Yesterday was a very good Mother’s Day for many, a difficult day for some and just another day for a few. As for my musings …

-We began a new sermon series yesterday. The series will run from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day and is entitled “The Hope of Relationships”. We will be looking at celebrating, renewing, repairing, multiplying, recognizing and restoring our relationships. We were created to be in relationships. Our relationships matter, and they have a major impact on all areas of our lives.

-We had a couple of areas set up for people to have a picture taken with Mom yesterday. This is the second year we have done this, and it has been well received both years.

-Our attendance was okay, but we did not get a bump because of it being Mother’s Day.

-My wife continues to do well in her recovery from double knee replacement and has begun a more rigorous level of therapy.

-We were able to introduce a new baby to the congregation yesterday. He was 5 days old on Sunday and Mom, Dad and his 2 siblings were beaming as they walked into worship.

-I believe this Mother’s Day was the 30^th since my Mom’s passing.

-I had several people in my congregation were going through their first Mother’s Day without their Mom. That can be a very difficult day.

-I believe that even tougher than Mother’s Day without your Mom is Mother’s Day without your child. No matter why you are without a child (death, conflict or have not been able to have a child) it is a very difficult day.

-The planning, and work, for our Vacation Bible School is about to ramp up. Our VBS is at the end of July, but we do VBS big, so the work is already underway.

-Our venture into doing a mid-week ministry for children and youth has gone very well. We are taking a break for a couple of months. We originally were going to do just do it for 6 or 8 weeks last fall and then consider doing another few weeks in the spring. The beginning went so well that the children’s workers just kept going. The first week there was 1 teen who attended. Last week there were 10!!! Our children have gone for about dozen to a stretch where they averaged 20+. The bigger praise is that we are seeing some significant spiritual growth in our children and some of the teens have begun attending on Sundays as well.

-I am getting ready for a church board meeting tonight. I love my church board. They are always seeking to try things that could make a difference in our community. They are not stuck on any specific method of ministry. They are generous toward anything that could help reach more people for Christ.

-We start a new round of teaching a Fatherhood class at the prison this week. I am anxious to meet this group and build relationships.

-I have been praying fervently for some musicians to begin attending our church, or for some people who have musical abilities in our congregation but have been hiding it to step up and minister. Maybe we will grow them up among our growing children and youth ministries.

-I need to get going and finish some reports for the board meeting.

Here’s hoping you will take time to celebrate some of your relationships this week.

Dennis

Yesterday was a very good Mother’s Day for many, a difficult day for some and just another day for a few. As for my musings …

-We began a new sermon series yesterday. The series will run from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day and is entitled “The Hope of Relationships”. We will be looking at celebrating, renewing, repairing, multiplying, recognizing and restoring our relationships. We were created to be in relationships. Our relationships matter, and they have a major impact on all areas of our lives.

-We had a couple of areas set up for people to have a picture taken with Mom yesterday. This is the second year we have done this, and it has been well received both years.

-Our attendance was okay, but we did not get a bump because of it being Mother’s Day.

-My wife continues to do well in her recovery from double knee replacement and has begun a more rigorous level of therapy.

-We were able to introduce a new baby to the congregation yesterday. He was 5 days old on Sunday and Mom, Dad and his 2 siblings were beaming as they walked into worship.

-I believe this Mother’s Day was the 30^th since my Mom’s passing.

-I had several people in my congregation were going through their first Mother’s Day without their Mom. That can be a very difficult day.

-I believe that even tougher than Mother’s Day without your Mom is Mother’s Day without your child. No matter why you are without a child (death, conflict or have not been able to have a child) it is a very difficult day.

-The planning, and work, for our Vacation Bible School is about to ramp up. Our VBS is at the end of July, but we do VBS big, so the work is already underway.

-Our venture into doing a mid-week ministry for children and youth has gone very well. We are taking a break for a couple of months. We originally were going to do just do it for 6 or 8 weeks last fall and then consider doing another few weeks in the spring. The beginning went so well that the children’s workers just kept going. The first week there was 1 teen who attended. Last week there were 10!!! Our children have gone for about dozen to a stretch where they averaged 20+. The bigger praise is that we are seeing some significant spiritual growth in our children and some of the teens have begun attending on Sundays as well.

-I am getting ready for a church board meeting tonight. I love my church board. They are always seeking to try things that could make a difference in our community. They are not stuck on any specific method of ministry. They are generous toward anything that could help reach more people for Christ.

-We start a new round of teaching a Fatherhood class at the prison this week. I am anxious to meet this group and build relationships.

-I have been praying fervently for some musicians to begin attending our church, or for some people who have musical abilities in our congregation but have been hiding it to step up and minister. Maybe we will grow them up among our growing children and youth ministries.

-I need to get going and finish some reports for the board meeting.

Here’s hoping you will take time to celebrate some of your relationships this week.

Dennis