BECOMING DISCIPLES

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

2 Timothy 4:5

“Discipleship” is one of the most often used words in churches but I might say least understood and implemented.

The pastor at Wintonbury Church reminds us all the time that a disciple is someone who “walks in the dust of his Rabbi”. This being the case, we who walk in the dust of Jesus should do what he did and preach the message he preached. Jesus was the Good News and so are we whom who saved.

…and I watch you all do this week in and week out. You don’t “do”, you have become.

Last Week’s Update…stay connected!

Logistics

  • Served: ~70

  • Last week's leaders: Bryan, Sam, Chi-Chi, Malaree

  • Next week's leaders: Bryan, Jody, Ruth

  • Next week's preacher: Bryan

  • Speakers handoff: Bryan has them

  • Coffee handoff:  Jody

  • Coffee materials: Jody

Gifts

  • Last week's: Teeshirts

  • Next week's: Socks

Looking Ahead

Miscellaneous

  • Ruth has packed the lunches and will bring them. Her dad was with us and was a huge blessing!

  • A reminder that all readings can be found here: https://lectionarypage.net/ 

Service

Another great day. A few folks tried but could not make it downtown because of the Marathon traffic. We had sent out a reminder and the schedule of road closings. 

We started off very slow and with little help. Angel came early with a cup of beer and rather intoxicated but not belligerent. He told me he had met with his doctors and his tumor is growing. “Six months” he was told. He had many tears. We prayed and he rested on my chest. He is known as one of the most angry and aggressive folks in the city by first responders. We have made a home for him. He has made us family.

Folks started showing up and Chi Chi brought homemade peanut butter cookies! Malaree was on coffee and we compromised and handed out water during the service if anyone asked for a drink. 

Chi Chi led the service and did a fine job. I really appreciate her balance and boldness. What a role model. Big Sam had texted me Friday and asked if we had a preacher for Saturday. I’m always prepared because I preach at the community churches during the week but I responded “yes, you!”

He preached a Big Sam message on reconciliation and folks were still and listened. I led communion and backed off so others could distribute. 

Our “old friend” James was with us from the Chinese American Baptist Church! What a joy to reconnect and watch him do his special thing of writing the names of the people he met all over his hand so he would not forget them. 

We had sandwiches thanks to my wife and my sister-in-law who recently moved back to town with her family. I was so thrilled to watch the two of them make lunch in our home.

On the way home Sam got his “Sam-the-prophet” vibe on and looked at me and said “you know what Pastor Bryan, these past six months I have seen you release more and more control and leadership. It has not gone unnoticed.” (please read with a Nigerian accent for dramatic effect)

This is very true. One of my greatest joys is releasing you all and watching you be whom God made you to be. The conference in Korea  solidified the reality that young leaders are being empowered for this time. I am committed to you all, and like Paul, my heart and life are yours as well. We, the “unnamed and unlearned” are making the Kingdom a reality.

We are doing a “beautiful act” as Jesus commanded us to do. We are impregnating Earth with Heaven.

 

From the Community Churches

Leave them; they are blind guides.
If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Matthew 5:14

I had the joy at being with the Farmington Station Community Church this week with Mary McGolrick joining me! Mary is with me at just about every service now. She has a passion for serving those in memory care and the gift of being able to flow from conversation to prayer without blinking.

This week I was story telling from the time Jesus healed the son of Timaeus (that’s what bar-timaeus means). To emphasize what it was like to tell a blind man to get up as the crowd had done I blindfolded myself and asked my friends in memory care to direct me to pick up an object off the floor.

Something Holy happened as I became dependent upon the ones who are so dependent. God met us, and I found the object on the floor.

That’s how we roll. We are helping each other find Jesus. We are all blind to some degree.




The Clairbridge Community Church @ Brookdale

The Community Church at Brookdale

The Community Church at Brookdale/Chatfield

The Clairbridge Community Church @ Brookdale/Chatfield

The Farmington Station Community Church

The Gables Community Church

The River Ridge Community Church

The West Hartford Health and Rehab Community Church


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Bryan
Street Church Administrator & Volunteer Coordinator
(860) 578-2961 TEXT ONLY
bryan@thestreetchurch.org