Celebrating the "New"
Behold, I am making all things new!
Isaiah 43:19
We love to celebrate “new” things at Street Church…
New apartments, new jobs, new ID’s, new beginnings on journeys to sobriety and the like. These are all great reasons to celebrate and we cheer and yell and go wild with joy for each other.
We love to celebrate New Creations and our friends come to faith in Jesus and proclaim to the community they are dying to themselves and saying yes to Jesus. This past weekend we had two of our friends answer the call to come to the waters of baptism!
The Church was given the task to proclaim the Gospel.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
The “go” is done by a few, the “baptize” is seen in many churches without having to “go”, and the “teach” became Sunday School and most churches stop there feeling they have fulfilled the call….but Jesus didn’t end there. No, he said “teach them to obey (live it out) everything. This is the messy part, helping baby believers take first steps.
Last week started loud and with lots of swearing and yelling as two of the guys (one old, one new) got into a loud and cuss-filled argument while we were having out talk. To keep it short, I was able to deescalate before anyone got physical but one of the newer homeless folks had called 911 without me knowing! He said he was disgusted that I was being so badly verbally abused. It’s true, I got cussed out, along with Jesus and the Church, but I was ok and this happens at times… and in the midst I witnessed A New Creation lived out!
I asked one of my church friends who used to live on the street among violent men as an IV drug addict walk one of the guys away who had a history of outbreaks. Both these men have been made new by Jesus. We were able to teach them by example how to live out all that Jesus had commanded them to do.
You can’t make this stuff up, only God can make men like this men of peace.
Love to you all!
Bryan
Last Week’s Update…stay connected!
Numbers and stuff.
Gifts
Last week: Street Church Teeshirts
Next week's: socks
Looking Ahead Prayer Requests
Kenny Legan is preaching at Street Church tomorrow. He and Jody are leading
Day of Hope will be held at Dunkin Park from 12-4
Bryan is preaching at New LIfe in Windsor on Sunday
Julia is headed to Nigeria for just shy of two weeks to work on a crusade mission in the Palau Association
We have a service at Brookdale Chatfield Assisted living Thursday the 3rd
Hannah Bywater turns 14 on the 3rd! Join us in praising God for her beautiful life!
Street Church Worship
I spoke about the service above, but it was a beautiful day with the usual size crowd…with the addition of the police who showed up. As much as they were not needed we are very thankful that they are there to help and serve and keep the peace. The Spirit of Prayer broke out among us again, and I would like to praise God for stirring the heart and empowering the Spirit within our regular friend Karen. When this woman prays, you know someone has prayed.
Oh, what happened with the new, loud guy at church?
Well, he stayed on the margins and was in need of lunch. I walked it over to him, along with a cold water and gatorade.
“excuse me, would you like lunch today?
(clearly taken back) “yes please”…and I handed him a bowl of hot mac-n-cheese and a bagged lunch.
“I have a cold water and a blue gatorade, would you like them, or another flavor?”
(shaken more)….”please, yes please, thank you.”
Love is God’s weapon of choice
Blessings,
Bryan
SIGN UP HERE TO HELP SERVE.
FIRST TIME WITH US? READ MORE HERE:
Volunteer Expectations and Waiver Form
Help Us Load Up @ 10am 164 South Street in West Hartford
Help Us Provide Food! Find the list of needs and sign up
SIGN UP HERE, or contact us admin@thestreetchurch.org
To help our work financially or to learn more about us
visit our website thestreetchurch.org