Returning to WordServe in September

Great news! Once again we have decided to return to the Worship Center on Sundays beginning this Sunday (with precautions AND LIVE MUSIC). For now, there will be one service at 10:15 a.m. We will reopen intelligently and with our family in mind. As we ease back into the swing of things, we will be wearing masks and at 50% capacity and WordServe Kids will be meeting but the nursery will remain closed until further notice. Be sure to bring your own caffeine and sugar as we will not be able to offer refreshments.

We have missed you all and look forward to seeing you but if you don't feel comfortable coming back right away, that's OK! We will continue to either stream or send video via our WordServe Facebook page, WordServe YouTube page, and www.wordserve.org/sermons. Feel free to leave comments on those pages for interaction. And remember, prayer requests can be sent anytime to the email prayer@wordserve.org. Check out this video (https://vimeo.com/425665727) for more details about reopening.

Church might look different for now but this doesn't change our mission of "Guiding people to grow as joyfull servants of Jesus". In fact, it might be less of an obstical and more of an opportunity to share. Please take advantage of our online giving option so we can help those who were hit the hardest during this unprecedented event.

_______________________________________________________________________

Update as of 6.14.20 | Return to the Worship Center

Great news! After reviewing surveys we have decided to slowly return to the Worship Center on Sundays (with precautions). For now, there will be one service at 9 a.m. We will reopen intelligently and with our family in mind. As we ease back into the swing of things, we will be at 25% capacity with masks and keeping families socially distanced 6 ft. away from each other. We will not be offering WordServe Kids or the nursery until further notice and be sure to bring your own caffeine and sugar as we will not be able to offer refreshments. We have missed you all and look forward to seeing you but if you don't feel comfortable coming back right away, that's OK! We will continue to either stream or send video via our WordServe Facebook page, WordServe YouTube page, and www.wordserve.org/sermons. Feel free to leave comments on those pages for interaction. And remember, prayer requests can be sent anytime to the email prayer@wordserve.org. Check out this video (https://vimeo.com/425665727) for more details about reopening.

_________________________________________________________

A Letter from Pastor Bill: 4.16.20

Greetings WordServe Nation!

How is it with your soul? That's a question that John Wesley used to ask people during small group sessions. I like it because it makes us go beyond the surface. "I'm fine" is not an answer for the soul.

Did you know that there has been an over 40% increase in anti-anxiety medicines since stay-at-home orders went into effect in the U.S.? This tells me that it's probably not so good with our souls.

We're anxious... we're worried... we're frazzled... we're tired. Or maybe you're immune. But for the rest of us, wouldn't it be nice to look at anxiety and worry from Jesus' perspective? This Sunday, we're going to look at "Worry Math" and how we might put worry in its proper place and begin to live again, despite what's happening around us.

So join us online and invite others you know that might benefit from knowing the answers to "Worry Math."

It's going to be a little different this week. Instead of streaming live, we're going to release a complete service on Sunday morning. (If you experienced our frustration in trying to go live last week, you'll get why!). You'll be able to find us in one of these three ways:

1. WordServe Facebook page

2. WordServe YouTube page (you can subscribe to get notifications whenever new videos are released)

3. WordServe Website (www.wordserve.org/sermons)

Feel free to leave comments on those pages for interaction. And remember, prayer requests can be sent anytime to the email prayer@wordserve.org.

THREE QUESTIONS FOR YOU - STILL CHECKING!

1. HOW ARE YOU DOING?

2. WHAT ARE THE NEEDS?

3. WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING? Let's not waste the hard won lessons tht will come out of this once-in-a-lifetime experience! Email your lessons learned to bhogan@wordserve.org. We'll be sharing some of our lessons and bouncing them off scripture on MAY 3rd. Let me hear from you

COMMUNITY

There's never been a better time to attend and invite people to online small groups. If you're interested in joining a group, please email bhogan@wordserve.org.

And if you'd like to START a group online, let us know that too!

COMPASSION

WordServe loves to serve! I'm sure you're frustrated with staying at home, but you can:

1. Check in with neighbors - do they need a grocery run?

2. Text, talk, zoom, etc. with your regular social circles and see if they need anything, or see how it is with their soul!

WORDSERVE KIDS

The kids are digging in the Word during the week with our awesome Children's Director, Barbara. You can join in on zoom (email bpennington@wordserve.org for specifics). All are welcome to join any study, parents too!

3:00 P.M.
Monday- using K/1st grade book
Wednesday- using 2nd/3rd grade book
Friday- using 4th/5th grade book
(If you need a book, let Barbara know)

SUPPORT

Thanks for your continued support in prayer and in being the presence of Christ wherever you are. I have to say, I never intended to be a digital church, but now that we are, our reach has expanded WAY beyond what we can hold in the building. We're already looking at how to build on that expanded reach even after we return to normal (whatever that might be).

So thanks for you ongoing support. We want to encourage everyone to please visit https://www.wordserve.org/give to explore the many options that will continue to keep the heartbeat of WordServe going and the hands and feet of Christ serving!

STRUGGLING WITH MONEY (OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS)?

I also recognize these can be challenging financial times. If you're in that boat, check out the resources from I was broke, now I'm not. In fact, here's a video you can watch or send to anyone who is suddenly struggling to pay bills.

ENCOURAGEMENT

If you saw the sermon from a couple of weeks back, you heard about the Stockdale Paradox. In short, Admiral Stockdale was a POW in Vietnam for over six years. When asked later about who survived those horrid experiences the best, he answered with this sound advice:

"You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be." - Admiral James Stockdale

So... no, I'm not going to sugarcoat anything. These are rough times. That's our current reality.

But... no, I'm also not going to short sell the hope we have in Christ. He has already prevailed in the end and he provides a peace and presence that is with us in the current reality.

Love wins.

And one day soon, our mourning will turn into dancing

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!" - Psalm 30:11, 12

Start practicing your best dance moves now, WordServe. There's going to be a barn-burner of a dance one day soon. I'll see you there.

God's grace, peace, and strength,

Pastor Bill