Sunset Worship & Creative Arts Ministry

Worship Update 3/11

2011-03-11T10:20:00.000-08:00

From Jay

Genuine
One of my favorite shows is American Pickers. Two men travel across the country looking for antiques in people’s barns, basements and attics. Sometimes things that look like trash, rusted, dirty and broken, are priceless items. Often the first thing that has to be figured out is if an item is genuine or not. An antique coin or clock or old baseball card can be faked, and it takes a trained eye sometimes to see it.

There is no mark on you that I can look at to determine if your faith is genuine. You might wear a cross and carry a Bible, but that is not the proof of His mark on you. No, it’s much deeper, it’s down to the very core of who you are… a place only He can see. In fact you might appear broken and rusted on the outside, and your faith could be as genuine as its gets.

Your faith is the most valuable thing you own. Strip all else away, all the temporary things in your life, even your life itself, and your faith in Jesus and who He is will carry on through eternity. Have you considered your faith lately? Have you taken a moment and just rested on it, counted on it, and thanked God for it? He gave it to you, and sustains it in you.

“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him;
and even though you do not see him now, you believe in Him
and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
for you are receiving the end result of your faith,
the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9)

Opportunities To Serve

Musicians Needed!
We are always looking for musicians who want to get involved. If you sing or play, contact us! Right now we are particularly looking for piano players, but even if you play the harmonica or spoons, we want to hear from you! Contact Jay at jaymckenney@sunsetpres.org, or Tyler at tylerbraun@sunsetpres.org

Sunset Choir
The Sunset Choir will be taking part in the Easter service again this year. The choir is open to everyone, just come to practice on Tuesday night at 7pm in the choir room. In order to be ready, we ask that you begin attending prior to the March 15th if you would like to sing on Easter with the choir.

Artful ideas needed!
As we are service planning for the series studying 2 Corinthians we are looking for ideas that use the arts on the theme of reconciliation; works of art, literature, music. Please post ideas on the Sunset worship Facebook page by clicking here or email them to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
March 21-25, Beaverton Spring Break
April 10, Infant Baptism/Dedication
April 10, Family Series
April 10, Pathways & Connections
April 15, Family Unity Night (FUN), 6:30p
April 24, EASTER

Worship Update 3/4

2011-03-04T10:35:00.000-08:00

From Jay

Understand first
At various times in my life I have found myself saying a lot... “They don’t get it.” “He or she doesn’t understand me.” Have you ever felt that inside? To be truly understood, to be truly heard, to be truly known, is very rare in this life isn’t it?

I can’t control someone listening to me, can’t make them understand, and can’t crawl into their brain and see if they have an agenda or if they are sizing me up or if they are thinking about what is for dinner tonight.

The reality is, most of the time, it’s me that doesn’t get it. It’s me that hasn’t taken the time to seek to understand. It’s me that puts my desire to be understood, ahead of understanding another, and therefore I’m doing the very thing that I despise. I want to change that about me. I want to begin to give the gift of really hearing people and finding out where they are coming from. I have a long way to go. In fact, I think I have nowhere to go but up. 

James 1:19
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry…”

Sunset Lay-Offs Announcement
If you didn’t receive the News & Views with this information on 3/1, please email to Rick Anderson rickanderson@sunsetpres.org.

Opportunities To Serve

Musicians Needed!
We are always looking for musicians who want to get involved. If you sing or play, contact us! Right now we are particularly looking for piano players, but even if you play the harmonica or spoons, we want to hear from you! Contact Jay at jaymckenney@sunsetpres.org, or Tyler at tylerbraun@sunsetpres.org

Sunset Choir
The Sunset Choir will be taking part in the Easter service again this year. The choir is open to everyone, just come to practice on Tuesday night at 7pm in the choir room. In order to be ready, we ask that you begin attending prior to the March 15th if you would like to sing on Easter with the choir.

Artful ideas needed!
As we are service planning for the series studying 2 Corinthians we are looking for ideas that use the arts on the theme of reconciliation; works of art, literature, music. Please post ideas on the Sunset worship Facebook page by clicking here or email them to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
March 6, Divin’ In Class starts
March 13, Daylight savings begins – Pancake Breakfast between services
March 21-25, Beaverton Spring Break
April 10, Infant Baptism/Dedication
April 10, Family Series
April 10, Pathways & Connections
April 15, Family Unity Night (FUN), 6:30p
April 24, EASTER

Worship Update 2/18

2011-02-18T10:31:00.000-08:00

From Jay

Free Samples
When I was in high school my friend Tom Beal and I would go to Nordstrom for free samples of cologne. I remember one day we hit the jackpot, and there was a very cute, nice girl working who I think had a crush on Tom and ended up giving us dozens and dozens of samples of our favorite brands. And this was when they were in those little glass bottles that actually had a pretty good amount in each one.

I also remember once when I was there with several friends. When we cut through the women’s fragrance section I picked up a sample bottle and sprayed the back of my friends coat with 10 plus sprays of a very feminine smelling perfume. Seemed funny at the time, but I was the one that had to follow him around the rest of the time and smell it.

Paul had a life changing encounter with Christ. Paul didn’t know Him and was persecuting His followers, but Christ forgave him, turned His life around, and gave Him a new reason to exist… to spread the truth about who He was and how to know Him. As a result, Paul’s life became about that mission. In a sense he spent his life with a new bottle of cologne going around and spreading its aroma, the aroma of Christ.

You didn’t know Christ. And while you were still a sinner, He died for you, forgave you and drew you to Himself. He has given you a new reason to exist. He has given you His Spirit, a sweet smelling and saving aroma to those He is saving. And He wants you to spread it.

Opportunities To Serve

Musicians Needed!We are always looking for musicians who want to get involved. If you sing or play, contact us! Right now we are particularly looking for piano players, but even if you play the harmonica or spoons, we want to hear from you! Contact Jay at jaymckenney@sunsetpres.org, or Tyler at tylerbraun@sunsetpres.org

Helping Hands Food DriveSunday, February 27th
This is the first Helping Hands food drive this year. There are only 2 All Church Food Drives this year, so let’s make the most of both of them!

Food Items Needed:
Cereal - Rice - Canned Fruit – Juice (No glass jars) - Canned Fish and Chicken.
Thank you for your support in past food drives. Your generous donations allow Helping Hands provide 3 to 5 days of groceries for families in need.

Sunset Choir
The Sunset Choir will be taking part in the Easter service again this year. The choir is open to everyone, just come to practice on Tuesday night at 7pm in the choir room. In order to be ready, we ask that you begin attending prior to the March 15th if you would like to sing on Easter with the choir.

Artful ideas needed!
As we are service planning for the series studying 2 Corinthians we are looking for ideas that use the arts on the theme of reconciliation; works of art, literature, music. Please post ideas on the Sunset worship Facebook page by clicking here or email them to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
February 18-20, Wildfire Winter Camp – Pray for our middle school ministry this weekend!
February 27, Food Drive for Helping Hands
March 1, DivorceCare starts
March 3, Resolving Everyday Conflict Study starts
March 6, Divin’ In Class starts
March 13, Daylight savings begins
March 21-25, Beaverton Spring Break
April 10, Infant Baptism/Dedication
April 10, Family Series
April 10, Pathways & Connections
April 15, Family Unity Night (FUN)
April 24, EASTER

Worship Update 2/11

2011-02-11T11:47:00.000-08:00

From Jay

POSITION
My wife and I tan very differently. We both love being outside, we both love the sun. She wears 5000 SPF sun block capable of walking on the surface of the sun while not being harmed. I never wear any (I know, I am dumb). She is usually doing yard work, or has a visor on; I am looking for every opportunity to face the sun. The lines when I mow are wavy because I’m looking up instead of where I’m going. At the end of a long day, we will both go in and look completely different as far as the effects of the sun. We were both out there for the same amount of time, but because of how we positioned ourselves, totally different results.

Two people can sit in the same worship service for the same amount of time and leave with very different results. The same God is there for both, the same Spirit. One comes open, with a heart positioned towards listening for His voice, through (and sometimes despite) whatever happens that day. The other comes wearing 5000 SPF on the heart; capable of… well, you get the picture.

The light of Jesus is shining, right now, onto you and into your life. What is the position of your heart? Is it facing Him, positioned toward Him? Or is it turned away… and are you letting all kinds of walls block you from experiencing the warmth of His love?

Psalm 27:8
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
2 Corinthians 4:18
"So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone,
but the things we cannot see will last forever."

Sunset News
If you did not receive last week’s or this week’s News & Views from the Commission, via email or mail, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org.

Opportunities To Serve

Helping Hands Food Drive
Sunday, February 27th
This is the first Helping Hands food drive this year. There are only 2 All Church Food Drives this year, so let’s make the most of both of them!

Food Items Needed:
Cereal - Rice - Canned Fruit – Juice (No glass jars) - Canned Fish and Chicken.
Thank you for your support in past food drives. Your generous donations allow Helping Hands provide 3 to 5 days of groceries for families in need.

Artful ideas needed!
As we are service planning for the series studying 2 Corinthians we are looking for ideas that use the arts on the theme of reconciliation; works of art, literature, music. Please post ideas on the Sunset worship Facebook page by clicking here or email them to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
February 14, Valentine’s Day
February 18-20, Wildfire Winter Camp
February 27, Food Drive for Helping Hands
March 1, DivorceCare starts
March 3, Resolving Everyday Conflict Study starts
March 6, Divin’ In Class starts
March 13, Daylight savings begins
March 21-25, Beaverton Spring Break

Worship News 2/4

2011-02-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

From Jay

Competent
I debated writing anything this week. There is a lot of noise, a lot of things to read, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to add to your pile. So if you decide to read this in the midst of all the communication you are receiving from Sunset, than I guess this is for you. 

Are you a competent person? Here is how competence can be defined:

- properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient
- adequate for the purpose
- having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications

Your mind may race to your job field, or your schooling, or your interests… but think about it more in terms of your overall life. Are you competent to live and live well? Are you competent to love? Are you competent to make a difference?

I must state now, in this writing, my incompetence. I am not properly or sufficiently qualified to lead my family, serve in a church, or even write this devotional each week. I am not competent to make a difference. I am not adequate for the purpose. I don’t have the sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.

My competence comes from Christ and Christ alone… it comes because He loves me and forgives me and pulls out the best in me. It comes because He is my Creator and the author of my life. He is faithful and steadfast and His motivations are pure. His Spirit lives in me and I have access to His strength at all times. He is my rock and my salvation. He and He alone can make a difference through my life.

Your competence comes from Christ as well. He is competent to make a difference through you. Lean into that and into Him today.

John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you,
you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Sunset News
A communication was sent this week from both the Sunset Commission and from Pastor Ron. If you did not receive a copy of this communication via email or mail, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org.

Opportunities To Serve

Artful ideas needed!As we begin service planning for the new series studying 2 Corinthians we are looking for ideas that use the arts on the theme of reconciliation; works of art, literature, music. Please post ideas on the Sunset worship Facebook page by clicking here or email them to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming EventsFebruary 13, Family Series and 5:30pm service CANCELLED
February 14, Valentine’s Day
February 18-20, Wildfire Winter Camp
February 27, Food Drive for Helping Hands
March 1, DivorceCare starts
March 3, Resolving Everyday Conflict Study starts
March 6, Divin’ In Class starts
March 13, Daylight savings Begins
March 21-25, Beaverton Spring Break

Worship Update 1/28

2011-01-28T11:09:00.000-08:00

From Jay

The dawn is coming
I am a true Oregonian. I love most everything about this state from a scenery and seasons standpoint. I even love a good Oregon rainy day. If there is one thing that can get to me though, and this isn’t specific to just my home state, it is the darkness of winter. The length of the darkness from sunset to sunrise I can find hard to deal with. There is something about an early sunrise that inspires hope, speaks of renewal, and whispers of action. When you wake up and it is still dark, everything in me says, GO BACK TO BED, NOTHING TO SEE HERE! 

If you are like me, this is sometimes how it has felt to be a part of the family at Sunset lately. I love this church. I love these people. As the weeks have turned to months and we have faced the void of information and clear direction, maybe you are like me and the sheer length of it has been more than a little hard to deal with. And regardless of how the night settled upon us, I find myself craving and leaning and straining for the sun to rise. I keep remembering that saying, “It is always darkest right before the dawn”.

I believe the dawn is coming.

I believe God cares for us. I believe He is teaching us things that can only be learned in an in-between time like this one. I believe God has not abandoned us. I believe in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. I believe in the healing power of God. I believe in the unity of the Trinity, and for God’s power to accomplish unity in His church. I believe in reconciliation, restoration and renewal. I believe God can rebuild, rework, and retool. I believe God is not tired, worn out or weary. I believe He is still the essence of life, of love, of hope, of grace, of justice, of truth. I believe He is still in the business of saving lives, and still desires to partner with you and me in His great mission.

Like the rising sun that shines
From the darkness comes a light
I hear Your voice and this is my awakening

Opportunities To Serve
Artful ideas needed!
As we begin service planning for the new series studying 2 Corinthians we are looking for ideas that use the arts on the theme of reconciliation; works of art, literature, music. Please post ideas on the Sunset worship Facebook page by clicking here or email them to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
January 30, Overflow Play Day
February 6, No 5:30p service due to Super Bowl
February 13, Family Series for MS/HS Parents
February 14, Valentine’s Day
February 18-20, Wildfire Winter Camp
February 27, Food Drive for Helping Hands
March 1, DivorceCare starts
March 3, Peacemaking class starts
March 6, Divin’ In Class starts
March 13, Daylight savings Begins
March 21-25, Beaverton Spring Break

Worship Update 1/21

2011-01-21T14:39:00.000-08:00

From Jay

The power of the gospel
Recently I was involved in helping interview someone for a ministry position in a small ministry located in the Portland area. This person had a long history with evangelical church ministry and service. There were lots of boxes to check off in the interview, including going over the basic questions of faith.

When I asked what it meant to be a Christian, there was a long, confusing response filled with some Christian sounding words and concepts, but void of clarity. I then asked how he understood someone comes to be saved… same type of reply. I kept trying to rephrase my question, suddenly realizing that I was literally crawling out of my skin to hear him say a few simple things back to me. That he had been lost, and spiritually dead in his sin. That the reality of Christ’s sacrifice for that sin had become real to him at some point, and that the gift of grace had been received. That he was forgiven. That he knew where he was heading based on the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and not any power of his own.

