is happening more and more as we intentionally hand our “jobs” over to others and watch the Holy Spirit make the community livable again…. like Isaiah prophesied in Chapter 58… make the community livable again.
What a beautiful day Saturday!
b
From the Community Churches
“I always thought following Jesus was something you did on your own,
but it’s more like a parade, and I LOVE parades!”
- Aaron, Simsbury High school Senior 1990-something
I used the electronic fob I was given by the person at the front desk and let myself in to the secured memory care unit at River Ridge. As the lock clicked and I swung the door swung open, I scurried inside to avoid the alarm going off and was startled by my friend Teresa who was sitting in one of the oversized chairs… and I startled her too.
“Oh, you are here today!”
“yes, we are having church today, would you like to come join me?”
“Oh yes, please!”
And we started our little parade down the hall, me pushing my beach cart full of church-in-a-box and Teresa pushing her walker. We rounded the corner and many friends were waiting, and more were pushed in, or walked in, or shuffled in and we started to sing old hymns together…
And they sang so beautifully that I picked up one of the battery powered candles from the holder and simply conducted this choir and never took my guitar out of the case.
That’s when Eilene walked in to worship with us. She used to join us during her lunch break at the dental office where she worked with/for her husband. They have since sold the practice and retired… and now she does not have to rush back.
We handed out communion and everyone was pleased to have it, some opening eyes with joy…and some staff joined us too because the work weekends and we are their church too. I preached a short sermon (honest) and sang a little more then while we were packing up one of the residents came up to us and said…
”I was watching Mass on TV right before you came and I was sad because I was not able to receive the Body and the Blood of Jesus, and you showed up and look what you brought! That means so much to me! Thank you so much!”
When I got to the truck I had a message about a package that arrived today with gifts to make the people downtown feel loved and seen too.
Thanks to you all who are in the Parade with us.
The Clairbridge Community Church @ Brookdale/Chatfield
The Community Church at Brookdale/Chatfield
The Farmington Station Community Church
The River Ridge Community Church
The West Hartford Health and Rehab Community Church
GIVE HERE TO SUPPORT US FINANCIALLY
SIGN UP HERE TO HELP SERVE.
SIGN UP HERE, TO PROVIDE FOOD DONATIONS
