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Weekly Update from Damascus Road Community Church
March 26, 2008
Dear Family and Friends,
Outside His empty tomb on Easter Sunday Jesus promised: I am returning to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God. What is His by right is now ours by His victory; and that is the joy of Easter.
Thanks to all who made our Easter celebration a high week for 900 family, friends, CEO’s and seekers. There were many new friends, old friends—and each one knows the arms of Jesus and Damascus Road were open for them. If that’s you, join us in this new series on Who Jesus Is and Why that matters most.
- A special thanks to Brett, Bryan, Mike and the music/tech teams; and a praise choir full of teens supporting the ‘vets.’
- Thanks to God for the vocal gifts of our six angels: Heather, Wanda, Kathy, Candy and esp. Devon and Erika who are pregnant with the promise of new life: literally!
- Thanks also to my three Isaiah 53 men who pointed us to the strong, sin-bearing Savior and definitely put to rest the idea that church is only for Grandma and the kids.
- A big thanks to Jerry and little Gillian Rader for the forever-image of a daughter’s faith-leap into Her dad’s arms that allowed us all to contemplate not spending our lives climbing up and clinging to the shaky step-ladder of our own security and step off those wobbly heights unto the wide, strong hands of God. In His purpose our full potential is reached; we stand firmly, run far and fast for His glory and rest fully in the eternal legacy He is building through us.
- Thanks for our Elders, whose prayers all through and down front helped us all consider how to handle our decisions.
- Thanks to our Children’s Ministry “save a whole life for Jesus” team, who told the Easter story in ways that even six-year olds were repeating to their parents the following Wednesday. Follow up on that gift parents, for your faith is the real key and it is caught more than taught as you speak from the heart.
- Thanks to all the teams everywhere in and around Damascus High, from our new parking lot ministry under Don and Donna Freitag to our early-morning hero set-up team paving the way for refreshment, greeting, ushers and connection teams. I am so grateful for all the ways you showed the love of Jesus with skin on it—visitors felt it.
- Supreme thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, who stayed up during beatings and scourging, who was nailed up for our sins and who opened up paradise to a bunch of defectors and criminals disguised as us! All praise and glory to Him.
Capital Campaign Update: Last week brought another 60 square feet of future facility into reality. Thanks for everyone who is taking ownership of our future through this special season of sacrificial giving, as you continue to show your lifetime commitment to Jesus in systematic tithing. We’re building the Lighthouse. Let’s go for 100 square feet every week!
Coming Events:
- New Series starts this Sunday on how the picture of Jesus in the four Gospels goes way beyond a guy who can just have a niche in our lives.
- April 20 Baptism is for you if you’ve decided to follow Jesus fully and never obeyed His command to seal that commitment with this powerful expression of your total unity with Him in death and new life.
- May 4th is our second annual Haven Good News events: save that day! It is the day we reach out to love on and serve all the special needs families in our region—a few hours to be the joyful hands and feet of Jesus to some angels and the heroes who care for them.
- June 1 we will celebrate the half-way point in our Light on a Hill Campaign. What do you think—should we celebrate on the land? An idea to ponder. Check out the virtual tour or get other info.
He is risen. He is risen indeed, and shines in your hearts.
Love ya,
Richard
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