October 31, 2024

Dear Central Church,

This past Sunday, you honored our entire pastoral team for Pastor Appreciation Month, and on behalf of all our pastors, I would like to say “thank you” from the bottom of our hearts. We feel so loved and appreciated. The love offering was so generous, and the appreciation cards and notes of encouragement have been so uplifting! As I think about the opportunity we have to serve at Central, I’m reminded of this verse from Philippians:

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:3-6)

We are in partnership for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and what joyful work that is together! Thank you for loving our pastors as we engage in this good work that God has promised to “carry to completion.”

This Sunday we’ll continue the B.L.E.S.S. series by looking at “E - Eat Together.” This should be the one that comes most naturally for us, and yet, too often our table fellowship is closed to outsiders. What would it look like to think about our homes, our families, and our Life Groups as “open circles” where those who may be far from God are regularly welcomed. Everyone’s story of salvation begins with someone being willing to open the circle to them and share what God has given them.

If you haven’t gotten the B.L.E.S.S. book yet, there are still a few available at the Welcome Center. Be sure to pick one up this Sunday so that you can continue to learn this simple way of loving your neighbor one friendship at a time.

I hope this evening is filled with lots of “treats” and no “tricks.” Enjoy the “treat” of an extra hour of sleep on Sunday as we “fall back” for Daylight Savings Time. See you Sunday!

Until He’s Finished,
Pastor Mark