But it never came.

Over the next couple of days, I began to realize a couple of things. The first one is that the simplicity of the message of the gospel is also mysterious and a revelation. And the second is that I became more grateful for its power in my life.

For those of us who rely on the hope of the gospel, it is medicine to our souls when we hear it. We rejoice from the inside out because the wonder of it remains.

Take a moment today, and contemplate what has been revealed to you about the truth of Jesus Christ. That you were lost… that you’ve been found… that you are forgiven.

If the message isn’t clear to you, ask God to reveal Himself to you, until it is.

1 Corinthians 1:18: The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

Opportunities to Serve
Artful ideas needed!As we begin service planning for the new series studying 2 Corinthians we are looking for ideas that use the arts on the theme of reconciliation; works of art, literature, music. Please post ideas on the Sunset worship Facebook page by clicking here or email them to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
January 26, Alpha class starts
January 30, Overflow Play Day
February 6, Super Bowl Party
February 13, Family Series for MS/HS Parents
February 14, Valentine’s Day
February 18-20, Wildfire Winter Camp
February 22, DivorceCare starts
February 27, Food Drive for Helping Hands
March 3, Peacemaking class starts
March 6, Divin’ In Class starts
March 13, Daylight savings Begins
March 21-25, Beaverton Spring Break

Worship Update 1/14

2011-01-14T12:12:00.000-08:00

From Jay

Relentless love
Ever since I worked in construction, my spine has been temperamental. I remember I used to come home after hard manual labor and couldn’t take a full breath because something was just “off”, and I would have to lie face down on the ground, and then Allison would walk up and down my back. I would have her stop at a certain spot and say “there”, and she would hop a little (sometimes a lot) and then I was back in proper alignment and could take a full breath again. Having someone step on me, walk all over me, and even jump on my back was unpleasant but worth it. This happens less now that I sit at a desk all day, but every once in a while she still does this for me.

Sometimes I wince when I feel God messing with me to bring me back to proper alignment with Him. Sometimes I want to say “Get off my back Lord.” His pursuit of me is relentless. His pursuit of you is relentless. He will allow everything you know to be shaken. Everything, except what you know to be true of Him, and His promises, and His love, and your future in Him. Over and over again, He brings me back to that core knowledge in my spirit, stripping everything else away.

I believe God does the same thing with His church. When we just want everything to work, and to avoid pain and unpleasantness, God will allow anything and everything to bring us to the point of stripping everything away till all that remains is Himself, and His truth, and His promises, and His love. I long for our church to be able to take a deep breath soon and to thank God together for bringing us to a point of health. For now, I thank Him for His relentless pursuit of us, both individually and as a church body. I pray that you and I learn to continue to lie down before Him and be okay with Him messing with us in whatever way He sees fit.

Opportunities To Serve
Artful ideas needed!As we begin service planning for the new series studying 2 Corinthians we are looking for ideas that use the arts on the theme of reconciliation; works of art, literature, music. Please post ideas on the Sunset worship facebook page by clicking here or email them to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Mission ConneXion Northwest 2011Friday & Saturday, Jan 21 - 22, Our Church!
www.missionconnexion.com
We are hosting one of the largest conferences to take the gospel to the nations. Plan now to attend and/or volunteer. Admission is free, content is powerful! Volunteers check back page of Sunday’s bulletin to be contacted.

Upcoming Events
January 26, Alpha class starts
February 6, Super Bowl Party
February 14, Valentine’s Day
March 3, Peacemaking class starts

Worship Update 1/7

2011-01-07T14:36:00.000-08:00

From Jay

Your new gift
The other day I was at a party, celebrating an announcement of a new life that was to be born several months from now. It was a gorgeous house, great food, great company. There were people there from all different churches. Within minutes, the topic of Sunset and where we are as a church came up and I was asked about it. Ever happen to you?

It is always humbling to listen to how people see it, hear it, view it from the outside… people not a part of our Sunset family. It is interesting to hear them say they actually read our facebook page, etc.
Something happened that night that changed my perspective big time. A couple that was there began to minister to me. They had been through a very painful situation at a church, similar in many ways to Sunset. The husband told me that he had received an “Honorary Phd” with all that he had learned. The wife had been on staff, led worship and the church had been their family.

They were able in a very short time to minister to me, to encourage me, to love me, in a way that others could not, or cannot, because this couple had been there.

We are about to start a new series in 2 Corinthians. Listen to these words from the first chapter:

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

Have you ever looked at the hard stuff in your life that you have personally faced this way? To see your experiences as a gift that you are now able to help others with the comfort of God?? We wouldn’t choose it before we go through it, but the way God can redeem the hard times in our lives is a miracle only He can pull off. If you call Sunset home, you have a new gift to offer people that you may not have possessed before. Praise God.

Opportunities To Serve
Artful ideas needed!As we begin service planning for the new series studying 2 Corinthians we are looking for ideas that use the arts on the theme of reconciliation; works of art, literature, music. Please post ideas on the Sunset worship facebook page by clicking here or email them to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Mission ConneXion Northwest 2011Friday & Saturday, Jan 21 - 22, Our Church!
www.missionconnexion.com
We are hosting one of the largest conferences to take the gospel to the nations. Plan now to attend and/or volunteer. Admission is free, content is powerful! Volunteers check back page of Sunday’s bulletin to be contacted.

Upcoming Events
January 9, Communion Sunday
January 16, Pathways & Connections class starts
January 16, Choir & Orchestra Sunday plus Infant Baptism/Dedication
January 26, Alpha class starts
February 6, Super Bowl Party
February 14, Valentine’s Day
March 3, Peacemaking class starts

Worship Update 12/17

2010-12-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

From Jay

Blackberry Bushes
When I was little there was a field near where I lived with massive blackberry bushes that towered over our heads. My brothers and I would take a sheet of plywood and a machete, then carve out paths through it and make big rooms of clearing in the middle. I remember how hard it was to hack through those twisted sharp branches, and how consuming they were, and how endless they seemed. I also remember how quickly they grew back, crowding and choking out the paths we had cleared.

This is what it feels like sometimes for me as a Christian when I go to “seek His face”. It feels like blackberry bushes of self, and chaos, guilt, and sin, and setbacks, and tiredness, and confusion and a million other things crowd out my clear view of Him. After a couple of weeks of hacking through the brush of life I’ll come into a few days of clearing, and I’ll meet Him there. And there is rest… there is healing… there is hope. My personal experience though is that it is always short lived, and it simply will be on this side of heaven, the blackberries will keep growing.

This week we are going to sing Came To My Rescue. I drink these words in today as I seek another meaningful glimpse of the face of my Savior.

Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek Your face
Lord all I am is Yours
My whole life I place in your hands
God of mercy humbled I bow down
In Your presence at Your throne
I called… You answered
And You came to my rescue and I
I wanna be where You are

Opportunities To Serve
Holiday Ushers - Christmas is fast approaching. We have three Christmas Eve gatherings where we’ll need ushers. If you are available to usher at any of these services, please email alantmitchell@comcast.net

Christmas Eve, Friday 12/24; 3, 5 and 10pm

Upcoming Events
December 24, Christmas Eve Services, 3pm, 5pm, 10pm
December 25, Christmas Day
January 1, New Year’s Day
January 9, Communion Sunday
January 16, Pathways & Connections class starts
January 16, Choir & Orchestra Sunday and Infant Baptism/Dedication
February 6, Super Bowl Party
February 14, Valentine’s Day
March 3, Peacemaking class starts

New Bible Study Begins in January
RECONCILED: Pursuing Relationship with Christ and Community is the title of our study starting after
the first of the year. Just as we did with Nehemiah, 2 Corinthians will be our book of focus for the whole
church study. Our research writing team has done an outstanding job of writing this study just for
Sunset. It’s designed that we all will grow deeper in our understanding of God’s Word and how it applies to our lives individually and to the whole church at Sunset. Make plans now to be a part of this
intriguing study. For more info or to register click here.

Worship Update 12/10

2010-12-10T13:57:00.000-08:00

From Jay

First Priority
As someone who cares deeply about what happens on a Sunday and about protecting a space where you can come and connect with God, this weekend makes me lose sleep. All of us are waiting for some sort of announcement that, as I write this, we are not even sure is going to come and if it does we don’t know what it is. And no matter what it is it will be hard for everyone. Meanwhile we are in our second week of advent celebrating the “Joy” candle. That should be fun.

Sometimes when things are really hard we throw this verse around. Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”

I think what trips us up is our expectation of “for the good”. You and I can fill in “for the good” with whatever version of “good” that suits us. But the “good” was not a blank for us to fill. The “good” is defined in the next sentence…

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son…”
~ Romans 8:29

That’s the good work… that you and I would become like Jesus.

Does God want Sunset to succeed, and His name to be lifted up here? Yes, but that is secondary to His desire to shape the image of his Son in your heart and in mine.

And so whenever and whatever we find out together, and as your mind races with however you are prewired to react, remember that in these moments, God’s first priority is that you and I would become more like Jesus as a result.

Food & Toy 2010 will take place the week of December 14, culminating with Delivery Day on Saturday, December 18. Throughout the week, cookies will be baked, toys will be wrapped, and food will be packed. Please check here for more information about Food & Toy or to volunteer.

Reclaim the story of Christmas through Assist-A-Family. The Christmas trees are in the Lobby with names of families that you can adopt for this Christmas. Full instructions are found in the mailer you received at home recently. If you didn’t get a mailer or need another, stop by the Book and CD desk for the flier that describes this year’s opportunities.

Opportunities to Serve

Holiday Ushers - Thanksgiving and Christmas are fast approaching. We have three special events where we’ll need ushers. The events and dates are below. If you are available to usher at any of these services, please email alantmitchell@comcast.net

Christmas Eve, Friday 12/24; 3, 5 and 10pm

Upcoming EventsDecember 12, Choir Concert, 6:30pm
December 24, Christmas Eve Services 3pm, 5pm and 10pm
December 25, Christmas Day
January 1, New Year’s Day

New Bible Study Begins in January
RECONCILED: Pursuing Relationship with Christ and Community is the title of our study starting after
the first of the year. Just as we did with Nehemiah, 2 Corinthians will be our book of focus for the whole
church study. Our research writing team has done an outstanding job of writing this study just for
Sunset. It’s designed that we all will grow deeper in our understanding of God’s Word and how it applies to our lives individually and to the whole church at Sunset. Make plans now to be a part of this
intriguing study. For more info or to register click here.

Worship Update 12/3

2010-12-03T10:59:00.000-08:00

From Jay

Unexpected Cold Front
I adore the snow. Every single year I am optimistic that we will have a foot of snow at some point and that it will shut down normal life for a week. Even though it’s only happened like that maybe 3 times in my memory over the last 20 plus years, I still always believe that this is the year.

So when we had the unexpected cold front a couple weeks back, I thought, “Here we go!!” Apparently it is just waiting until Christmas morning. I’m cool with that.

I had another unexpected cold front of a different kind hit me this week. I was in a meeting about Sunset’s focus this year of “Reclaiming the Story” (think Advent Conspiracy…). The bottom line of this is that because Christ came, we go. We want to embrace the real meaning of Christmas. Since He came and changed everything for us by His love, this should change the way we celebrate Christmas, and the way we love the surrounding community. This is the real story of Christmas.

I sat there realizing that while I agreed with this intellectually, my heart this year had not caught the vision. In fact, my heart felt cold towards it.

I went back into my office and pleaded with God to change my perspective, to warm me up to His heart, to catch the vision, and to have it move from my head to my heart.

The reality is, even though I have known Christ my whole life, I easily can become preoccupied with “stuff”. This year I have been thinking so much about what I would be buying my family and how I would afford it that it has consumed the majority of my thoughts regarding Christmas.

But I don’t want that. I want to lead my family well. I want to teach my girls about Christ, and the incarnation, and relationship, and love. I don’t want to miss this opportunity to continue to expand on my response to God’s love and have it reach outward… beyond my little world and out to neighbors and people in need. I want to seize the opportunities that a church like Sunset provides to care about people that need both resources and Christ. I want to Reclaim the Story.

Food & Toy 2010 will take place the week of December 14, culminating with Delivery Day on Saturday, December 18. Throughout the week, cookies will be baked, toys will be wrapped, and food will be packed. Please check here for more information about Food & Toy or to volunteer.

Reclaim the story of Christmas through Assist-A-Family. The Christmas trees are in the Lobby with names of families that you can adopt for this Christmas. Full instructions are found in the mailer you received at home recently. If you didn’t get a mailer or need another, stop by the Book and CD desk for the flier that describes this year’s opportunities.

Opportunities to ServeHoliday Ushers - Thanksgiving and Christmas are fast approaching. We have three special events where we’ll need ushers. The events and dates are below. If you are available to usher at any of these services, please email alantmitchell@comcast.net

Christmas Eve, Friday 12/24; 3, 5 and 10pm

Upcoming EventsDecember 12, Choir Concert, 6:30pm
December 24, Christmas Eve Services 3pm, 5pm and 10pm
December 25, Christmas Day
January 1, New Year’s Day

Worship Update 11/19

2010-11-19T09:56:00.000-08:00

From Jay

Joy in worship
Does it seem to be missing lately? Joy in our corporate worship together? I had dinner with a friend last week who expressed to me that very feeling here at Sunset. We discussed a lot of angles, possibilities, song styles, circumstances, etc.; but at one point I had to look him in the eye and say, “A lot of what you may be feeling is because I have lost a lot of joy lately and I’m up there singing.”

I love the passage in Ecclesiastes about there being a time and a season for everything. I have to tell you, I am craving to have a time for joy and thanksgiving in our corporate worship. Not in our current earthly circumstances, but in our eternal and spiritual reality.

I am getting my talk ready for this Wednesday’s Thanksgiving Eve service, and I am camping in Ephesians 1. The amount of joy contained in two paragraphs is unreal. What we have in Christ, what we have been blessed with, and what we have to look forward to is mind boggling and evokes joy.

I lose my joy, I lose my hope, usually it’s when I lose sight of the reality that is revealed to me in God’s Word. Like a bad pair of windshield wipers over time, without realizing it my vision becomes hazy, clouded, and impaired. And then I read a passage like Ephesians 1 and it’s like I got a brand new pair of triple bladed deluxe windshield wipers… suddenly I remember what it is like to see clearly again.

If you have a few minutes give Ephesians 1 a read today and think about how much you have to praise God for.

