prayer letter - 6.09

Rhythms of Life and Rhythms of Church:
Since moving to Bellingham, I have been drawn toward certain lifestyle rhythms. My hope is to grow socially, spiritually, and in service with others. My hope is that these will also be the rhythms of life the new church will grow towards as well. Check out my blog for regular updates on how we’re living out these rhythms. Thank you for your support of us and the beginnings of this ministry.

Social…
May was a cool month. It was our first full month in Bellingham. Socially, I was encouraged by a few different Cohousing neighbors when they separately shared that they like having us around and what we bring to the community. Also, I was able to meet a lot of other folks in the neighborhood, when I knocked on some doors and gave away 2-cent stamps (because of the postal increase). It was a simple way to meet people. In June, I hope to continue going to the running club, start a regular movie night in our home, and maybe have a Wii bowling tournament at Cohousing. These are easy ways to get to know folks.

…Spiritual…
Spiritually, I was encouraged by a few different things in May. First, I discovered a few folks who desire to be a part of a Bible read through group. I hope this weekly group will get started in June. Secondly, I am encouraged by a group of folks who came to our home to pray and daydream about church. This advisory group will hopefully meet every 6-weeks or so to think and pray about the vision of the church. And finally, I felt honored to be invited to a non-Christian “study” group by a neighbor. They discuss spirituality in a very broad sense, and I pray I can be a tactful voice of truth there.

…Service.
In May, Kate and I started to volunteer w/ the CHORE program in town. Every week we do household chores for a young woman who has Crohns and Cancer. Her family is unable to help her, and she doesn’t have many people around her. These weekly visits will continue. In June, I am hoping to partner with Mosaic in knocking out some major projects that would bless her and her home.

please pray with us for…

• God to gather folks to join us in leadership and in
simply participating in the different groups we hope
to start
• God to raise up a strong ministry partner (“person of peace” Lk 10:1-7) to help us w/ weekly plans
• God to open doors, relationally, as we involve ourselves in activities in the neighborhood, allowing our lives to overlap w/ others