Mid-Week Minute – Sep. 14, 2022
We are so glad you are here.
We are looking forward to getting to know you better!
MID-WEEK DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
Greetings, Church Friends and Family!!
“6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6, The Message
Why do you pray? Do you pray because it helps you feel less guilty? Do you pray because you believe that, if you prayed, you could at least twist God's arm to help you with a few things? Or do you pray because you enjoy it?
CS Lewis was once upon a time also faced with this question. When he tried to make sense of his wife's illness and sat and prayed with her day after day, a friend asked him directly one day: "Why do you keep praying? Surely if God was going to answer your prayers, he would’ve answered them by now?” True to Lewis' answer: “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”
When we become silent before God, simply inhaling his being with us and enjoying it, it does not change God. It does not necessarily change our circumstances either. But something wonderful happens: we become calmer; we experience a piece of peace; we feel quietly happy in his presence... we are satisfied in his being here.
Just close your eyes now and experience how God comes to sit with you, envelop you with his love... spoil you with himself...
The beginning and end of prayer is to be with God just as you are and feel. To be... to wait... to know: He IS with you.
Calendar
September:
- Sep. 15 - Karate with Pr. Eugene - CLASS CANCELLED due to double booking of the fellowship hall.
- Sep. 15 - Mid-Week Prayer/Discussion 7 pm (ft. a gathering of those you know from church) - Via Zoom (Meeting ID: 894-6039-2525, - Password: 842752)
- Sep. 18 - KSCS/Lewisville Campus Workbee - 9am - 12pm (See earlier notice above)
- Sep. 19 - Karate with Pr. Eugene – Visit gojukan.org for more information
- Sep. 14 - Prayer Connect Group 7 pm (ft. a gathering of those you may know & don’t know) - Via Zoom (Meeting ID: 834 9176 7821, - Password: 1844)
- Sep. 14 - L.I.F.E. Connect Group 7:30 pm (ft. a gathering of those you may know & don’t know) - Via Zoom (Meeting ID: 819-578-29436, - Password: 1471)
- Sep. 22 - Karate with Pr. Eugene
ANOTHER REMINDER...
Just a reminder of some items previously mentioned
Karate & Self-defense Classes
We are up and running. Karate classes covering self-defense and kenpō are being offered right here in our fellowship hall (Monday’s and Thursdays) – Consider joining Pr. Eugene (Sensei) as he works on getting into better shape and a healthier, stronger body. For more information, please www.gojukan.org or on social media @kaizengojukan – Special rates are offered for our church and school families. Veterans, LEO’s and First Responders (see website for specials just for you.) Quarterly 1-day self-defense classes will also be offered for all who want a “refresher”. These classes are open to everyone in the community. We had to cancel this Thursday’s class due to a school function, but hope to see you on Monday 19
You can fill out the paperwork online: https://www.gojukan.org/pdf/extra/KGF-AW2a-2022Fill.pdf
See YOU there!!
KSCS /Lewisville Campus Playground Workbee
Dear Church & School Family:
We need all hands on deck as we replace the covered picnic table on the playground. The picnic table has taken a beating from weather, bugs, and wood rot and has been sent to its final resting place - the trash! Elder Greg Peck has graciously adopted the undertaking of replacing this picnic area that is used by both the KSCS students as well as the church members, but he needs help with installing the new pieces.
With many hands, the work will be light and quick! Please come out and help us with this task at 9:00am on Sunday, September 18. With several volunteers, it should only take a couple of hours.
Please RSVP to this event in order for us to plan how to divide up the tasks. We will provide water & snacks - if you can, please bring work gloves. For more information, please contact Greg Peck at 214-980-4298. We look forward to seeing you!
Please RSVP to this event in order for us to plan how to divide up the tasks. We will provide water & snacks - if you can, please bring work gloves. For more information, please contact Greg Peck at 214-980-4298. We look forward to seeing you!
Date: 09/18/2022 (Sun.)
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Location: Knowledge Seekers Christian School Playground
Family Systems – Fall Seminars
HEALTHY FAMILIES, HEALTHY COMMUNITY!
Following the positive feedback we've received regarding our Full Life Conference earlier this month, we're excited to offer continued support to our families throughout the fall with our Family Systems Series Fall Seminars! Mark your calendars and plan to join us on October 8 and November 5 for workshops designed to help you grow and strengthen your own family - watch for more details about times and locations for these impactful events!
All Arlington Campus Volunteer Opportunities
Whether you realize it or not, our Lewisville campus is instrumental to our overall church vibrancy and faith life. There are a couple of events coming up where we need someone from our campus to help in the planning and implementation thereof.
- Shindig, October 15: https://tiny.one/ShindigSignup
If you’ve ever attended any of these, you will know the difference it can make in the lives of many. Events like Shindig is more fun than you can imagine is appropriate… just kidding, it's all above board, but fun and plays a huge role in reaching out to the community and developing relationships. Please consider getting involved.
Church Directory
Our church directory is available to view on your computer or on your mobile device! Instant Church Directory - the program we use to build our church directory - has a member website and a free app for church members to download on their Apple and Android devices.