Hope In Someone Greater
Get ready for an evening of inspiration, worship, and reflection on the hope we have in Jesus. Jeff Johnson is an amazing musician and worship leader who has ministered all over the world. His celtic style and beautiful arrangements make this a wonderful multi-generational opportunity on Thanksgiving Eve. Jay McKenney will speak on hope, and with Jeff, will provide a family time of thanksgiving to start the season together.

Jeff Johnson is joined by Brian Dunning. Their songs have been featured on many best selling contemporary instrumental compilations including those released by Windham Hill (Celtic Christmas, Winter Solstice) and Hearts of Space (Celtic Twilight). Their music is often connected with the novels of Stephen R. Lawhead and they have had music featured in films such as Martin Scorcese’s Gangs of New York. To read more about and hear samples of their music click here.

Jeff and Brian are excited to be bring along Oregon violinist Wendy Goodwin. Wendy has distinguished herself as a versatile and creative presence in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Goodwin is a popular session player and guest performer with artists ranging from pianist, Michael Allen Harrison to singer-songwriter, Michelle Tumes. She lives in downtown Portland with her husband, Andy, and daughter, Vienna. For more information: www.effesenden.com

You won’t want to miss this inspirational night of hope, worship and reflection, so please join us!

Food & Toy 2010 will take place the week of December 14, culminating with Delivery Day on Saturday, December 18. Throughout the week, cookies will be baked, toys will be wrapped, and food will be packed. Please check here for more information about Food & Toy or to volunteer.

Reclaim the story of Christmas through Assist-A-Family. The Christmas trees are in the Lobby with names of families that you can adopt for this Christmas. Full instructions are found in the mailer you received at home recently. If you didn’t get a mailer or need another, stop by the Book and CD desk for the flier that describes this year’s opportunities.

A Time For Celebration
Sunday, Dec 12, 6:30 pm, Sanctuary
Come join us for this year’s Sunset Choir and Orchestra Christmas Concert. This interactive service will feature music from many different eras, representing how Christians have celebrated the birth of Christ for over 1500 years! Invite your friends and family, as this is a concert you won’t want to miss! The concert is free. A free-will offering will be taken.

Opportunities To Serve

Holiday Ushers - Thanksgiving and Christmas are fast approaching. We have three special events where we’ll need ushers. The events and dates are below. If you are available to usher at any of these services, please email alantmitchell@comcast.net

Thanksgiving Eve, Wed 11/24; 7pm
Christmas Choir Concert, Sunday 12/12; 6:30pm
Christmas Eve, Friday 12/24; 3, 5 and 10pm

Upcoming EventsNovember 24, Thanksgiving Eve Service 7pm, info above
November 25, Thanksgiving Day
December 12, Choir Concert, 6:30pm
December 24, Christmas Eve Services 3pm, 5pm and 10pm
December 25, Christmas Day
January 1, New Year’s Day

Worship Update 11/12

2010-11-12T10:11:00.000-08:00

This week we wanted to share a few highlights of ways you can
celebrate the holidays with friends, family & your church family!

Hope In Someone GreaterGet ready for an evening of inspiration, worship, and reflection on the hope we have in Jesus. Jeff Johnson is an amazing musician and worship leader who has ministered all over the world. His celtic style and beautiful arrangements make this a wonderful multi-generational opportunity on Thanksgiving Eve. Jay McKenney will speak on hope, and with Jeff, will provide a family time of thanksgiving to start the season together.

Jeff Johnson is joined by Brian Dunning. Their songs have been featured on many best selling contemporary instrumental compilations including those released by Windham Hill (Celtic Christmas, Winter Solstice) and Hearts of Space (Celtic Twilight). Their music is often connected with the novels of Stephen R. Lawhead and they have had music featured in films such as Martin Scorcese’s Gangs of New York. To read more about and hear samples of their music click here.

Jeff and Brian are excited to be bring along Oregon violinist Wendy Goodwin. Wendy has distinguished herself as a versatile and creative presence in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Goodwin is a popular session player and guest performer with artists ranging from pianist, Michael Allen Harrison to singer-songwriter, Michelle Tumes. She lives in downtown Portland with her husband, Andy, and daughter, Vienna. For more information: www.effesenden.com

You won’t want to miss this inspirational night of hope, worship and reflection, so please join us!

Food & Toy 2010 will take place the week of December 14, culminating with Delivery Day on Saturday, December 18. Throughout the week, cookies will be baked, toys will be wrapped, and food will be packed. Please check here for more information about Food & Toy or to volunteer.

Reclaim the story of Christmas through Assist-A-Family. The Christmas trees are in the Lobby with names of families that you can adopt for this Christmas. Full instructions are found in the mailer you received at home recently. If you didn’t get a mailer or need another, stop by the Book and CD desk for the flier that describes this year’s opportunities.

A Time For CelebrationSunday, Dec 12, 6:30 pm, Sanctuary
Come join us for this year’s Sunset Choir and Orchestra Christmas Concert. This interactive service will feature music from many different eras, representing how Christians have celebrated the birth of Christ for over 1500 years! Invite your friends and family, as this is a concert you won’t want to miss! The concert is free. A free-will offering will be taken.

Opportunities to Serve
Holiday Ushers - Thanksgiving and Christmas are fast approaching. We have three special events where we’ll need ushers. The events and dates are below. If you are available to usher at any of these services, please email alantmitchell@comcast.net

Thanksgiving Eve, Wed 11/24; 7pm
Christmas Choir Concert, Sunday 12/12; 6:30pm
Christmas Eve, Friday 12/24; 3, 5 and 10pm

Upcoming EventsNovember 24, Thanksgiving Eve Service 7pm, info above
November 25, Thanksgiving Day
December 12, Choir Concert, 6:30pm
December 24, Christmas Eve Services 3pm, 5pm and 10pm
December 25, Christmas Day
January 1, New Year’s Day

Worship Update 11/5

2010-11-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

From Jay

We are not alone
A friend lent me a book that I started reading today about preventing and overcoming church conflict. Dozens of examples and stories from churches have been crafted into one story, to show common ways a church family enters into serious conflict.

What we are going through at Sunset is a new experience for me. For some of you it is new as well. Others of you have seen this before in former churches you attended, some of you more than once. What struck me immediately as I began reading this book was how similar the situations and examples mirrored Sunset’s, as if the writer had somehow been spying on us before he wrote his book.

The explanation for this is that human nature is human nature, and it is played out similarly in churches all the time. Different names, different timings, different specifics, but the players are all human like you and me. We are not alone.

I have learned and am learning a lot about myself through what we are experiencing together right now. One huge one is that I am learning to be less judgmental towards people’s reactions. There are literally thousands of complexities in someone’s life, from their childhood, parents, friends, experiences, beliefs, circumstances, education, and even down to how they slept the night before that go into how they respond to a current crisis. I have to let people be people. I can only control my response, not someone else’s, not yours.

I think where you and I can come together on the other side of an initial wave of response, is looking out for each other, and to extend grace to one another, and love.

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 10:24
No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

We are not alone. We have God, and we have each other.

Opportunities To Serve

5:30p Volunteers neededIf you are a regular attender of the 5:30 gathering we would love to have you come and serve once a month. We are looking for people to help with in the following roles. Ushers and PowerPoint operators. For more information or to sign up contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org

Serve Once A Month – With a Great TeamWe are in need of ushers for the 11am service. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion HelpWe are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services. Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
November 6, Marriage Simulcast – Love & War
November 7, Daylight Savings Ends
November 24, Thanksgiving Eve Service 7pm, A Celtic Thanksgiving
November 25, Thanksgiving Day
December 12, Choir Concert, 6:30pm
December 24, Christmas Eve Services 3pm, 5pm and 10pm
December 25, Christmas Day
January 1, New Year’s Day

Worship Update 10/29

2010-10-29T16:04:00.000-07:00

From the archives of Jay McKenney

Jump
I have very fond memories of rock jumping in my teenage years. My favorite spot was in Sandy on the Bull Run River. My friend Brian Remsburg had a Christmas tree farm near there, and he showed us this awesome spot on the river near the dam.

We had to hike about a mile down the river, passing 2 or 3 other medium sized jumps until we got to the big daddy of them all. We called it “the cliff”. Climbing to the top was a challenge. It basically felt like rock climbing it was such a steep ascent. On the top where we would jump was a tree growing out from the side of the cliff that provided about a 1 foot platform to stand on. I remember standing a LONG time there the first few jumps, trying to gain the courage needed to let go of the tree and leap out into nothing. The trick to the jump, was that you couldn't just sort of jump. The cliff wasn't straight down, it came out a few feet in the middle, so you had to jump out enough to clear that hump in the middle. And of course, if you were a guy, like any good jump you had to remember to keep your legs close together when you hit the water. 

Luke 14:28-30
“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’”

Jesus is challenging His disciples to pick up their cross and follow Him. In that time people who were carrying their crosses were on their way to be crucified. So a challenge like that was not a half hearted, sort of maybe, if you feel like it proposal. This was all in… this was be ready to die for your devotion to Jesus. This invitation was to a full on jump.

I think the danger for someone like me, who has known Christ their whole life, is that when I was young I didn't even know what it meant to count the cost. I just knew I loved Jesus and that He loved me.

Sometimes today though I feel like if you saw me, you’d see that I have jumped off the cliff, but I didn't jump quite far enough and I am clinging to the base of that tree, legs dangling, scared out of my mind. What I long for is to jump all the way off, with reckless abandon. At times I am confused when that longing doesn't transfer into action; or I’m frustrated with myself when it feels like I am still just content to remain up on top by the tree instead of living the adventure of a surrendered life.

“Jesus, while I still can jump, teach me to jump all the way for You.”

Opportunities to Serve

5:30p Volunteers neededIf you are a regular attender of the 5:30 gathering we would love to have you come and serve once a month. We are looking for people to help with in the following roles. Ushers and PowerPoint operators. For more information or to sign up contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org

Serve Once A Month – With a Great TeamWe are in need of ushers for the 11am service. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion HelpWe are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming EventsNovember 6, Marriage Simulcast – Love & War
November 7, Daylight Savings Ends
November 4, Be a Peacemaker Class
November 24, Thanksgiving Eve Service 7pm, A Celtic Thanksgiving
November 25, Thanksgiving Day
December 12, Choir Concert, 6:30pm
December 24, Christmas Eve Services 3pm, 5pm and 10pm
December 25, Christmas Day
January 1, New Year’s Day

Worship Update 10/22

2010-10-22T14:31:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Unlovable
I think one of greatest fears in my life is my own flesh. The capacity of my brain and heart for wickedness astounds me, even after, or maybe especially after, 36 years. While I am very aware of the power of Christ in my life and the things He has changed and is changing, I am painfully aware of the areas where I still blow it and struggle.

If we hooked a computer to your brain and for a week saw every thought, every hidden emotion, every suppressed response, every temptation battled, every fear, insecurity and buried issue what do you think people would think of you? I know what people would think of me.

The catch is that I often put the same response others would have towards me on God. Deep down my heart, at times, betrays what my head knows… it says things like, “Knowing what He knows, God couldn’t love me.” “God is disappointed with me.”

And then, I find myself beginning to respond to others in that unlovable way. Responding defensively, being short, and showing a lack of love.

It is at times like those that I have to stop the easily said Christian sounding lines about God’s love, and actually dwell His love… meditate on it… sit with it. Knowing what He knows, God loves me. Knowing what He knows about you, and He knows IT ALL, He loves you. Deeply, completely, loves you.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

He did this for you before you were even born, before you could decide if you were unlovable or not. And He would do it again today.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. (John 15:9)

When we grasp this, even a little, when we operate as loved people, it changes the way we respond and reach out to others. Sunset can be a place where we, as a body, increasingly realize at a heart level how much we are loved… and then love each other and this community in response to that. Remain in His love.

Opportunities To Serve

5:30p Volunteers neededIf you are a regular attender of the 5:30 gathering we would love to have you come and serve once a month. We are looking for people to help with in the following roles. Ushers and PowerPoint operators. For more information or to sign up contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org

Serve Once A Month – With a Great TeamWe are in need of ushers for the 11am service. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion HelpWe are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services. Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
October 24, Special Meeting with EPC, 7:15p in the Sanctuary
October 29, Family Unity Night (FUN)
November 6, Marriage Simulcast – Love & War
November 7, Daylight Savings Ends
November 4, Be a Peacemaker Class

Worship Update 10/15

2010-10-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Be present
Yesterday I was not the servant leader I desire to be. Not even close. I wanted to be supportive, loving, and encouraging to the people I serve with. Truth be told I was quiet, sluggish and paralyzed. It was the lowest morale day I have felt in my own spirit in six years at Sunset. The best that I can say for yesterday is I was present.

When I was young, I loved to run. One of my greatest memories of running was that my dad was present at the majority, if not all, of my races. I really don’t know how he did it. Full time construction worker, involved in his church, father of four, but somehow he was there.

When I dislocated my knee, and my running dreams stopped short, again, my dad was there. He was holding my head as I screamed in pain on the basketball court with my knee not where it should be. He was there at the hospital. Through good times and bad, my father was present, because we are family. As much as it meant to me that my dad was there when I could run, it meant more to me that he was there when I was broken and in pain.

Some of you are torn up with what is going on at Sunset. Some of you have strong feelings one way or the other about it. Some of you are so sick over it that your reflex is to just stay away for a while until things settle down. I want to encourage you, if this is your church family, to be present. It’s part of what it means to be a church family. We face things together… when life is good and there is a sense of oneness, and when life is confusing, it changes by the hour, and people are in pain. Be present.

Opportunities to Serve

5:30p Volunteers neededIf you are a regular attender of the 5:30 gathering we would love to have you come and serve once a month. We are looking for people to help with in the following roles. Ushers and powerpoint operators. For more information or to sign up contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org

Serve Once A Month – With a Great TeamWe are in need of ushers for the 11am service. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion HelpWe are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming EventsOctober 24, Special Meeting with EPC, 7:15p
October 29, Family Unity Night (FUN)
November 6, Marriage Simulcast – Love & War
November 7, Daylight Savings Ends
November 4, Be a Peacemaker Class

Worship update 10/8

2010-10-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

From Jay

That they may all be one

Last Sunday I sat in a church informational meeting and listened to people take sides on an issue. Honestly there was a moment when my head and heart just sunk as I listened to how people talked to one another. Don’t get me wrong, my heart sinks to think about ways that I have spoken to other human beings, my family included. But it hurt… really bad… to hear it at church in our sanctuary. It felt like what the military calls “friendly fire”.

