Dear Fam,

• It's Memorial Day weekend.  Let’s not neglect to remember the selfless sacrifice so many have made for us.  My dad is buried at Camp Nelson National cemetery just outside Lexington, KY.  Last December, I got to take my grandson, Barrett to visit his grave. 
  


• Sundays in June (2, 9, 16, 23) all men are invited to join us for a hot breakfast in the Student Ministry Center. Breakfast begins at 8:00 am and the cost is $5. After breakfast each week, we'll watch a portion of and discuss Walk His Trail. Walk His Trail is a theatrical adaptation of the inspiring and compelling true story of young missionaries Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, and Roger Youderian, who were martyred in the jungles of Ecuador in 1956 while trying to reach the Waodani ("Auca") Indians with the Gospel.   Week 1--A Message on Sacrifice...“I watched five widows accept the sudden, unexpected deaths of their husbands—the fathers of their children—with that very same confident trust that God had a plan and that He would someday make sense of their excruciating pain and loss.  My mom kept on praying for the very warriors who had just brutally killed my dad.”


• Camp Seven Rivers is amazing.  This summer we're expanding our camp from 5 to 7 weeks.   Camp begins June 3 and runs through July 19.  Here's a video we produced on Camp Seven Rivers last year! 


• Summer Sundays are coming!  Get your kids outside and meet other young families at Summer Sundays. Join us behind the Student Ministry Building from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on June 9, June 23, July 14, and July 28. We’ll have food, music, volleyball, basketball, and water activities for the kids. Bring blankets, chairs, or whatever else you want to have fun. Cost is $5 per family. Contact Brandon Lauranzon for more information.


• Whoops! We made a big booboo.  We got 520 commitment cards for the MORE campaign (an amazing response) and after receiving them, we wrote each family to confirm that we interpreted what they put on the card properly.  On 519 cards, we were right, but for one card, we were wrong to the tune of $143,100.  You can imagine how relieved the family was when this was corrected!! So, our revised MORE total is $3,462,905.  You guys are off to a great start in actually giving the money--in just March/April 2013, we received 10% of the total pledged!  This strong giving may aid in allowing us to move up our groundbreaking on the preschool from January 2014 to the fall of 2013!

• My daughter and son-in-law are planting a new church in a tough neighborhood in Orlando.  Here's a video that explains their ministry.  (My son-in-law is Eric Stites!)

• Seven Rivers Christian School has incredible momentum.  Though it's just May, we already have more children enrolled for next year (351) than we had in this school year (328).  We have an unprecedented level of interest and project a total enrollment around 390!  SRCS graduation is tonight at 7:00 in the sanctuary.  Chad Turner will give the commencement address.  The whole congregation is invited to come and see the fruits of your commitment to sow Jesus into the hearts and minds of our children.

• This weekend we welcome 28 new members into our church and I'll be preaching the last of the Old Paths messages.  Won’t it be great to celebrate together!

BTW--Last Sunday in worship we honored Ted & Betty Santana on their 70th anniversary. Here's a picture of the two lovebirds!



 

 

Dear Family,

• Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16).

• We have two more weeks in our Old Paths sermon series. Every time we read this passage, my soul is drawn to the phrase, “find rest for your souls.” I crave this gospel rest in my fears, frustrations, and my over desire to control life. Summer is upon us and many of us down shift in lower gear in some areas of our lives. What will you do this summer to enter into gospel rest? What boundaries will you set? What books will you read? The passage says we are to seek the old paths. How will you seek it? “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths…and find rest for your souls.”

• It is almost like a broken record. Every staff meeting on every other Wednesday for the last 15 years…Ray starts the meeting with the same question. “How do you see God at work in your life or in the life of the church?” What is it with this guy? Can he not find a new question? Seriously, I hope he never stops. I hope he keeps pressing us with the same question. How do YOU see God at work in your life? It is great question to ask ourselves as we all transition into summer. How has God worked in your life? What is he showing you about yourself? We will find rest for our souls by remembering God’s work for us and among us.

• Last night we interviewed 24 folks who completed the Pastor’s class. It was wonderful to hear their stories of God’s redeeming love. We look forward to welcoming them into our family at the end of May.

• Men’s Breakfast series is June 2, 9, 16, 23. Join us, men. Feed your belly and your soul.

• Summer Conference is always a time of family, refreshment and feasting on God’s word together. Here are the details.

