Dear Family,

·        Summer Conference starts this weekend.  Summer Conference is SRPC’s annual Bible palooza.  After weekend worship – we have four straight nights of God’s word and something good happens in our souls when we camp in God’s word like that.  Please don’t say, “I’ll try to make it on one of those nights.”  The point is, if at all possible, to attend them all.  It’s a conference; it builds momentum each night, each night is vital!

o    What’s the schedule?

SUN, July 8

—10:00 am: Weekend Worship (same as Sat night)

—5:00 pm: Worship & Teaching*

—6:30 pm: Dinner

$3 per person; $12 per family

Email us to make your dinner reservation

MON–WED, July 9-11

—6:30 pm: Worship & Teaching*

*Nursery for ages 0-3; Kid's Program: Grades K-5, Children's Wing

Who’s our speaker?  His name is Jean Larroux, he is the Senior Pastor at Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.  Here is who he is in his own words, "I guess I would say, 'I'm a mutt.'  I’m the kind of person that you’d adopt from the animal shelter. I was born in New Orleans.  I grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  I was raised Roman Catholic.  I was converted in the Episcopal Church.  I married a girl from the Mississippi Delta and we both went to Ole Miss when they were still the Rebels.  I went to a non-denominational seminary and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister.  I have worked very hard at being a Pharisee (and was quite successful) and now work very hard at trying to rest in Grace.  I exude self-confidence and quietly inside long for the approval of everyone.  I preach Jesus so regularly because I need to hear the Gospel myself." 

·        Did you know SRPC’s Children’s Ministry is providing the kids program for the Scallop Jam this Saturday in Crystal River?  SRPC is going to be there to love, serve and meet young families in our community.  We believe that families need Jesus and it’s too passive for us to just wait to welcome them at weekend worship we want to go out and engage them where they are.  Pray for some great “engagement” to happen this Saturday!

·       Camp Seven Rivers concludes its fourth summer program Friday!  It was another stellar summer with over 500 campers experiencing the love and delight that one can only find in Jesus with His family!  Way to go camp team!

·        Diane and I just returned from a week in North Carolina.  Highlights included dinner with Chef Jerome at the Old School Diner in Harris Neck Island, Georgia; a visit with Chad and Kristen Turner and their über-cute boys (pic); a 5-hour hike up Mt. LeConte (pic) to stay at the LeConte Lodge; and, a day spent shopping (Screen Door) and eating (Eating Asheville) in Asheville.  At the tail end of our trip we drove to Birmingham (to enjoy 105˚ temps), preached at Oak Mtn. Presbyterian Church, and ate at Flip – a burger boutique.  The burnt marshmallow nutella shake was to die for!

·        Best thing I read on my trip was this article by Wesley Hill – a chapel talk he gave at Wheaton College.  Here is an excerpt:  If you’re someone living with homosexual feelings, Jesus’ message to you this morning is not primarily a “No” to your deepest self and your deepest hunger. I do believe discipleship to him entails giving up gay sex and gay relationships. And that may be more painful than you can imagine right now in your life as a student. But, ultimately, Jesus is offering you the kingdom. He is offering you eternal life. He is offering you Himself in the gospel. Sacrificing your sexual freedom and sexual expression may seem like a high price to pay—it is a high price to pay!—but He promises you a joy so stunningly great that if you felt the full weight of it now, you would literally come undone.

·       Weekend worship attendance has been off the charts.  April-June attendance has averaged 100 people more per week than the same time a year ago.  God is up to something at SRPC!  This weekend we start our Summer Conference with worship Saturday night and Sunday morning.  Can’t wait to see what God has for us at this year’s conference.

 

Love,

Ray

P.S.  The new projectors and screens are up in the sanctuary…what an improvement!