John 17:20-24
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

Such perfect unity… that phrase jumps out. Does that mean we agree on every issue we face? No. But I do believe it means there are some things, no matter what we face, that unite us as brothers and sisters in Christ. There is a foundation in Him, in who He is, in what we believe to be true about Him together, that is stronger than our differences, stronger than our emotions, stronger than our humanity. And it is to those foundational beliefs, and that relationship with an unchanging God, that we should cling to together when everything else seems up for grabs.

Sunset can be that kind of place. We can be the kind of body that experiences that perfect unity. And it is because He lives in you and me. That they may all be one.

Opportunities to Serve

5:30p Volunteers needed
If you are a regular attender of the 5:30 gathering we would love to have you come and serve once a month. We are looking for people to help with in the following roles. Ushers and powerpoint operators. For more information or to sign up contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for the 11am service. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
October 17, Informational meeting 6:45pm Sanctuary
October 24, Special Annual Meeting
October 29, Family Unity Night (FUN)
November 6, Marriage Simulcast – Love & War
November 7, Daylight Savings Ends
November 4, Be a Peacemaker Class

Worship Update 9/10

2010-09-10T10:04:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Doom and gloom vs life and hope

It gets old doesn’t it? Doom and gloom. We hear enough of it in the news and experience enough of it in our own lives. At church we desire to be real and so to not address pain and suffering would be weird. But, where is the hope? How can we have the right balance between the reality of doom and gloom in our world and lives, and the hope and life and love and joy of Jesus Christ, who is alive and well, and lives in us?

One of the things our church does pretty regularly is a time of prayer and healing. People come to the front and pour out their requests in prayer to God usually with someone else praying with them. I have come to cherish these moments and have been humbled more times than I can count listening to people’s prayers and situations.
If Jesus was attending our church during one of these, would He come up and pray? What would He pray about? Even though the Bible reveals some of Jesus’s prayers, I usually don’t think about Him in those terms, that He prayed to God, that He had desires and requests. I tend to just think about my requests of Him.
What if we could be the answer to Jesus’s prayers and desires for someone else? What if the light, and the hope, and the love that balances the doom and gloom is supposed to come from us? Here is a little of one of Jesus’s prayers to His father God from John 17.

15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 18 Just as you sent me into the world; I am sending them into the world. I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. (That is you and I.) I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 25 O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do: and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.

Choir Announcement from Eric Stearns
Choir has moved to Tuesdays! In an effort to move our people along in the discipleship process, we are moving our rehearsal nights to Tuesday evenings at 7pm, starting immediately. The reason we're making the switch is so that we can allow current and future members of the choir to participate in our Wednesday night offerings here at Sunset. Honestly, I felt like since the church was pushing our new Wed study, the choir had a responsibility to make sure we supported it as much as we could. This meant not letting our rehearsals get in the way of people learning God's Word. Now all choir members can join in with the body they serve in dissecting Nehemiah. Praise God with us!

Upcoming Events
September 22, Alpha starts
September 26, Pathways & Connections class 1 of 2
October 3, Pathways & Connections class 2 of 2
October 24, Annual Meetings & Vision Casting
October 29, Family Unity Night (FUN)
November 6, Marriage Simulcast – Love & War

8/27 Worship Update

2010-08-27T16:28:00.000-07:00

From Jay

The Year of the “Why”

People are weird. Have you ever noticed that? They do weird things and respond in weird ways and we think to ourselves, “Weird”. It is always a humbling experience for me when I label someone’s actions as weird and then find out the “why” behind their behavior. A deep pain, a traumatic experience, a void of love, a lifelong disability… our perception of the “what” always changes when we know the “why”.

As Worship & Creative Arts approaches a new season of ministry at Sunset, I am declaring this the “Year of the Why”. We are pretty familiar with “what” we do at church in the context of Sunday morning worship. Here are just a few pretty standards elements: singing, teaching, offering, baptism, communion, dedications, prayer and healing, etc. For a newcomer, any of these could be labeled “weird”. For the longtime attender, any of these could become devoid of meaning losing the “why” and becoming just about the “what”.

And so, I am on a quest to get at the “why” this year… to add meaning, value, and purpose in what we do together at church. And I want to go on that journey with you. I would love to hear your thoughts as we process what this could look like for our church this year. What things do you find meaningful at church and why? What things do you think have become stale and need some “why” injected back into them? What things do we do that you have no clue why and would like to know why? Email me at jaymckenney@sunsetpres.org

Jay

Choir & Orchestra Fall Start

Choir and Orchestra have started! Come join us as we make music for the Lord! No experience is needed to be a part of choir, just a willingness to learn, and a joyful spirit. Be a part of leading this church body to the throne of Jesus through worship. Choir meets on Tuesday (NEW, day change to Tuesday) at 7pm, downstairs in the choir room. For information about orchestra rehearsals, Wednesday at 7pm, please contact Eric at ericstearns@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.3083 x3052.

Upcoming Events
September 12, Church Picnic, Overflow starts
September 14, GIFT starts
September 15, Reveal Bible Study starts
September 16, MOM’s starts
September 22, Alpha starts
September 26, Pathways & Connections class 1 of 2
October 3, Pathways & Connections class 2 of 2
October 24, Annual Meetings & Vision Casting
October 29, Family Unity Night (FUN)
November 6, Marriage Simulcast – Love & War

Worship Update 8/13

2010-08-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

From Jay

CREATOR

Right now Eric and I are writing a song for the upcoming fall series in Nehemiah. It is called Build Us Up. I love the creative process of song writing. Some days it flows and comes naturally, other days the creative “spark” is just not there. Yesterday it was flowing. Today the faucet rusted shut. 

What is the last thing you created from nothing? Songwriters use the brain God gave them, experiences God provided, melodies God composed. Builders use materials from God’s creation, and muscles God designed. Anything that man creates, he creates as a created being. But God… God can speak a star into existence. God can create life… from scratch. God is life.

Is God’s creativity and power and resource effected by our economy? Is anything you face affecting His abilities or hampering His power? The second I begin to think on this is the second I quit feeling sorry for myself and just revel in the power of the God that loves me.

Because God is… there is hope. Because God lives there is beauty. Because God is God you have a reason to be in awe and grateful today. Don’t forget to marvel in His Creation.

Psalm 8:3-4
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

Seasons of Service Opportunities for August 2010

Every Sunday in August we will be collecting School Supplies
This year we are joining with the efforts of Love In The Name of Christ (Love INC.) and will be asking you to provide supplies that will be given to several elementary & middle schools in our area, including William Walker & McKinley. Drop them in the supply boxes around the church. Supply lists are available on the supply boxes, our web site--www.sunsetpres.org/go/school_support, the lobby Welcome Kiosk, or in our office.

Sunday, August 29
Responding To A Community In Crisis: A Day of Support at Skyline Elementary School

In the wake of the disappearance of Kyron Horman, we want to encourage the staff and teachers, as well as the families of Skyline Elementary School as they look to begin the school year, by completing the work begun on 5-2-10. We need 150 people to serve. Bill and Maggie Schweinfurth, who led the Skyline team on 5-2-10 will be the project leaders. Here are the things that we will be doing that day:

Finish painting exterior metal handrails
Finish painting trim in two classrooms
Paint one wall in the library
Clean out and reorganize “volunteer” room in basement of school
Landscaping around the school (details not yet known)

For those who are physically unable to work we invite you to walk the school halls and grounds praying for the staff, faculty and students and families of Skyline

How to Register: If you want to help on that day signup by going to www.sunsetpres.org/go/skyline and follow the directions. You and your family can serve following the 9 am service or the 11 am service. Plan to serve for 3-4 hours. Eat before you go, or bring a lunch and your own water.

Opportunities To Serve

Baby Grand Piano
Needed, baby grand piano donation. We’re constantly working to meet the needs of those who come to our services. With some upcoming changes to other weekly services at Sunset, we need a baby grand piano (which is easier to lead worship from than an upright) for the Student Center. If you are able to help with this need, please contact Janet Fraser at janetfraser@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x341.

5:30p Volunteers needed
If you are a regular attender of the 5:30 gathering we would love to have you come and serve once a month. We are looking for people to help with in the following roles. Ushers, stage managers and powerpoint operators. For more information or to sign up contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for the 11am service. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
August 17-20, Kids Camp, click here for details
Remember to pray for the volunteers & kids at camp this week!
August 29, Serving at Skyline Elementary school, see above info
September 6, Labor Day
September 8, Wildfire starts
September 12, Church Picnic, Overflow starts
September 14, GIFT starts
September 15, Reveal Bible Study starts
September 16, MOM’s starts
September 22, Alpha starts
September 26, Pathways & Connections class 1 of 2
October 3, Pathways & Connections class 2 of 2
October 24, Annual Meetings & Vision Casting
October 29, Family Unity Night (FUN)
November 6, Marriage Simulcast – Love & War

Worship Update 8/6

2010-08-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

From Jay

The Routine of Church

The last thing you want from me is fitness advice. Anyone who knows me knows that I live in the extremes. Up, down, hot, cold, on, off. I once tried to say the word moderation out loud and I choked. I have people tell me about balance all the time when it comes to eating and exercise and, while intellectually I agree, I have never been able to apply that principle practically.

One thing I do know though is this, routine leads to plateau. Meaning if you stick with one type of exercise or movement over a long period of time, eventually your strength gain and benefit from that exercise lessens significantly. Eventually you are, in a sense, wasting your time doing something that is having very little effect on you.

Church on Sunday can be like that. Some of the things we do can be very routine. Here are a few routine things we do at Sunset: communion, prayer and healing, welcome and greet, baptisms, singing, offering, announcements, a message. These elements can have great significance, meaning and value. In communion we remember Christ’s sacrifice for us. When we welcome each other we remember that we are a community and that we are, in a real sense, family and not isolated. When we baptize we are celebrating together a life committed to God. When we sing together we are in a corporate conversation with our Creator that is unique and special. When we share what is going on in the life of our body through announcements we can connect people to areas of support and opportunity they might otherwise miss.

These elements can also reach a point where, for some, they reach a plateau of effectiveness because they have been done it exactly the same way for so long. People often ask me, “Why do you have to mess up that hymn by changing it? It’s just fine the way we’ve always done it.” The point of any type of change to anything we do in church is to highlight the deep meaning and significance and value of what we are doing… and to not let it grow so routine that we miss it and just go through the motions.

I believe with all my heart that what we should seek with all our hearts is not that we would do the same things or the same songs in the same way; rather, that we would seek to worship the same God who never changes, in ways that continue to stretch us, grow us, make us think, and that don’t become too routine.

Exciting Announcement!

From Jay…

Well…the search is over!! And what a search it was. I am pleased to announce that Sunset has hired a new choir director/arranger!!!! The search team, (Tom Davis, Bob Thomas, Heather Krieves, Travis, and myself) had a really impressive amount of candidates to interview. What separated the final pick, Eric Stearns, from the pack was his leadership, passion, and heart for the ministry as well as the family that is Sunset’s choir.

Eric is a music major at Western Oregon University. He has experience and extensive training in choral conducting, (currently on track for his masters level in conducting). He is currently a beloved worship leader at Warren Community Fellowship, and feels like God is calling him to Sunset. I don’t know if I have ever heard a better recommendation from a senior pastor for a music minister than I got from his senior pastor John Wecks, long time seminary prof from Western Seminary.

In addition to choral conducting, Eric is skilled and experienced in theatre, songwriting, singing, charting and arranging, and can play some serious keyboards.

Eric began working with us this week and I am so excited to have him join our community and for you to meet him. Please help me welcome Eric into our family. I am excited and grateful for this answer to our prayers!

Jay

From Eric…

Greetings!

First let me say how thrilled and excited I am about greeting you as the newest member of the Sunset Worship & Creative Arts team! I guess I should introduce myself, give you a little history, and then tell you about the great things we are going to accomplish together for the Lord.

My name is Eric Stearns, and I have been married for the last 8 years to Jennifer. We have two beautiful daughters; Grace, 6, and Rebekah, 5. Gracie is going into 2nd grade, and Bex is starting kindergarten next month. My wife is a middle school special education teacher in Tigard, and for the last 2½ years, I’ve worked as the worship guy at a church in Scappoose/St. Helens. We’ve lived in Oregon together for the last 6 years, having moved here from New York.

I’ve worked in worship ministry since 2002, the first couple of years balancing a theater career while learning how to be a worship arts pastor. Having worked at this full time for the last 8 years, I’m excited about this new opportunity at Sunset. I’ll be finishing up my Bachelor of Music soon, and continuing on to my Master’s of Contemporary Music at WOU. Finding this position at Sunset is a God-authored providence, as I’ll be able to do both at the same time!

As I start to look over some of where the choir has been, I get chills thinking about where we will be going soon! Obviously, Christmas and Easter are big times for us, performance-wise, but we have real opportunities to minister year-round, as well. Funny thing about choir music is that people seem to accept a choir singing about Jesus more freely than if a person stands up and speaks about Him publicly. I plan to take us outside the walls of this building in order to minister to the community around us in a non-threatening way. Over the next few years we will visit nursing homes, prisons, and perform at funerals for people who need some love. This Christmas, we’ll be singing at the Oregon Zoo, during their Zoolights celebration.

Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). As a group, people will know that we are followers of Jesus by the way we love each other and by the way we love our community. Sunset Choir is going to be a place where we will share Christ’s love freely, grow as disciples and musicians, and have quite a bit of fun along the way!

I can’t wait to meet you all at our first rehearsal! I won’t have a regular office schedule until September, as I’m finishing up my duties at Warren Community Fellowship over the month of August. Please feel free to contact me via email or phone if you have questions, though. Until then, remember to be the Church!

Blessings in His name!
E.C. Stearns

Seasons of Service Opportunities in August

Every Sunday in August we will be collecting School Supplies
This year we are joining with the efforts of Love In The Name of Christ (Love INC.) and will be asking you to provide supplies that will be given to several elementary & middle schools in our area, including William Walker & McKinley. Drop them in the supply boxes around the church. Supply lists are available on the supply boxes, our web site--www.sunsetpres.org/go/school_support, the lobby Welcome Kiosk, or in our office.

