(You can review the first part of this series at www.mimicobaptist.ca/rooted-and-reaching-2018-theme/.)
Sunday May 6, 10:30 am: (John 21:15-25) Re-commissioned – Peter bore an uncomfortable burden of having denied Jesus three times. It was a terrible and painful weight. Jesus leads him through a journey of forgiveness and healing. Peter is then ready to be re-commissioned by Jesus to mission and ministry.
Sunday May 13, 10:30 am: (Mother’s Day) (Proverbs 2) Rooted in Scripture – A lack of adequate nourishment from the roots can put a tree’s health in jeopardy. Being deeply rooted in God’s Word not only nourishes us, but also guides and directs our growth and determines the kind of fruit we will bear. The scriptures, though essential for our health, are a hard soil that takes commitment and effort to get our roots into. It is so worth it though. Welcome and a blessing to the ones who mother us.
Sunday May 20, 10:30 am: (Pentecost) (Galatians 5:16-26) Spirited – The Christian’s life is lived in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit – the third person of the Trinity – is God living within his children. The Spirit is often compared to water and wind. We want to be well watered, with roots deep in the Spirit, and have him blow freely through our branches. Together we seek to be filled with the presence and power of God.
Sunday May 27, 10:30 am: Rooted in Community – Community and church (Matthew 5:13-16; Acts 2:42-47) While the roots are hidden, the trunk and branches of a tree are visible affecting the area around them. Think of the many benefits of a tree. Isaiah likened the people of God to an oak tree. “They shall be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” (Isaiah 61:3c) We consider the vital relationship of the Church to her community.
Sunday June 3, 10:30 am: Rooted in the Kingdom – Heaven and Earth (Ephesians 1:9-10 & Revelation 21:1-5) Jesus taught us to pray for his kingdom to come and for his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Our impact in our community is to bring a taste of heaven as a tangible hope for a new world coming. A great marriage of heaven and earth is happening. We help the world to see what it will be like when Jesus is King.
Sunday June 10, 10:30 am: Reaching out in Love (2 Corinthians 9:6-15) The gospel can be shared in economic language. That is what Paul does in 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. Christ modeled, encouraged and commanded generosity. Giving may be one of the greatest ways we witness to the world. In a world of gross imbalance of wealth rooted in greed and selfishness, the community of Christ models generosity and sharing.
Sunday June 17, 10:30 am: (Father’s Day) Reaching out in Service (Mark 10:35-45) Jesus elevated service to the level of greatness. Jesus came to serve and taught his disciples to do the same. Service is an expression of Christ’s humility and love. We demonstrate that when we follow his example. Are we providing good service?
Sunday June 24, 10:30 am: Reaching out in hospitality (Hebrews 13:2) We cannot underestimate the positive impact of the ministry of hospitality. “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it“. Hospitality was a vital ministry of Christ and the early church. It is an important ministry of our Church in this community. We have a team of people dedicated to this vital ministry. We will consider the possibilities of both being a guest and being a host.