• Here are the books for “Family” Ray recommend last weekend. Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick, Jessica Thompson; Big Truths for Little Kids: Teaching Your Children to Live for God by Susan Hunt, Richie Hunt and Nancy Munger; Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God by Marty Machowski; Devotions for a Sacred Marriage: A Year of Weekly Devotions for Couples by Gary Thomas.

• Jean Larroux was last year’s Summer Conference speaker. I just read a one-page article he recently wrote. Here is how it starts: It was Friday night. The ACT standardized test was the next morning. The look of angst on my daughter’s face was palpable. When I asked her if anything was wrong she gave the definitive answer indicating total meltdown—she said she was “fine.” I knew we were in trouble. I looked at her across the kitchen and said, “Ann, when you don’t know an answer on the test you need to look straight at that question and tell it— ‘you are not a crack baby!’” She looked at me the same way you are looking at this page right now. I said again, “Tell question #32 in the math section— ‘you are not a crack baby!’” Puzzled, she said, “Huh?” Please read on, it is so good!

• Earlier in the morning on Mother’s Day, Peggy Cardinali passed way. Services will be held this Friday at 11am at Seven Rivers. When the Jones family first moved to Citrus County many years ago, we were welcomed and shown hospitality by our new neighbors, the Cardinali’s. When Peggy was first diagnosed with cancer, she told me she wanted so much to love Jesus well and to experience his rest even in suffering. I remember leaving the hospital that day feeling encouraged, like I had experienced rest through her longings. Peggy had done it again. She made me feel welcomed and pointed me to the loving, restful hospitality of Jesus.

• Each weekend we rest from our labors but we also are to enter into His rest through the welcome and hospitality of Jesus himself. See you this weekend along the Old Path of “Hospitality” as Ray brings us the message.

Adam

May 9, 2013

Dear Fam,

Glad to be back from a trip to California. Diane and I got to worship in two wonderful churches—City Church in San Francisco, and Pacific Crossroads in Los Angeles. Hearing the gospel clearly proclaimed in those great cities was a thrill.

• Congratulations to Marty Cates (our student ministry leader) who graduates with a Masters of Divinity degree from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis on May 17!

• Thanks to the DR (Disaster Relief) team and the Deacons for their continuing outstanding work of service in our community. They recently built a handicap ramp for a family in our church.

• Summer interns are coming! College students are joining our team to be mentored in the faith and to labor at Camp Seven Rivers and in student ministry this summer. Our interns are:
  Ainslie Bowling – Ole Miss
  Zach Corcoran – Georgia Southern
  Taylor Donahoo – Georgia Southern
  Sam Jones – Berry College
  Winsor Sineus – Howard Community College
  Lucas Ebert – University of Florida Paige Cooke – University of South Florida
  Milena Kacer – will be attending the University of Florida (Jr. Intern)

• Camp Seven Rivers enrollments are coming in steadily and with them comes the need for scholarships. If you'd like to sponsor a child or 2, or 3, or 33) for camp this summer, please contact Teri Hill.

• This weekend in worship, we'll have fun honoring moms with Cupcakes and Cappuccinos. I'll continue our sermon series on Old Paths. I can't wait to be with you in worship!

Ray

Dear SRPC Family,

Ephesians 5:18-19 says, “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.”  There is something better than Domaine Romanée-Conti, which is considered the best wine in the world at about $1,000/ounce – it is singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart!  So this Sunday night, you could sit at home with a $100,000 bottle of wine, or for $15 dollars you could have your soul fed with the music of the Americana Folk and Hymn Festival.  Tickets will be sold at the guest services desk this weekend and at the door.  Don’t miss it!

Summer is right around the corner.  What are your plans?  Did you know that we have 120 people signed up for the Family Mission Trip!?  There are also youth group trips, men’s breakfasts, Camp Seven Rivers, and the Bible Conference.  My wife and I are going to tour Spain, ride a train through the Alps, and see the beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean.  How, you may ask, will we accomplish this with a newborn?  Four words: late night Travel Channel.

On a more serious note, two people dear to Seven Rivers had significant surgeries this week.  Jen Lamanda at Tampa and Rick Spence at Citrus.  Please pray for both of them, for the skill and wisdom of the doctors attending them, for quick recoveries, and for the peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Also, a beloved brother, Jim McCormick passed away on Monday.  Jim was a member for over a decade.  Pray for his wife Jeanette.  Ray will be conducting the service on Thursday, May 9 at 12:30 pm.  What I remember most about Jim was his kind, warm, and gentle smile that he used on the Welcome Team.  That smile will be missed.