Sunday, August 29
Responding To A Community In Crisis: A Day of Support at Skyline Elementary School

In the wake of the disappearance of Kyron Horman, we want to encourage the staff and teachers, as well as the families of Skyline Elementary School as they look to begin the school year, by completing the work begun on 5-2-10. We need 150 people to serve. Bill and Maggie Schweinfurth, who led the Skyline team on 5-2-10 will be the project leaders. Here are the things that we will be doing that day:

Finish painting exterior metal handrails
Finish painting trim in two classrooms
Paint one wall in the library
Clean out and reorganize “volunteer” room in basement of school
Landscaping around the school (details not yet known)

For those who are physically unable to work we invite you to walk the school halls and grounds praying for the staff, faculty and students and families of Skyline

How to Register: If you want to help on that day signup by going to www.sunsetpres.org/go/skyline and follow the directions. You and your family can serve following the 9 am service or the 11 am service. Plan to serve for 3-4 hours. Eat before you go, or bring a lunch and your own water.

Opportunities To Serve

Baby Grand Piano
Needed, baby grand piano donation. We’re constantly working to meet the needs of those who come to our services. With some upcoming changes to other weekly services at Sunset, we need a baby grand piano (which is easier to lead worship from than an upright) for the Student Center. If you are able to help with this need, please contact Janet Fraser at janetfraser@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x341.

5:30p Volunteers needed
If you are a regular attender of the 5:30 gathering we would love to have you come and serve once a month. We are looking for people to help with in the following roles. Ushers, stage managers and powerpoint operators. For more information or to sign up contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for the 11am service. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
August 17-20, Kids Camp, click here for details

August 29, Serving at Skyline Elementary school, see above info

Worship News 7/30

2010-07-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

This is an excerpt from the new Theatre Arts Newsletter written by Dania Behrens. If you are interested in being added to the distribution list, please email your request to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org.

Why do theatre in church?
When I tell people why I love storytelling it ALWAYS involves my dad. Every night when I was young, after my mom had already tucked me in I would say, "Daddy... tell me a story about when you were a little boy."

And he would (of course). It seemed that there were always new stories. Some adventures, some funny, some painful, some scary but all about his life. All great.

He is a storyteller, he can't help it. He is how I fell in love with stories. For me they were stories of a different world. A world with handmade tortillas, and La Llorona (one of the many Mexican boogie men characters), there was a tree with a rope swing that was just a little too close to the barbed wire fence. Where my dad wore tailored polyester pants. This world was magic as the world of any story is. He opened up my passion for cultures and people and of course, their stories.

Yesterday morning I sat down to read my Bible and I thought, "Daddy, tell me a story." It struck me; I didn't do it on purpose or to be funny. It came so naturally to look up and ask this. He tells me stories from years past. Some scary, some stern, some funny, always teaching. Stories teach, Jesus knew that, he often taught in parables.

Tell your stories, the good and the bad. Who knows who they will inspire, or teach, or just make laugh? It is all valuable. Listen to the stories God wants to tell you, in His word and in the words and lives of others.

Seasons of Service Opportunities for August 2010

Every Sunday in August we will be collecting School Supplies
This year we are joining with the efforts of Love In The Name of Christ (Love INC.) and will be asking you to provide supplies that will be given to several elementary & middle schools in our area, including William Walker & McKinley. Drop them in the supply boxes around the church. Supply lists are available on the supply boxes, our web site--www.sunsetpres.org/go/school_support, the lobby Welcome Kiosk, or in our office.

Sunday, August 29
Responding To A Community In Crisis: A Day of Support at Skyline Elementary School

In the wake of the disappearance of Kyron Horman, we want to encourage the staff and teachers, as well as the families of Skyline Elementary School as they look to begin the school year, by completing the work begun on 5-2-10. We need 150 people to serve. Bill and Maggie Schweinfurth, who led the Skyline team on 5-2-10 will be the project leaders. Here are the things that we will be doing that day:

Finish painting exterior metal handrails
Finish painting trim in two classrooms
Paint one wall in the library
Clean out and reorganize “volunteer” room in basement of school
Landscaping around the school (details not yet known)

For those who are physically unable to work we invite you to walk the school halls and grounds praying for the staff, faculty and students and families of Skyline

How to Register: If you want to help on that day signup by going to www.sunsetpres.org/go/skyline and follow the directions. You and your family can serve following the 9 am service or the 11 am service. Plan to serve for 3-4 hours. Eat before you go, or bring a lunch and your own water.

Opportunities To Serve

Baby Grand Piano
Needed, baby grand piano donation. We’re constantly working to meet the needs of those who come to our services. With some upcoming changes to other weekly services at Sunset, we need a baby grand piano (which is easier to lead worship from than an upright) for the Student Center. If you are able to help with this need, please contact Janet Fraser at janetfraser@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x341.

5:30p Volunteers needed
If you are a regular attender of the 5:30 gathering we would love to have you come and serve once a month. We are looking for people to help with in the following roles. Ushers, stage managers and powerpoint operators. For more information or to sign up contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for the 11am service. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events

August 5-6, Leadership Summit, East Hill Church in Gresham
This two day event is one of the largest gatherings of Christian leaders around the world. It’s an annual injection of vision, skill development and inspiration for the sake of the local church.
For more info or to register: willowcreek.com/summit. Mention Sunset and get WCA discounted rates. Got questions? Email rickanderson@sunsetpres.org

August 17-20, Kids Camp, click here for details

August 29, Serving at Skyline Elementary school, see above info

Worship News7/16

2010-07-16T12:48:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Wounds

Peel back the outside layer to get a good look at the average heart, and you will see the scars and open sores of the wounds we all carry. Different things wound us in different ways. So often the wounds are words. Words carry so much in them: the ability to bless, to inspire, to love. Words also have the ability to deflate, to strike, to dishearten. Proverbs says wounds from a friend can be trusted more than kisses from an enemy. But too often it’s not our friends with good intentions, its people with no relationship, and no care for you, that shoot out the arrows that can pierce deeply and do more damage than they may even have intended.

I have told many of my friends that I can’t wait to get old so that I can go and find young people, who look different than me, who like different things than me, who lead differently than me, who worship differently than me, and then use my words to bless their socks off. I can’t wait to just look for Jesus in them, to look at their heart and the things that matter, and exhort them on and bless them. If I am being totally honest, I crave this… especially in the few years I have left of being somewhat passable as “young” (approaching 40 now), but truly don’t think it will happen. I crave more of the generation before me seeing my heart and using their words to bless and exhort me with their wisdom, rather than using words which dishearten and discourage. I pray that my heart remains soft enough and that I remember my desire to bless long enough to actually do it when I look in the mirror and see white hair and wrinkles. (I am going to bleach my hair and layout more to get there faster. :) But seriously, what will allow that to actually happen is the grace of my Savior.

Does it sound like I have been wounded recently?  Truthfully nothing more than normal, or more than you have probably received in one way or another recently yourself. Thankfully I serve at a place where the encouragement and life comes much more often than the wounds, and for that I am thankful!

How many times have I wounded Him? It was my sin, my rebellion that drove Him to take the ultimate wound for me. He did not win me over by showing me how much I hurt him or how much I wounded him. He won me over by meeting my wounds with His grace and forgiveness.

Your words, my words, carry with them a blessing or a curse. They hold in them so much power for harm or for good. Don’t underestimate the gift of communication you have been given. Use it to bring hope, life and love to others. Draw on Christ in you and then spill Him out to those in your sphere of influence.

Opportunities To Serve

Baby Grand Piano
Needed, baby grand piano donation. We’re constantly working to meet the needs of those who come to our services. With some upcoming changes to other weekly services at Sunset, we need a baby grand piano (which is easier to lead worship from than an upright) for the Student Center. If you are able to help with this need, please contact Janet Fraser at janetfraser@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x341.

5:30pm Volunteers needed
If you are a regular attender of the 5:30 gathering we would love to have you come and serve once a month. We are looking for people to help with in the following roles. Ushers, stage managers and powerpoint operators. For more information or to sign up contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for the 11am service. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events

August 2-7, Highschool MOVE Camp, click here for details

August 5-6, Leadership Summit, East Hill Church in Gresham
This two day event is one of the largest gatherings of Christian leaders around the world. It’s an annual injection of vision, skill development and inspiration for the sake of the local church.
For more info or to register: willowcreek.com/summit. Mention Sunset and get WCA discounted rates. Got questions? Email rickanderson@sunsetpres.org

August 17-20, Kids Camp, click here for details

Worship News 7/9

2010-07-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Replaceable

I’m at the point in my ministry life where I am acutely aware of how replaceable I am. Somebody else can do all my “tasks” here at church. I can think of many people who can lead us from song to song, can help pick out songs that we sing, can write devotionals, can set direction, etc. Sunset doesn’t really need anything I have to offer musically, or even how I care for the hurting or serve in the community, etc. In the “technical” aspects of my job, I am completely and utterly replaceable.

What is irreplaceable about me is the same thing that is irreplaceable about you… and that has everything to do with relationship. And love. All my tasks are meaningless apart from a relationship with Christ. First and foremost, He wants me to follow Him, to love Him. When I am following Him, then all my tasks take on purpose and meaning that only a relationship with Him can give.

You have some irreplaceable roles in your life. You are someone’s son or daughter. You may be someone’s father or mother, or someone’s husband or wife. And you are definitely a creation of God. These roles are irreplaceable. Never let your functional roles take priority over your relational roles.
I’m at the point in my life where I’m acutely aware that the greatest thing I can do for anybody period, at work, at home, anywhere, is to follow Christ.

“…love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself." (Luke 10:27, MSG)

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

To offset some of the costs of our Christmas Food & Toy program, we are again conducting a Food and gift card drive every Sunday in July.

We specifically need: 1 or 2# jars applesauce, 26 oz jars spaghetti sauce, canned fruit, canned cranberries and peanut butter. We are also requesting $15-$20 gift cards for teens; stores like Target, Fred Meyer, Starbucks, or movie theaters are desired.

We also need volunteers, can you help one shift? Each Sunday in July: 8:40-9:15 or 10:40-11:15.
Email Kirsten Williams at kp_Williams@verizon.net if you can help.

Opportunities To Serve

Baby Grand Piano
Needed, baby grand piano donation. We’re constantly working to meet the needs of those who come to our services. With some upcoming changes to other weekly services at Sunset, we need a baby grand piano (which is easier to lead worship from than an upright) for the Student Center. If you are able to help with this need, please contact Janet Fraser at janetfraser@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x341.

5:30p Volunteers needed
If you are a regular attender of the 5:30 gathering we would love to have you come and serve once a month. We are looking for people to help with in the following roles. Ushers, stage managers and powerpoint operators. For more information or to sign up contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for the 11am service. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
July 7-15, Middle School Camp, click here for details
August 2-7, Highschool MOVE Camp, click here for details
August 5-6, Leadership Summit, East Hill Church in Gresham
This two day event is one of the largest gatherings of Christian leaders around the world. It’s an annual injection of vision, skill development and inspiration for the sake of the local church.
For more info or to register: willowcreek.com/summit. Mention Sunset and get WCA discounted rates. Got questions? Email rickanderson@sunsetpres.org
August 17-20, Kids Camp, click here for details

Worship News 7/2

2010-07-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

From Jay

A Church With Life

I can’t tell you what just writing out that phrase does in my heart. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to be a part of when it comes to a community in the context of a local church. Literally, I just teared up thinking about it. I guess you could call it my “holy discontent”. I have no desire, and probably you don’t either, to be a part of something missing that spark of life.

There are so many ingredients in a church and a community that is alive. There is love, there is grace, there is truth, there is endurance, there is patience, there is selflessness, and there is health. But most importantly, there is Jesus.

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

My prayer for Sunset is that, more and more, it will become a place that is full of life… a life that emanates out to each other and to the community in such a powerful way that it could only be the life and light of Jesus.

5:30pm Service Update

We wanted to let you know of a few changes…

We’ve moved to the student center so we encourage you to park on the East side of the building and enter through the Children’s ministry doors. We are upstairs to the left and loving our new space!

Please join us on Sunday, July 4th in the AM services at either 9 or 11.
We have cancelled the evening service since we know most of you will be spending time with friends and family celebrating that night. We’ll be back July 11th at 5:30 and hope to see you then

Volunteers are needed
If you are a regular attender of the 5:30 gathering we would love to have you come and serve once a month. We are looking for people to help with in the following roles. Ushers, stage managers and powerpoint operators. For more information or to sign up contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

To offset some of the costs of our Christmas Food & Toy program, we are again conducting a Food and gift card drive every Sunday in July.

We specifically need: 1 or 2# jars applesauce, 26 oz jars spaghetti sauce, canned fruit, canned cranberries and peanut butter. We are also requesting $15-$20 gift cards for teens; stores like Target, Fred Meyer, Starbucks, or movie theaters are desired.

We also need volunteers, can you help one shift? Each Sunday in July: 8:40-9:15 or 10:40-11:15.
Email Kirsten Williams at kp_Williams@verizon.net if you can help.

Opportunities To Serve

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for the 11am service. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
June 19-July 3, HS Mission Trip
A team of 15 graduating Jrs & Srs and 4 adults are in Helene Honduras
Please remember them in your prayers!
July 7-15, Middle School Camp, click here for details
August 2-7, Highschool MOVE Camp, click here for details
August 17-20, Kids Camp, click here for details

Worship News 6/25

2010-06-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Confession
It’s where the healing begins. Think of it as the starting point to eventually running across a finish line. Its where our relationship with Christ began, in repentance, in admitting our need of forgiveness. And it is our path to healing and freedom.

Sunday we want to spend some time with the congregation on both of those themes, confession and healing. At one point this will be on the screens:

What am I holding onto?
What is holding on to me?
What do I need to confess?
Now, imagine those sins…
One by one…
Inside your clenched fist.
That lie you told…
The lust tugging at your heart…
That secret you’re holding onto…
The shame you can’t get free of…
The guilt you feel over the way you acted…
The way you handled the good gifts you were given…
The anger you’re carrying…
The broken relationship you’ve given up on…
The things you said when your friend left the room…
Your selfishness…
The grudge you’re holding onto with your fist still clenched…
Let us silently ask God for His forgiveness
The God of the universe wants so badly to release us
He wants to forgive us
He wants us to let these things go
As a community let us now act as one
And release our sins to God
Open your hands

Then we will spend some time in worship with a focus on healing and giving people opportunity to talk to God. Please join me in prayer for how God will work this Sunday!

