Worship Update 7/17

From Jay

Let Your Love Go
Hope that is hidden is selfish. Love that is held back is wasted.

In track, my favorite race was the 1500 meters (100 yards short of a mile). In a sprint like the 100 yard dash, it’s easy to give it your all… to go all out, because it’s short and the race is going to be over in seconds. In the 1500, it’s much harder to give it your all for the whole race. It is easier to find times to hold back. The worst feeling at the end of any sporting event, or really anything, is to leave knowing that I didn’t give it my all and that I could have given more.

When it comes to serving at a church, sometimes I leave with the same feeling. The feeling that I know I could have given more or that I know I held back. What do I hold back? Love.

I love Jesus, and I love worshipping Him. I love His creation of music and the part it plays in bringing Him glory. I love technology and the part it plays in bringing Him glory. I love His church, His message, His people, and His community. So what I am tempted to hold back every Sunday, (let alone the rest of my week) is that love. It’s vulnerable and scary to fully engage, to fully enter the moment, to fully give myself away emotionally in whatever I’m doing. It’s easier to hold some back.

Jesus didn’t do that, He didn’t hold back, He invested Himself fully in whatever moment He was in. And here’s the thing, when I don’t invest fully, people feel it. Love comes out in the way I treat people, love comes out in the way I worship. There is a noticeable difference in our offering of praise on Sunday or our service in the community throughout the week, when we hold back love. When we let all our love go, for God and for people, we encourage the community to love more.

Let your love go.


It's a book release, and you're invited!!
Photographer Elaine Heasley has put together a 7"x7" photo book of the Serves Up day last year in Vernonia. As she was sorting through photos, she thought it would make sense to provide the context and story that unfolded that day.
You can preview (and buy if you’d like) her new book at Blurb:
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/533389/3d956800543b3f2a9fb4bf27e5daf8a8


Pastor Ron’s News & Views
Last Sunday we talked about the importance of caring for our cities. I shared with you that the image of Bible-believing Christians in the Portland Metro area is not particularly positive. Stop average Portlanders on the street, and you will find they think of Christians as judgmental, anti-homosexual, hypocritical, only concerned with making converts, and uncaring. I believe one of the best ways to change this image is by caring for our cities with no strings attached. If they see we really want to help our schools and cities, they will see we really do care.

So, join us throughout the year ahead in serving our area. We are collecting food and toys this month for our annual December Food and Toy Ministry. We will be sprucing up William Walker Elementary School on Saturday, August 22. If you can help that day, it would be a great project for the entire family.

I also want to alert you to a special need we have for leaders with our college, high school, and middle school programs. Mike Giering, our high school and college director, and Kurt Brandemihl, our middle school director, have shared with me they can use many more leaders. Ninety-five percent of Christians make commitments to Christ before their 18th birthday. These are critical years. If you can help in one of these areas, please let me know or talk directly with Mike or Kurt.

This Sunday I will be talking about how we can help the hurting. There are lots of hurting people in our community and in our church. A kind word shared at just the right time can be very helpful. We will also be honoring Barbara Feil this Sunday at all three worship services. Barbara has served here for 15 years in so many ways. Join me in honoring her for excellent service to Christ and Sunset.

See you Sunday - Pastor Ron


Opportunities to Serve

Preludes
“Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” - Red Auerbach
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine. Would you be willing to play 4 – 7 minutes of sacred or classical music one Sunday? Instrumental soloists, duets, ensembles welcome!

We are currently scheduling August – November dates. Rehearsal time in the sanctuary, if requested, can be scheduled midweek prior to Sunday’s service. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Christmas In July
It’s finally summer in Oregon, but it’s Christmastime at Sunset! In order to keep our costs down for our annual Food and Toy Drive in December we are celebrating Christmas in July.

Everyone can play a part in this amazing ministry by bringing either canned food (see list below) or toys and gift cards (see list below) to church any Sunday in July and drop them off at the Food and Toy collection points (Courtyard and just outside the East Entrance).

Please plan now to bring your donations on July 12th, 19th or 26th.

Food Donations
Spaghetti Sauce (26oz)
Peanut Butter (16oz)
Canned Fruit (15oz)
Applesauce (2#)
Cranberries – Sauce or Jelly (15oz)

Toy Donations
Approx. $15 retail value
No Stuffed Animals Please
Gift Cards (Target, Fred Meyer, Kohl’s…)
Movie Tickets
Art Kits

Worship Choir – Next week!
We are looking for people who enjoy expressing their love for God through singing. Worship choir will sing again on July 26th and August 23rd. If you plan to sing on those dates, please attend rehearsal at 8pm in the Sanctuary on the Thursday before the Sunday’s listed. Interested but aren’t sure yet? Then contact Jill at jillhofer@sunsetpres.org for more information. All ages welcome.

Production/Tech Team Volunteers Needed!
We are looking for people to fill the following roles:
· Service Director
· Lighting
· Graphics
· FOH Camera Op Week
· Message Slide Designer

In addition we have a new volunteer role: Video production. We'd like to find some video editors in our midst. Are you or do you know someone who could do simple projects for us? (i.e. this week, we have white text (provided) on black screen and need someone to edit.) The level of the projects will depend on who we discover. The content is generally available a couple weeks in advance of the deadline. If you have this skill or know someone at Sunset who does, please email me janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.


Upcoming Events
Sunday’s July 19 & 26 -- Christmas in July! Bring your donations for Food & Toy (details are above)
August will have a Back to School drive to collect school supplies for William Walker students
August 3-8 – High School Camp, click here for more info
August 18-23 – Kids Camp, click here for more info
August 22 – Serving William Walker School Day