I’m normally a procrastinator, but I’ve already begun working on next weekend’s sermon on prayer for two reasons: 1) I’m bad at it! And 2) It’s very possible that our daughter could be born any day now.  Please pray for Robyn and baby Noelle as we near the end.  In the meantime, I found the following blog post by one of my good friends very helpful.     

If you missed last week’s sermon on humility, you MUST listen to it online.  If not for you, then definitely for the other person you know who needs it!  Adam is our guide on the Ancient Paths this weekend as we talk about Education and celebrate the gift of Seven Rivers Christian School.  “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Grace and peace,

Brandon

Dear Fam,

There is "good stuff" coming up at SRPC!

• Beauty and the Beast--SRCS play this Saturday and Sunday night. Contact the school office (746-5696)for more information.

• American Folk and Hymn Festival.  Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.

• Sunday morning men's breakfasts in the month of June (June 2, 9, 16, 23).  Breakfast by William Bunch, and video teaching on the life and lessons of Steve Saint's relationship with the Waodani tribe in Ecuador that took the life of his father.

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• There is more good stuff coming up at SRPC:
• Summer Conference July 6-10.  Dr. Jimmy Agan, New Testament professor from Covenant Seminary is our preacher for the week.
• Willow Creek Leadership Summit - August 8-9 at SRPC.  Cost is $50.00.  Click here for more information or to register.
• Paul Tripp Marriage Conference - September 13,14.  Click here to learn more!

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• Good deeds abound via the work of the Deacons and the Disaster Relief (DR) team.  They are doing trailer modifications for a non-church member who is a double-leg amputee.  The county asked us to help an elderly man whose house burned down and faces code violation fines unless his property is cleaned up quickly.  A church member family is getting a wheelchair ramp built!  Know that deeds of mercy and kindness are being done in Jesus' name.

• What's the primary ministry of SRPC in our community?  Old Paths sermon #1 reminded us that it's doing our jobs well for the glory of God.  Dorothy Sayers reminds us of the sacredness of our work, "In nothing has the Church so lost Her hold on reality as in Her failure to understand and respect the secular vocation.  She has allowed work and religion to become separate departments...She has forgotten that the secular vocation is sacred.

• Eric & Kristen Stites (my daughter and son-in-law) were interning for one year in the blighted Holden Heights neighborhood of Orlando.  They have now received a call from their church (New City PCA) to start a church there and they plan to dig in, stay longer and watch God work.  Here's their latest email update entitled, "A Church in the Belly of the Beast."

• Diane and I are going to Ecuador July 18-27 on a "Wao Tour" put on by ITEC Mission (along with our son, Tucker and son-in-law, Bibb).  Jamie Saint of ITEC gives a brief overview of the trip, "We will arrive Quito on Thursday evening, get on a bus and head down to Shell. Weather permitting, we will fly into the jungles either Friday afternoon or Saturday.  We will spend 4-5 nights in the jungles, where we will be living with the Waodani just like they used to live (without the killings).  This empowers the Waodani by helping them to create an economy so that they can take care of the older people (first time we have heard of this being done in the tribe), as well as propagating the Gospel to others within their tribe.  After leaving the jungles, we will spend the last few days in Shell and Quito as we enjoy the history and culture of Ecuador.  This will involve the Nate Saint house, some of the Missions Dilemma, some other I-TEC media, zip line or cable car over a huge gorge, a visit to the Equator, and a visit to the old city of Quito.  While we are in Shell, we will be staying at I-TEC's training facility.  As you probably know, this is subject to change depending on weather and other factors.  This is a great trip for people to see what it is like on the receiving end of missions, be exposed to missions, and to get a first-hand view of the dilemma we face in missions today."  If you're interested in going with us, here's the application, or contact ITec for more information.

• Did you know over 100 people are signed up for the Family Missions Trip to Montgomery?

• Old Paths preaching continues this week with an amazing sermon by an amazing guy on humility (said in jest).  We will be receiving the Lord's Supper as well, the perfect picture for us of what the humble life looks like.  Can't wait to share this meal with you!