For Those Unemployed and Underemployed
and the ones who walk with them...

Pray for those who are nearing the end of their benefits but have not found employment. Pray for provision for the cost of medical benefits.

Unemployment Support Ministry Summer Schedule:
We will meet on July 6, July 20th, August 3rd and 17th. Please note a recent email said we were meeting on July 29th but that was incorrect. Our next meeting is July 6th. Please feel free to invite anyone who would be interested in attending!

Opportunities To Serve

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
June 19-July 3, HS Mission Trip
A team of 15 graduating Jrs & Srs and 4 adults are in Helene Honduras
Please remember them in your prayers!
June 20, Father’s Day
July 7-15, Middle School Camp, click here for details
August 2-7, Highschool MOVE Camp, click here for details
August 17-20, Kids Camp, click here for details

Worship Update 6/18

2010-06-18T11:42:00.000-07:00

From the archives of Jay McKenney…

Who’s your Joe?

I used to work in construction, and one of my foremen was Joe. Joe and I did not click. I dreaded going to work nearly every day if I knew I was going to be working for him. He had a very skillful way of making me feel stupid. I was a teenager, so maybe I just was. I worked so hard trying to please him, to gain his approval, but never could. It got so frustrating on one occasion, that in the middle of the day I decided I'd had enough and I walked off the job. Since I needed the money and had nowhere else to work, I had to come back the next day. Yeah, that was awkward.

Do you have a “Joe” right now in your life? What are you going to do about it? Walk off the job? Walk off the team? Did Jesus know about Joe when he said this?

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one-as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. … I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
-- John 17:21-23, (NLT) emphasis mine

While I do remember trying to work hard for Joe, I don't remember praying for Joe. I don't remember reaching out to him or caring about him or his life or story. It was all about me, my feelings, and what I deserved. I can't go back, and neither can you; but I'm willing to bet both you and I will have another “Joe” in our life and another chance to explore this whole unity thing.

Help available from Sunset’s Peacemaking Ministry
There are members in our church who are available as “conflict coaches” to help you plan how to respond to a conflict in a biblically faithful way. To learn more, click here. For conflict coaching, please email peacemakers@sunsetpres.org or leave a message at 503.292.9293 x3033.

Connect, Experience, Serve, Go
You may (or may not) have heard about Sunset’s discipleship emphasis in recent months. The bottom line is we are trying to get better church wide at helping people grow in their relationship with Christ, so that no matter what stage along the journey someone is, they can be helped to move forward as a result of being a part of this community.

We have loosely categorized these stages into 4 areas; Connect, Experience, Serve and Go.

Connect: Works with people's first encounters with our church family, and we want Sunset to be welcoming, inviting, warm, Biblical, relational and loving.

Experience: Moving people forward to increased Biblical knowledge, increased responsibility in the Kingdom of God and towards wholeness of mind, body and soul.

Serve: Intentional opportunities geared toward all levels of spiritual development inside and outside the church, releasing and empowering people's gifting and using it as a catalyst for spiritual growth.

Go: Relationship building with unbelievers, spiritual coaches, mentors, developing leaders etc.

Does one of these make your heart beat faster? We are looking to mobilize and equip some people together that have a passion and interest in one of these areas. Can you connect with me asap if you think this might be you? jaymckenney@sunsetpres.org.

Opportunities to Serve

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
June 19-July 3, HS Mission Trip
A team of 15 graduating Jrs & Srs and 4 adults are in Helene Honduras
Please remember them in your prayers!
June 20, Father’s Day
July 7-15, Middle School Camp, click here for details
August 2-7, Highschool MOVE Camp, click here for details
August 17-20, Kids Camp, click here for details

Worship News 6/11

2010-06-11T12:23:00.000-07:00

Why do we put out a devotional every week? Or do devo’s in our practice times on Thursdays? The answer is because we are very interested in your spiritual journey and in your walk with Christ. It’s more important to us that Sunset be an environment where you can be fed rather than the fact that you can play the guitar or you know how to operate Media Shout or however you may be serving at Sunset. That is the heart of why you receive this update each week. So with that said, here is this week’s devotional…

From Jay

What’s driving you?

Have you ever read some verses from the Bible or heard a talk and thought, “Yeh that’s nice, but I wish I lived like that”? Or “I wish that described me”? It happens to me a lot… it happened today when I read these well-known verses from Ephesians 6. Can you read them now, and as you do, examine yourself to see if this describes your typical day. Are the challenges and thoughts expressed in these verses close to your reality and consciousness?

Ephesians 6:10-18 Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Often times the things that are controlling my thoughts are the newest piece of technology, or the workout that I am currently obsessed with, or the movie I can’t wait to see. And then I read something like that and I long to have those type of thoughts… the big picture of life type of thoughts, the struggle of the unseen world and the connection with the Holy Spirit’s guidance and power.

And it’s not that some of the things I mentioned are wrong, but when they become what is driving me in a day, what controls me, then they become distractions that steer me off course.

So what about you, can anyone relate to my struggle? What are some normal things that are in your life that threaten to become out of balance with Christ and His kingdom being the main thing? Can I challenge you to pray about those to God today or this week?

Questions or comments? jaymckenney@sunsetpres.org.

NOTE: the 5:30 gathering has permanently moved up to the student center and Overflow is in the gym.

Connect, Experience, Serve, Go
You may (or may not) have heard about Sunset’s discipleship emphasis in recent months. The bottom line is we are trying to get better church wide at helping people grow in their relationship with Christ, so that no matter what stage along the journey someone is, they can be helped to move forward as a result of being a part of this community.

We have loosely categorized these stages into 4 areas; Connect, Experience, Serve and Go.

Connect: Works with people's first encounters with our church family, and we want Sunset to be welcoming, inviting, warm, Biblical, relational and loving.
Experience: Moving people forward to increased Biblical knowledge, increased responsibility in the Kingdom of God and towards wholeness of mind, body and soul.

Serve: Intentional opportunities geared toward all levels of spiritual development inside and outside the church, releasing and empowering people's gifting and using it as a catalyst for spiritual growth.

Go: Relationship building with unbelievers, spiritual coaches, mentors, developing leaders etc.

Does one of these make your heart beat faster? We are looking to mobilize and equip some people together that have a passion and interest in one of these areas. Can you connect with me asap if you think this might be you? jaymckenney@sunsetpres.org.

Opportunities To Serve

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
June 19-July 3, HS Mission Trip
A team of 15 graduating Jrs & Srs and 4 adults will be heading to Helene Honduras
Please remember them in your prayers!
June 20, Father’s Day
August 2-7, Highschool MOVE camp
August 17-20, Kids Camp

Worship Update 5/28

2010-05-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Destroy It

Today I sat down to spend some time with God and the second I went to begin talking with Him He stopped me and reminded me of something in my life I had not taken care of that was in the way of my connection with Him. I quickly thought “Well, I agree, but I will take care of that later.” To which His Spirit said to mine, “No, now.”

One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is the story of King Josiah in 2 Chronicles. This kid was EIGHT years old when he became king of Judah.

You read that when he was still young he began to seek God, and then in the twelfth year of his reign, he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem. He did this by systematically destroying all the idols that existed throughout his kingdom. He looked around at all that was under his responsibility, and through the Spirit guiding his conscience, he sought out everything that would get in the way of his and his people’s connection with God, and he destroyed it. Imagine the pushback, imagine the anger, imagine the businesses he destroyed, and imagine the spiritual warfare he encountered with such a bold move. But at 20 years old, he did just that.

Josiah’s faith was played out in action. And his life, as a result, was summarized as “He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight.”

What is in your life right now, what idol is breaking your connection with God, something He is saying to you, “Destroy it, now”?

Opportunities To Serve

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events

June 6th 6:30pm - We Praise You!
Come to a night of praise and worship featuring Sunset’s Choir and Orchestra. You are invited to a dessert potluck celebration for Jill Hofer, immediately following the concert in the fellowship hall.

June 12, Community Bike Safety Fair
10a-2p, Sunset Parking Lot
Bike Safety Instruction * Bike Obstacle Course
FREE Bike Maintenance and Helmet Fittings
Click here for more information

June 13, Food Drive
Suggested donations are:
• Cereal
• Canned Fruit
• Canned meat/fish
• Rice and Canned Soup
Your generosity is a blessing to those being served by the Food Pantry!

June 20, Father’s Day

Worship Update 5/21

2010-05-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Excellence does not equal obedience

I am conflicted. I don’t want to write about this. I didn’t want to read about this in Ephesians today.

My flesh is at war with my spirit as I process this.

Excellence does not equal obedience.

I remember when I first started drinking bottled water. The hype was that your tap water had too many impurities; and that bottled water, taken from the source of a cold, fresh spring high on some heavenly glacier, and then strained through filters only half an atom could fit through, could be purchased at the gas station by my house. Then I hear on the news that many bottled water companies were selling water that was pretty much, bottled tap water. All they had to do was meet a certain standard of impurity in order to sell it. For the consumer, it looks like pure perfect water, plus it has a picture of a glacier on it. I’m getting really thirsty.

God doesn’t call me to excellent living. He doesn’t say, “Look around, see what the standard of living is for everyone who calls themselves a Christian, and try to keep up or do a little better.” He doesn’t ask me to figure out what level of impurity I can tolerate in my life, or what I can hide well that will look acceptable enough from the outside, then slap a Christian label on me and call it good. He doesn’t call me to excellence by my standards or yours… He calls me to obedience.

So then I read verses like these from Ephesians 5:
“3Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

Immediately my first reaction is to rationalize, to compare, to see where I stack up to these verses in light of others, or even on my own scale of the past verses now. I begin to worry about what others would think of me if I lived this out completely, or what I might actually have to give up even when no one’s looking. I begin to think how I can put out my own bottled tap water in response.

God is calling me to obedience, not excellence. He is calling you too.

Got a story to share?
Share your story with Pastor Ron and the service planning team!
1. How have you learned to glorify God, serve others and grow to be like Christ through conflict in your life?
2. If you’ve had a conflict resolved in a redemptive and encouraging way, we want to hear your story!
Please respond with up to 100 words to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org by May 22.

Opportunities to Serve

Tickle The Ivories?
Sunday, May 23, 12:30 pm
We need you! Auditions are being held for piano and synth players on May 23 following the 11am Worship Service (around 12:30pm). Please contact tylerbraun@sunsetpres.org to schedule an audition time and to receive your audition packet.

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
May 31, Memorial Day
June 6, Choir & Orchestra Concert - immediately followed by a dessert potluck
to celebrate Jill Hofer’s time at Sunset, in the Fellowship Hall
June 12, Community Bike Safety Fair, 10a-2p, Sunset Parking Lot
June 20, Father’s Day

Worship Update 5/14

2010-05-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Light

A few weeks back I was at Cannon Beach for a day retreat with some of the staff at my church. It was a gorgeous, windy day at the coast, and a much appreciated change of pace from the normal work day. We had a lot of activities together, including a kite contest using newspaper, tape and ribbons. My kite was pathetic, and despite strong winds and my best effort, it dragged and bobbed hopelessly on the ground.

We had an hour to ourselves, which we could spend with God however we wanted. I grabbed my Bible and a notebook and headed for the beach. After some reading and journaling, I walked down the beach toward Haystack, talking with God and reflecting on the beauty of the ocean.

I was still carrying my Bible and notebook when I walked by a couple heading the other direction. Without even thinking, I hid my Bible behind my notebook as they got closer. Within seconds I asked God, “Why in the world did I do that??? What am I ashamed of?” Do I believe Jesus is the hope of the world or not? Do I believe He speaks to us through the Bible and that His Word contains the greatest message of all time or not? I put the Bible back on the other side of my notebook and walked by them.

How many times a day do we face this same type of decision? We hear an off color joke or some gossip, and we are faced with laughing, or joining in, or standing up for Christ. We see and hear the world’s answers and standards for life, and we either accept them as our own or cling to the truth inside that calls us to something greater, something true.

You make more of an impact than you know. The little things, the little actions and decisions… the things you say or don’t say… do or don’t do… they can either shine your light or snuff it out. Do you believe that Christ lives in you? Do you believe He is the hope of the world?

Galations 2:20
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Got a story to share?
Share your story with Pastor Ron and the service planning team!
1. How have you learned to glorify God, serve others and grow to be like Christ through conflict in your life?
2. If you’ve had a conflict resolved in a redemptive and encouraging way, we want to hear your story!
Please respond with up to 100 words to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org by May 22.

Opportunities to Serve

Tickle The Ivories?
Sunday, May 23, 12:30 pm
We need you! Auditions are being held for piano and synth players on May 23 following the 11am Worship Service (around 12:30pm). Please contact tylerbraun@sunsetpres.org to schedule an audition time and to receive your audition packet.

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events

May 23, Pancake Breakfast
May 31, Memorial Day
June 6, Choir & Orchestra Concert
June 12, Community Bike Safety Fair, 10a-2p, Sunset Parking Lot
June 20, Father’s Day

Worship Update 5/7

2010-05-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

From Jay
He is there

It feels wrong to write about my Dad close to Mother’s day, but when I write, I just go with stream of consciousness and what’s on my heart, so here you go.

Growing up, my dad was “there”. Always. In school I ran track, played basketball, ran cross country, sang in choir and ensemble. etc. My father was there. Of course there had to be some exceptions, but in my memory, I see him, present, in the events of my life. I still vividly remember coming around the last corner of my favorite race (the 1500), seeing my coach on the field cheering me on, but more importantly, seeing my father there. I wanted to win for him, wanted him to proud of me, and I knew he was. I also see him at the dinner table, after a long day of work, just being with the family.
When special “dad” days came, or family days, they weren’t out of the ordinary; Father’s day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc…. time with dad was normal, not the exception.

In fact, I can’t imagine a life growing up where my relationship with my dad was not common place, where he was only present and impactful on certain occasions. I know this is the case for many people, where either their dad was gone or only present on certain times, if at all.

One of the joys of walking with Christ, is realizing He is there… always. Not just on Easter or Christmas, or on Sunday mornings, or at a camp or a concert. But right now. He is there in the ordinary, in the mundane, in the routine, in the events of your life. And the more we wake up to that fact, and become aware of how He is constantly there, cheering us on, or just living life with us, the more meaning and purpose life takes on.