Right now, we have 29 Family units represented, and only 15 of these have provided photos. We are building from scratch. So please help us. You can email all your information to Pr. Eugene or you can fill out the Google form to populate your/your family’s information and even upload a family photo - https://forms.gle/GVJErmzBYyWTssJB8
For more information on the app/website, go to https://members.instantchurchdirectory.com/
To download the app to your Apple device, click here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instant-church-directory/id589542221?ls=1&mt=8 - To download the app to your Android device, click here:
You will be asked to enter your email address as it's listed in our directory. If your email address isn't listed in the directory, let Pr. Eugene, know so it can be added. Once you enter your email address, follow the directions on-screen to complete the create log-in process. After you sign in, you'll see the most up-to-date directory for our church. Any time updates are made, they will show on the Online Members' Website, too.
For more information about the members' website, go here: https://help.instantchurchdirectory.com/article/638-navigating-the-online-member-directory or www.InstantChurchDirectory.com/app .
Café Connections
The next one will be September 13, 2022 at 10:30 am.
Pr. Eugene is inviting you to grab your favorite beverage and to join him for a brief virtual chat/visit on Zoom. This is NOT a prayer meeting alternative. This will serve to connect, visit, chat, and get to know each other, ask questions, share, and maybe even pray together (after the chat and visit).
There are also options for those who may want to meet one-on-one. Reserve/Book your spot here:
- Café Connections Visit/Chat Reservation form - https://forms.gle/TGsxGSFeUxZppdYw9
Join Zoom Meeting @ https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8031223894
- Meeting ID: 803 122 3894
WEEKEND AT-A-GLANCE
Sermon
The Sermon streaming this week will be presented by Pr. Kevin Wells, and will be a continuation of his sermon series, “Ready And Acting” looking at the Holy Spirit. More information will be posted on our social media feed as it is made available.
Potluck
We will have our regular potluck (1st and 3rd Sabbaths of the month) after the service. Please consider joining us. If possible, please bring a dish to share.
GIVING MOMENT
One of the most tangible ways we demonstrate our faith in Christ is by giving. The Bible says that everything we possess comes directly from God, including our body, talents, and possessions. In response to God's gifts to us, the Bible commands us to return a tithe (10%) of our income back to the Lord. The Bible also asks us to give an offering as our heart so moves us.
Your faithfulness and generosity enable us to fulfill God's mission here in Lewisville & surrounding areas. Your willingness to faithfully give a portion of what you have is more important than how much you actually give, as Jesus illustrated with the poor widow. God promises to reward those who faithfully return to Him, His portion. Thank you for your gifts.
Let’s pray for God's spirit to move within us as we prepare our offering. If you would like to make your contribution online, right here: https://adventistgiving.org/#/org/ANWFQ8/envelope/start - You can search for “Lewisville Seventh-day Adventist Church” if it doesn’t automatically redirect.
Yes, we have several prayer groups that meet during the week, but some have expressed the need to be able to communicate prayer requests to bring before the Lord during our worship service, and they either do not attend in person at present or do not feel comfortable presenting their requests in person. This may also help us cut sometime during our service if we have the requests ready to go.
Please submit your prayer requests that you want to be prayed over during church service, to Pastor Eugene, 1. Via email (eugene@arlingtonadventist.com) or 2. Via Text Message or WhatsApp. (512.708.0600)
FROM OUR MAIN CAMPUS AT THE
Below, just a couple of quick updates for us locally, and some from the main campus at Arlington for your attention and consideration.
Arlington Pastoral Team’s Blog
The pastoral staff will be posting regular blogs on our website that will be sort of a companion strand to our planned sermonic calendar. To navigate directly to that page, click here or on the image above. The content and scripture passages will be different from the regular sermon series, but these short devotional pieces will be conceptually aligned with the themes. Each post will be somewhat different in style, some humorous, some educational, others more thought-provoking, or healing. Ideally, there will be something for everyone. We hope you will find this new project to be of benefit as a part of your own spiritual practice.
Wednesday Morning Bible Study
Churches of Refuge: 1 Corinthians - Join us for Wednesday morning Bible study as Pastor Kevin guides us through Paul's first letter to the church of Corinth, looking at how we can offer hope and healing to those around us. - https://www.facebook.com/ArlingtonSDA
Subscribe:
Consider the following options
For more from our Main Campus, consider subscribing to the email newsletter "Arlington Life Online" CLICK HERE that is distributed every Thursday. So, subscribe now, and get it in your inbox later this week.
You can also view the latest version here
For our Younger Generation, consider checking out YG Life’s newsletter - https://arlingtonadventist.com/yglife
Current Edition is linked here, or you can click here for easy access.
CLOSING REMARKS & HOUSEKEEPING
I know, realize and appreciate that every one of us has careers and responsibilities outside of our church fellowship. I do understand how overwhelming these responsibilities could be. That being said, I would love to kindly ask, that if you’ve agreed to serve in any capacity whatsoever, and life’s responsibilities and or challenges come knocking, please reach out, and try to find someone to cover your responsibilities for the affected time frame (preferably 48 hours or more ahead of time).
Should you wish to include anything in the Mid-week minute newsletter, please ensure to send the information to Pr. Eugene by Wednesday at Noon. The Mid-week Minute will be distributed with what has been received by that time to ensure an on-time publication.