Love,



Ray

Dear Family,

• Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16
  This past weekend we started a new series on the Old Paths. Ray kicked the series off with the topic of our work. Ray startled me at the end when he referred to us as “partners” in the family business. Then I found this quote by J.I. Packer:
  “You come to realize as you listen that God is actually opening his heart to you, making friends with you and enlisting you as a colleague—in Barth’s phrase, a covenant partner. It is a staggering thing, but it is true—the relationship in which sinful human beings know God is one in which God, so to speak, takes them onto to his staff, to be henceforth His fellow workers and personal friends.”
  When we grasp that all of our work is for God and with God, it can change our dimly lit cubicle into a corner office with a window. A window…where we can finally see our calling as redemptive and wrought with meaning.
  
• Jack Smith, a long time member passed away and we celebrated his life this past Tuesday. Jack for many years volunteered at SRPC in the “tape ministry.” This was back in the days before the internet, downloads, CDs and iTunes. Jack wanted others to hear the gospel. We had the privilege of hearing from Jack’s “adopted” son, Jim Preston. Jim recalled the darkest time in his life and his first days at SRPC. He recalled how in Pastor’s Class, Jack and Pat Smith befriended him and announced that they would “adopt” him as their adult child. “This,” said Jim, was what allowed him to heal—closing…“I love you, Dad.”

• Pastor’s Class and I Corinthians classes just started. It is not too late to join one of them by clicking on the link or registering at the Guest Services Desk this weekend.

• The Family Mission trip to Montgomery, Alabama has over 107 signed up. If you would like to join the crowd please email Blair Commons.

• The American Folk Festival tickets are on sale now for Sunday, April 28 at 6:30pm. A great opportunity to bring your friends and enjoy some fun music. Don’t miss it.

• Celebrate Recovery will celebrate its 5th anniversary on the 26^th of this month. This is quite a milestone for this ministry. The average life-span of a Celebrate Recovery ministry is less than two years. Congratulations to our CR leadership team!

• I talked to a young mom this week who told me her husband, who used to come to church once a year maybe, left Easter service and said, “I finally get Easter.” She then related to me her moments of joyful confusion over the last year, where she has had many thoughts like “Who is this man?” and “Who kidnapped my husband?” As she told me, her voice was shaking with amazement and thankfulness.

• This weekend our Old Path is “Truth-telling.” Brandon will lead us in this ancient path and help us to find rest for our souls.

See you this weekend,
Adam

Dear Fam,

Easter at SRPC was stellar. The Maundy Thursday service was rich, the Easter Egg Hunt and picnic were a blast, and Easter worship was grand. The choir and musicians brought their "A" game, the video testimony dovetailed with the message beautifully and Adam Hill's artistry in filming and producing it was on full display and you guys brought your friends and family so that the sanctuary was filled with shouts of, "He is risen, He is risen indeed." Here's a shot from the Easter Egg Hunt of our three staff moms-to-be!

• The Corteses sent an Easter Card this year and I wanted you to get one. The three convicts are from left to right: Reid Cortese (son of Tony and Ashley) 4/13/12, Samuel Stites (son of Kristen and Eric) 1/19/13, and Barrett Beale (son of Amy and Bibb) 5/18/12.
  
  
  
• Here's a Martin Luther quote on offending "uptight" Christians. "There are some who have no understanding to hear the truth of freedom and insist upon their goodness as means for salvation. These people you must resist, do the very opposite, and offend them boldly lest by their impious views they drag many with them into error. For the sake of liberty of the faith do other things which they regard as the greatsest of sins...use your freedom constantly and consistently in the sight of and despite the tryants and stubborn so that they may learn that they are impious, and their law and works are of no aviail for righteousness, and that they had no right to set them up."

• There are homeless families in Citrus County who live in the woods in a small "tent city." Do you have a tent you could donate to help a family that is without one? Contact Francis Endryck.

• Don't miss the Americana Folk & Hymn Festival featuring the Seven Rivers Chorale and the Florida Philharmonic Symphony coming to Seven Rivers Sunday, April 28. Tickets are $15 for adults / $5 for children and are on sale at the church office or at the information desk this weekend. Purchase online here.

• Pastor's Class and 1 Corinthians class begin next Wednesday. Click on links for more information or to sign up!

• This weekend in worship is the big MORE reveal. We will hear what financial provision our generous Father has made for the expansion of His mission at SRPC! Service times are Saturday at 6:00, and Sunday at 10:00! After each service, there will be information meetings about summer mission trips to Reynosa, Mexico and Montgomery, Alabama! This weekend, we begin a new sermon series built around Jeremeiah 6:16, "Thus says the Lord, 'Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.’" This weekend, I'll preach on the first of those "Old Paths" - the Joy of Work!

Ray