Psalm 139:7-10
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

Opportunities to Serve

Tickle The Ivories?
Sunday, May 23, 12:30 pm
We need you! Auditions are being held for piano and synth players on May 23 following the 11am Worship Service (around 12:30pm). Please contact tylerbraun@sunsetpres.org to schedule an audition time and to receive your audition packet.

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events

Signal to Noise
Thursday, May 13, 7 pm, Sunset
Sunset is hosting Signal to Noise, the Beaverton School District’s Student Moving Image Media Festival. Entry ages include Elementary, Middle School and High School students in various categories such as comedy, animation, news reporting, documentary, etc. Think of it as the Academy Awards for our communities students.

We’d love to have you join us for the evening or to volunteer with set up during the day or to usher please contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Rent-a-Youth… Only 3 weeks left!
May 22, 29, June 5
Support Student Missions while you get some work done at the same time! You can “rent” students & leaders on the above days for yard work or whatever you could use some help with, and your donation goes toward the Student Mission trip to Helene, Honduras. Rent-a-Youth forms are available in the lobby near the main entrance OR contact Lorraine Prather for more info at lorraineprather@sunsetpres.org or ext. 3024.

Upcoming Events
May 9, Mother’s Day/Infant Baptism/Dedication
May 23, Pancake Breakfast
May 31, Memorial Day
June 6, Choir & Orchestra Concert
June 12, Bike Safety Fair
June 20, Father’s Day

Worship Update 4/29

2010-04-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

Update from Jay

There are a couple of things I want to share with you…

I was involved in a discussion this week that revolved around the current state of our finances. As you might know, we’re experiencing a downturn in our giving and Pastor Ron shared that on Sunday. A huge answer to prayer took place! The staff learned this week that gifts totaling $86k were given towards our current $104k shortfall, we can all be praising God for His answer through generous hearts.

Tuesday night I met with the HR team to present updated job descriptions and to move forward in the process to hire for Jill Hofer’s position. That position is currently called Choir Director/Musical Arranger. The meeting went well. Soon a small search team will begin the search for that position. This team will most likely consist of myself, Bob Thomas (who is WCA’s elder), as well as Tom Davis and Heather Krieves (who are both on the HR Team).

There is truly never a dull moment at Sunset. There is always a great mix of inspiration and overwhelming challenge to working here. I am consistently blown away with just how many people, wonderful quality people give of their time and talent and energy to make this place what it is. Even just sitting in the HR meeting this week, I thought about how these smart and gifted people were there, to help me, to help Sunset, out of their love for Christ and His people… it’s humbling. I love this place.

I went to part of the high school retreat last Friday, and was deeply moved and impacted by the Holy Spirit working through Mike Giering, Tyler and their teams. God is moving in that ministry.

I am praying about what God has next and who He is preparing to join our team with regard to the hole that Jill will leave. I would covet you joining me in that prayer.

Run towards your Savior today.
Jay

Opportunities to Serve
Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events

“Strengths Finder” Class
Tuesdays, May 4 and May 18, 7-8:30 pm, Fireside Room
(These are open to both those unemployed and those employed.)
The unemployment support ministry is hosting a two-part seminar based on the book StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath. Sunset member David Kopf will be introducing the book and the StrengthsFinder concepts. If you are unemployed and you RSVP, you will receive the book for free. To RSVP simply email barbarafeil@sunsetpres.org.

The seminar will be held on the normal Unemployment Support nights. Part 1 will be this coming Tuesday, May 4th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm in the Fireside Room on the Sunset Church Campus. Between the two dates you will take the StrengthsFinder test online and bring the results back to Part 2, on Tuesday, May 18th.

If you are employed but would like to join us to learn more about StrengthsFinder 2.0, simply purchase the book at any bookstore or online and join us!

Rent-a-Youth is Back and Ready to Help You
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5
Support Student Missions while you get some work done at the same time! You can “rent” students & leaders on the above days for yard work or whatever you could use some help with, and your donation goes toward the Student Mission trip to Helene, Honduras. Rent-a-Youth forms are available in the lobby near the main entrance OR contact Lorraine Prather for more info at lorraineprather@sunsetpres.org or ext. 3024.

May 6, National Day of Prayer
May 7, Annual Golf Tournament
May 9, Mother’s Day/Infant Baptism/Dedication
May 23, Pancake Breakfast
May 31, Memorial Day
June 6, Choir & Orchestra Concert
June 12, Bike Safety Fair
June 20, Father’s Day

Worship Update 4/23

2010-04-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

From Jay
Awakening

In high school my home away from home was at my friend Tom Beal’s house. Tom was a year older, looked like Tom Cruise, and had very wealthy parents. I was a year younger, did not have wealthy parents, and looked more like something resembling a chipmunk with a mullet. He and I used to have a lot of fun finding creative ways to spend his weekly allowance which was somewhere near today’s minimum wage.

Tom had a habit of sleeping in. Like 12:00 or 1:00pm type of sleeping in. I remember watching his Mom try to wake him up. She would come in, flash the lights, (the blinds were down and the room was dark) and say friendly phrases like “Rise and shine”, or “Up and at ‘em”, etc. with no response. Finally, she would enter with a very full glass of ice water, and pour it on him. He would then literally fly out of bed in .2 seconds, land on his feet, and scream in shock. I cannot tell you how entertaining this was to watch and how it made me laugh.

I have been reading Proverbs lately, and a central theme is how often wisdom makes herself known to us in our everyday lives. Standing on every corner, shouting from the rooftops, in all your decisions she is flashing the light in your eyes saying things like, “Think about this, not that”, or “Live your life this way, not that way” etc. So often we tune her out, and stay in our slumber like state, acting as if we don’t even hear her.

But when the consequences of ignoring wisdom come, and the shock and the pain of our choices hit us like a cold glass of water to the face, wisdom laughs.

This week we are singing a song called Awakening. I love the lyrics, here are a few.

In our hearts Lord in this nation awakening
Holy Spirit we desire awakening

For You and You alone
Awake my soul Awake my soul and sing
For the world You love
Your will be done Let Your will be done in me

In our hearts Lord in this nation awakening
Holy Spirit we desire awakening

Are you listening to wisdom today?

Opportunities To Serve

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events

“Strengths Finder” Class
Tuesdays, May 4 and May 18, 7 pm, Fireside Room
(These are open to those unemployed and those employed.)
The two unemployment support ministry meetings in May will be devoted to a two-part class on “StrengthsFinder” the bestselling book by Tom Rath. Sunset member David Kopf will be introducing “StrengthsFinder” on May 4. Each participant will then take the online test and return on May 18 to learn how to maximize their strengths, particularly in their workplaces. If you are unemployed the church will supply your book (due to a donation made to the unemployment ministry). Everyone is welcome to attend, but will need to purchase “StrengthsFinder 2.0”. The unemployment support group will be meeting on Tuesday, April 20 for its regular meeting.

Rent-a-Youth is Back and Ready to Help You
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5
Support Student Missions while you get some work done at the same time! You can “rent” students & leaders on the above days for yard work or whatever you could use some help with, and your donation goes toward the Student Mission trip to Helene, Honduras. Rent-a-Youth forms are available in the lobby near the main entrance OR contact Lorraine Prather for more info at lorraineprather@sunsetpres.org or ext. 3024.

Apr 23, Family Unity Night, 6:30p
Apr 23-25, Highschool Spring Retreat
May 2, Church Leaves the Building
May 6, National Day of Prayer
May 7, Annual Golf Tournament
May 9, Mother’s Day/Infant Baptism/Dedication
May 23, Pancake Breakfast
May 31, Memorial Day
June 6, Choir & Orchestra Concert
June 12, Bike Safety Fair
June 20, Father’s Day

Worship Update 4/16

2010-04-16T17:54:00.000-07:00

From Jay
The Cost Of Learning

Growing up, at times when money was scarce, I learned to watch how God provides.
When school work became overwhelming, I learned discipline and giving my best.
When I suffered sports injuries, I learned to be content and thankful for my overall health.
When I see people more talented and gifted than me in life or ministry, I learn that God made me me and wants to use the unique way He has wired me for a specific purpose.
When friend’s lives fall apart, I learn compassion… and more about prayer.
When I can’t afford to get what I think I want, I learn to see the treasures in my life that have nothing to do with money.
When loved ones die I learn to hope for eternity.
When I feel alone and isolated I learn to ask for help.
When my sin threatens to undo me I learn perseverance and the importance of surrender and obedience… and I learn more about God’s grace and power in my life.

Some verses from James 1
2Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

12God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

What things are you facing right now that are opportunities for learning?

Opportunities to Serve

Serve Once A Month – With a Great Team
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, it’s a great opportunity to get your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
Rent-a-Youth is Back and Ready to Help You
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5
Support Student Missions while you get some work done at the same time! You can “rent” students & leaders on the above days for yard work or whatever you could use some help with, and your donation goes toward the Student Mission trip to Helene, Honduras.

Rent-a-Youth forms are available in the lobby near the main entrance OR contact Lorraine Prather for more info at lorraineprather@sunsetpres.org or ext. 3024.

Upcoming Events
Apr 23, Family Unity Night, 6:30p
Apr 23-25, Highschool Spring Retreat
May 2, Church Leaves the Building
May 6, National Day of Prayer
May 7, Annual Golf Tournament
May 9, Mother’s Day/Infant Baptism/Dedication
May 23, Pancake Breakfast
May 31, Memorial Day
June 6, Choir & Orchestra Concert
June 12, Bike Safety Fair
June 20, Father’s Day

Worship Update 4/2

2010-04-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

From Jay

The Apostle Paul's Letter to Sunset
I don’t memorize scripture enough. The few times I do it, I find the process so encouraging, because I have to say or write out the scripture so many times to get it to sink in, that it becomes alive in an unexplainable way.

I am memorizing a small section of scripture for Easter this weekend, and I am going to attempt to write it out from memory right now, but I am going to write it as if Paul was writing to Sunset instead of the Ephesians.

“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,
the Creator of everything in heaven and earth.
I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources,
He will empower the people of Sunset
with inner strength through His spirit.
Then Christ will make His home in their hearts
as they place their trust in Him.
Their roots will grow down into God’s love and keep them strong.

And may the people of Sunset have the power to understand,
as all God’s people should,
how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.
May they experience the love of Christ,
though it is too great to understand fully.
Then they will be made complete in all the fullness of life and power of God.
Amen

P.S. I had to look three times. Still have a little work to do to commit this to memory before Saturday.

Opportunities to Serve

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083. It’s a great opportunity to your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Contact

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
Apr 23, Family Unity Night
Apr 23-25, Highschool Spring Retreat
May 2, Church Leaves the Building
May 6, National Day of Prayer
May 7, Annual Golf Tournament
May 9, Mother’s Day

Easter Volunteers Needed

2010-03-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

This important email is regarding the many opportunities to help as a volunteer during this week at SPC. Please note the positions below and help as you feel lead. We are in need of your time and talent.
The Way to the Cross Experience (Stations of the Cross) The event has expanded this year to two days and will move from the Sanctuary through the Gym and some of the first floor classrooms.

Thursday, 10am – 9pm Friday 11am – 8pm

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED- RSVP to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org
Wednesday
1-2pm Set up with Carrie and Sandy – need 4
4-6ish pm Prepare guide booklets – need 4

Thursday
Guides/Ushers-1:1 training when you arrive then provide support to a station
9:30 – 11:45 need 4
11:30 – 1:45 need 6
1:30 – 3:45 need 5
3:30 – 5:45 need 3
5:30 – 7:45 need 5

Friday
10:30 – 12:45 need 5
12:30 – 2:45 need 6
2-30 – 4:45 need 6
4:30 – 6:45 need 2
6:30 – 8:30 need 8
8:15 – 10:00 (tear down) need 1

Supplies needed by end of day Tuesday – drop off at the church office.
Donate or label items you’d like returned
• Lighters (long, not cigarette) – donation only
• Various sized rocks – donation only
• 8-10 floor lamps
• (40) Coins, realish, but not valuable
• 4 rustic bowls
• 4 Ornate table coverings (large)
• 8 Floor pillows
• Flower pots, potted with flowers, for garden station décor
• Thick itchy Rope
• 1000 Nails – donation only, larger, but easy to nail
• 5 - 8 foot Dark large tablecloths
• Candle Snuffers
• 1500 Q-tips – donation only
• 4 medicine droppers
• 1 bottle of cinnamon incense – donation only
• 8 loaves of bread – donation only
• Wheat/dairy/gluten free bread/crackers – donation only
• 4 gallons of Grape juice – donation only
• Rafia for tying – donation only
• Lots of Pillar candles – donation only

Easter Services
“Love is on the Move” Pastor Ron teaching; Saturday 4 & 6pm and Sunday 9 and 11am

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED; RSVP to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org
Saturday
3:45– 4:15 Greeters- check in at volunteer desk; no experience necessary- on the job training - need several.
3:30 – 5:30 Ushers check in at volunteer desk; no experience necessary- on the job training need 4.
3:30 – 5:30 Coffee Service; check in at the gym/kitchen; no experience necessary; on the job training need 4.
5:45 – 6:15 Greeters- check in at volunteer desk; no experience necessary- on the job training - need several.
5:30 – 7:30 Ushers check in at volunteer desk; no experience necessary- on the job training need 4.
5:30 – 7:30 Coffee Service; check in at the gym/kitchen; no experience necessary; on the job training need 4.

Sunday
8:30 – 9:15 Greeters- check in at volunteer desk; no experience necessary- on the job training - need several.
8:45 – 9:30 Coffee Service; check in at the gym/kitchen; no experience necessary; on the job training need 4.
8:45 – 10:30 Children’s Ministry Helpers; check in at the Children’s Ministry Desk (Karen Clark); no experience necessary – on the job training – need several.
10:30 – 11:15 Greeters- check in at volunteer desk; no experience necessary- on the job training - need several.
10:45 – 12:30 Coffee Service; check in at the gym/kitchen; no experience necessary; on the job training need 4.
10:45 – 12:30 Children’s Ministry Helpers; check in at the Children’s Ministry Desk (Karen Clark); no experience necessary – on the job training – need several.

Worship Update 3/26

2010-03-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

From Janet

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought,
and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. ~ G.K. Chesterton

I want to say thank you for the generous gift our ministry gave me two weeks ago. I was overwhelmed by the kind words and the gift I was given that Sunday afternoon and couldn’t get my thoughts out through tears, so I will write instead. I want you all to know how very much I have appreciated being part of this community which has always been a generous and nourishing environment for me. My life has been blessed by the people of Sunset.

