Worship Update 7/24

From Jay

The Story of Your Life

I bought my ticket on Fandango. I have extra money for a tub of popcorn and a bucket of diet coke, and I’m going to see the midnight showing of the story of your life. What would I see when I watched?? Is it the movie you would have scripted if you were in charge? Should I read the book first?

Here’s a possible version of the highlights in my life story:

1. Innocent childhood growing up in the SE corner of Disneyland, CA.
2. Along with piano and guitar lessons also trained in 6 separate martial arts and a junior teen special Jack Bauer training camp.
3. Because my IQ was so high through high school (at Disneyland High), I was chosen to audit a college of my choice and give suggestions on how they could improve things, and I receive an honorary doctorate for my time.
4. Approached by the United Nations for a full time career full of purpose and vision and changing the world with passion and purpose. (somehow also responsible for starting Google in the midst of this!)
5. Decide to purchase Disneyland when I turned 50 thus giving my extended family and friends a place to vacation for free or just hang out on Main Street for a BBQ now and then.

So often our real life stories turn out so different. My story… your story… the stories of people I know and love have much different highlights, or lowlights then what I might have scripted for myself.

Broken families Learning disorders Loss of loved ones
Financial hardship Frustrated career paths Unstable or unsure future
Never even been to Disneyland

So how do we trust the Author of our lives, when our story feels like a script we wouldn’t choose? Consider for a moment the Table of Contents in the life of Jesus. Consider the highlights and lowlights:

Came to earth long before current luxuries of technology and comfort (no iphone and certainly no Disneyland)
Faced massive opposition and persecution
Never married
Friends abandoned Him
Crucified on a cross in His early thirties

However… His life was all about passion and purpose and love and meaning. Would we have written His circumstances differently for Him if we were in charge of His story? Thank God we weren’t, and thank God He is in control today and we aren’t. Yes, we can trust Him – with our lives and with our stories. How can you best use your unique script to bring Him glory?


An excerpt from today’s News & Views by Pastor Ron

Over the last several weeks I have been dealing with several difficult issues. When I have weeks like that, I sometimes wonder why I became a pastor. But this past week I was reminded why, and I want to share this great experience.

A few weeks ago I met with a young man who told me he had not grown up in a Christian home. Like many families today his family did not attend church. He started attending Sunset recently, however, and has enjoyed being here immensely. When we first met together, I gave him an assignment to read a book and meet with me again in a few weeks. This last week I sat with him again and asked him what he had learned about Christ from his reading. He shared with me, and I asked if he was ready to commit his life to Christ. He told me he was, so we prayed together, and he committed his life to Christ and is all excited about following him!

That experience reminded me why I became a pastor…. being with someone who makes a commitment to Christ never gets old. It is an experience I hope every one of you has during this next year-praying for a friend or family member and helping them come into a relationship with Jesus.

This week I finished the sermon schedule for next year. We will be reading the New Testament beginning in September. That will be a lot more doable for all of us. Reading the New Testament only requires one chapter a day five days a week. We will begin in Colossians in September.

Now, let me share a need I am hoping some of you can help us with. Our middle school program Wildfire meets on Wednesday nights. However, we have some families who live far enough away from the church that it is nearly impossible to get their middle schoolers here on Wednesday nights. We have others whose middle schoolers have activities that keep them from coming on Wednesday nights. So this spring we began a middle school program that meets Sundays at 9:00 am. Kurt Brandemihl is looking for a number of individuals or couples who would be willing to head up that Sunday morning middle school group. The primary need is for people to teach. Chap Clark, who will be preaching at Sunset October 18 and leading a ParenTeen Seminar, tells us that 85% of people who commit their lives to Christ do so before the age of fourteen. Middle school years are critical. If you have a middle schooler or have a heart for middle schoolers and understand how critical the middle school age is and would be willing to teach or provide leadership for this Sunday morning group, please let Kurt Brandemihl know right away--kurtbrandemihl@sunsetpres.org. You could end up having a wonderful experience like I had this past week.

Today I am flying to Michigan to join Jorie and our three youngest daughters. I will be preaching in a church in Bethany Beach and would appreciate your prayers. You are in for a treat this Sunday. John Franklin, one of the four vice presidents of Young Life, will be preaching from the book of Job. Job is a fascinating book, and John will bring it alive. Don't miss it. ….

I hope all of you have a great summer.
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 currently have openings on 9/20, 10/11, & 10/18. 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.

Worship Choir
We are looking for people who enjoy expressing their love for God through singing. Worship choir will sing again on August 23rd. If you plan to join us, please contact Jill at jillhofer@sunsetpres.org for more information. All ages welcome and participation in midweek rehearsal is encouraged.

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
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 – William Walker Landscape Day, 8a to 4p, lunch provided, sign-up in the lobby!