Ten years ago I was hired by Ken Hickman to serve as the administrative assistant. I had interviewed for a different ministry though my heart was really drawn to the Worship community at Sunset. I understand Ken bartered a bottle of wine for me and then offered me a job. It came at a time in my life when I needed a fresh start and I will always be grateful to Ken for giving me this opportunity. I immediately found a home for my administrative gifting, organizing things and felt a fit providing a structure, an arbor of sorts, for our artists to flourish on.

Over the next couple of years Steve Schroeder and Julie Reid continued to invite me in to more opportunities to discover my gifts and to grow. I was blessed during that time to travel with several teams to the Willow Creek Arts Conference in Chicago and began to find tools and a job description/title for a new role at Sunset that the Worship leadership team and Pastor Ron encouraged me to grow in to.

A couple of years in to ministry we were without a pastor and I was the sole staff person in the Worship ministry. I am forever indebted to the volunteer team that stepped up, surrounded me and led the ministry during that season; Jim Kimsey, Bryce Schroeder, Steve Masters and Wayne Moore, to name a few. At that same time Barbara Feil invited me to join a small group of women leaders from Sunset, who for a season met together to discuss our challenges and our successes. It was an awakening that the fire that burned in me to be involved, to resolve challenges with a bias for action was actually leadership gifting. And that to not lead, in spite of my self-doubt, would be less than what God intended for me… a switch flipped.

Soon after, Jay McKenney was hired and he and Julie led the ministry with a pastoral perspective which God is using to transform me. I am different now, as a result of their influence as genuine truth tellers who are committed to personal spiritual health and growth while maintaining a ruthless commitment to creating services where people have the space they need to respond to the Holy Spirit as we worship God together in community. That’s a mouthful and it is my life now.

When I am asked about Sunset I share that it has been a place where Pastor Ron and others have seen potential in me and challenged me to use my gifts while allowing me to learn and risk making mistakes. I often say I laugh every day here, cry many of them and make a different mistake every week. But these all happen on a team where we love well and build grace together so that we can give our best to glorify God. I love Sunset. It is not the building or the Senior Pastor, it is the church, the people… each of you, who are generous with your time and talents and resources that make it what it is.

If you have ever wondered how I do what I do it is because of the God in me, the people who have shared this journey with me and in particular my Tuesday night dinner companions Julie Reid and Laura Padur who have sustained my sanity through many challenging seasons. Also, my beloved family, Michael, Chris, Molly and Abby who have selflessly allowed me to serve in this community. My family serves with me as a result of every evening I haven’t been home for dinner, ten December marathons, not sitting as a family in church and no Easter breakfast… among so many other things. If they hadn’t given so open handedly I could not have done the last ten years.

So, thank you so very much for serving with me the past ten years and for the generous gift. I will let you all know what I use it for.

See you in church, Janet

Easter Events

The Way to the Cross – The Experience
April 1, 10 am - 9 pm, April 2 11-8pm, Family Friendly hours 3-6pm Thur & Fri
Meditating on the events of Jesus' final days and His resurrection can be profound. The challenge for
most of us is shutting out the noise and distractions of everyday life long enough to quiet our souls and
listen to the Spirit of God. So we invite you to join us for an interactive meditation on the “Way to the Cross” in stations. Plan 30-40 minutes to complete the experience. We pray that the "Way to the Cross" experience will take you through the sorrows and despair of Holy Week so that we, too, might emerge victorious in the glory of the Resurrection.

Pillar Candles and Holy Week Volunteers Needed
The Way to the Cross Experience has expanded this year to two days and a larger floor plan. We need the following help:
• Set up Wednesday Mar 31st
• Ushers 2.25 hour shifts Thursday 9:30am – 9:30pm
• Friday 10:45 – 9pm

Please drop off Pillar Candle donations at the book/tape counter or Admin office

Easter Service Ushers
• Saturday 3:30 – 5:30; 5:30 – 7:30
• Sunday 8:30 – 10:30; 10:30 – 12:30
If you can help, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org

Upcoming Events
Apr 1 & 2, The Way to The Cross Experience
Apr 4, Easter (Sat 4 & 6, Sun 9 & 11)
Apr 23, Family Unity Night
Apr 23-25, Highschool Spring Retreat
May 2, Church Leaves the Building
May 6, National Day of Prayer
May 7, Annual Golf Tournament
May 9, Mother’s Day

Worship Update 3/19

2010-03-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

Devo from Jay

Some things I’ve learned

I have now been at Sunset as long as the average time a worship pastor makes it at a church. 5 years had been this invisible bar in my head at times, wanting to at least make it to the average.

I am listening to Cold Play right now which always puts me in a reflective mood, so here are some reflections, some things that I have learned in the last 5 years…

I have learned that trust and love is crucial in healthy working relationships. (Yes, feel free to say no duh!)
I have learned that showing up can be more important than having a plan.
I have learned that some people need to be communicated with and loved in different ways than others.
To ignore a problem usually means to ignore a person.
Laughter has a place at work. Even in church.
There is a very high level of responsibility that comes with working at a church. And it comes in ways I hadn’t even thought of.
Each year has its own unique challenges and victories, and the variety is staggering.
There is no sugar substitute for the Holy Spirit.
People are amazing and constantly surprise me.
Communication is very hard work and yesterday’s success doesn’t count today.
When I overeat and don’t exercise, I gain weight. Wait! I didn’t learn that at church, I learned that at Cold Stone.

Thanks for reading!

Together We Serve
Dozens and dozens of Bandito Taco’s consumed.
Around 100 people attended.
8 ministry specific breakouts.
4 plus hours of training and fellowship.

The chance to honor, invest in, and thank our amazing ministry team here at Sunset?
Priceless.

Truly for our first ministry workshop the turnout was amazing. Thank you to all who made Sunday so special by showing up and engaging together in the afternoon’s activities.

We began our time by watching an amazing video called Celebrating What’s Right with the World. That title was so appropriate because God has blessed our ministry so much! We’re blessed with just amazing people who give of their time and talent and love week after week in so many different ways.

The breakouts included everything from How to Breath Better When You Sing to Soundboard 101 and everything in between.

There are a number of ways we will be looking to improve for the next time we do this; but one of the best things we could do, if you weren’t there this time, is to make sure you get to participate next time! Stay tuned for a date (probably in the fall) when we have our next ministry workshop day.

Special Message from Holly Resnick

To my dear worship Family,

I have been composing this letter in my head for a long time now. I am sorry it’s taken forever to get it onto paper! You see, to find the right words, or figure out how to express what I feel for all of you is hard to do, it’s just more than words can say. But, I’ll do my best!

I am so incredibly grateful and so blessed by all of you! The love, prayer and outpouring of kindness and generosity you have shown are simply unbelievable. We feel so held, so supported and cared for by our church and specifically, all of you, that we are just overwhelmed.

There were times when I wondered if God was listening to my prayers… if he was really “there.” I would ask him to comfort me, be near me, to take care of me. And then I would wait for him. I needed to know he was a real God.

And then… Janet would show up to just sit with me while I cried. Jay would come over to wash my car or mow my lawn. Nick Lind and Tres Cozad would come over and take my kids to the park. A meal would come. A card would be delivered with words of love and compassion and comfort. A gift card to STARBUCKS would come in the mail! And I realized, I was waiting for God to knock at the door, and he was sending me His people. God was listening, God was answering my prayers, God was comforting me… through all of you!

I know now, first hand, what it looks like to see the “hands and feet” of God work to help those in need. The kids and I have seen God’s love through the people, the community, and our family at Sunset Church.

Thank you so much, for everything you have done and are doing for our family. We still need your prayers, your love, your “hands and feet” so much. You keep us going and we are eternally grateful.

The kids and I prayed over every meal, every gift, every donation that came to us, that God would bless the giver back! We hope you’ve seen that blessing in some way. Please know that it meant the world to us, and we can’t say a strong enough THANK YOU to cover how we feel.

The kids and I love you, and are so thankful for each and every one of you!
God bless you richly!

Holly

Easter Events

Christ In The Passover
March 23, 6:30pm (NOTE NEW TIME), Student Center
Join us in celebrating the ancient Festival of Redemption and Christ as the Lamb of God. In this
visual demonstration, you'll get to see a table set with traditional Passover items. Using Scripture, you'll
walk through a Jewish Passover Seder, weaving the story of the Exodus together with the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

The Way To The Cross – The Experience
April 1, 10 am - 9 pm, April 2 11-8pm
Meditating on the events of Jesus' final days and His resurrection can be profound. The challenge for
most of us is shutting out the noise and distractions of everyday life long enough to quiet our souls and
listen to the Spirit of God. So we invite you to join us for an interactive meditation on the “Way to the Cross” in stations. Plan 30-40 minutes to complete the experience. We pray that the "Way to the Cross" experience will take you through the sorrows and despair of Holy Week so that we, too, might emerge victorious in the glory of the Resurrection.

Pillar Candles and Holy Week Volunteers Needed
The Way to the Cross Experience has expanded this year to two days and a larger floor plan. We need the following help:
• Set up Wednesday Mar 31st
• Ushers 2.25 hour shifts Thursday 9:30am – 9:30pm
• Friday 10:45 – 9pm

Please drop off Pillar Candle donations at the book/tape counter or Admin office

Easter Service Ushers
• Saturday 3:30 – 5:30; 5:30 – 7:30
• Sunday 8:30 – 10:30; 10:30 – 12:30
If you can help, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org

Upcoming Events
Apr 1 & 2, The Way to The Cross Experience
Apr 4, Easter (Sat 4 & 6, Sun 9 & 11)
Apr 23, Family Unity Night
Apr 23-25, Highschool Spring Retreat
May 2, Church Leaves the Building
May 6, National Day of Prayer
May 7, Annual Golf Tournament
May 9, Mother’s Day

Worship Update 3/12

2010-03-12T11:34:00.000-08:00

Devo from Jay

Love is on the move

I am getting really excited for Easter at Sunset. When people leave that day, our prayer is that they leave with a deeper revelation of how Christ views them, of how much He loves them, and how that love changes everything. Ron will be sharing from the story of the prodigal son, and also touch on the difference between the two brothers in that story. One of the moments in the service will be when Bob Thomas sings an amazing song called Love Is On The Move.

Two brothers that made an impact on my life were two of my former bosses when I worked construction. Their names were Joe and Ray Rask. I was the grunt man for a plastering company, and it was my job to make sure the crew had their scaffold set up, their mud made when they needed it, their tools cleaned, etc., etc. It was the hardest physical job of my life. I would often go home so sore and tired all I could do was eat, get cleaned up, and sleep for the next morning which usually had me up at 4:30am.

Sometimes Joe was my foreman, and sometimes it was Ray. My work didn’t change regardless of who was in charge, but boy did the environment. I would describe Joe in general as unloving and uncaring. Ray seemed to love what he did and genuinely seemed to care about others. Each man’s “style” had a profound effect on the mood of the crew, including me. When Joe was leading, I found myself dreading the alarm clock in the morning. When it was Ray, I found myself eager to come, do a good job, and make him proud that I was working for him.

Are we aware of the environment we put out? Have our own issues and wounds (which we all carry) choked out the love that people need from us? Do you need to be reminded of how deeply you are loved, and how that love is constantly on the move, seeking you out? I know I need it, all the time. Everyone can run into the arms of God. Love is on the move. Hope to see you at Easter.

If you have a story about how someone’s loving environment affected you from your family or school or anywhere, I would love to hear about it! jaymckenney@sunsetpres.org

Easter Events

Christ In The Passover
March 23, 7 pm, Student Center
Join us in celebrating the ancient Festival of Redemption and Christ as the Lamb of God. In this
visual demonstration, you'll get to see a table set with traditional Passover items. Using Scripture, you'll
walk through a Jewish Passover seder, weaving the story of the Exodus together with the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

The Way To The Cross - The Experience
April 1, 10 am - 9 pm, April 2 11-8pm
Meditating on the events of Jesus' final days and His resurrection can be profound. The challenge for
most of us is shutting out the noise and distractions of everyday life long enough to quiet our souls and
listen to the Spirit of God. So we invite you to join us for an interactive meditation on the “Way to the Cross” in stations. Plan 30-40 minutes to complete the experience. We pray that the "Way to the Cross" experience will take you through the sorrows and despair of Holy Week so that we, too, might emerge victorious in the glory of the Resurrection.

Pillar Candles
We’re looking for donations of pillar candles for The Experience, which can be dropped by the church office or left at the book & tape counter on Sundays, please mark that they are for “The Experience, attn Carrie Peeples”. Thank You!

If you are available to volunteer either of these days, please email to: janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Opportunities To Serve

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083. It’s a great opportunity to your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Contact

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
Mar 14, WCA All Ministry Training Day, 12:30pm
Apr 1, The Way to The Cross Experience
Apr 4, Easter (Sat 4 & 6, Sun 9 & 11)
Apr 23, Family Unity Night
Apr 23-25, Highschool Spring Retreat
May 2, Church Leaves the Building
May 6, National Day of Prayer
May 7, Annual Golf Tournament
May 9, Mother’s Day

Worship Update 3/5

2010-03-05T10:44:00.000-08:00

Devo from Jay

When I was a child

I can still remember when each day felt like a never ending wonderful adventure. I remember when death was only something I heard about in a good story. I remember when my whole life was my friends, and when having over $20 dollars in my wallet made me feel rich, and the possibilities were endless on how I would spend it. I still vividly remember the feeling I had about life in my youth.

Somewhere along the line, responsibility threatened to become bigger than life. Somewhere along the line money became necessary for survival. Somewhere along the way people I loved began to experience real death and real pain. Somewhere along the way I was no longer a child.

The journey I’m on right now has me searching… not to revert to childhood but rather as an adult to retain the joy that God gives in this life, to nurture and feed what is right with the world in the midst of all that is also wrong. I long to keep the passion of youth, along with passion and zeal for life… for God… for others… and for living. I’m guessing I’m not alone with that but it feels good to express it anyway.

Most of you reading this are likely almost or all the way, by definition, an adult. As you deal with the routine of life, the responsibility of life and the pain of life, don’t forget the joy of life. Don’t forget the love of life. Don’t forget to revel in the gift of life. When you feel your passion welling up inside, don’t always shove it down to go to the next responsibility. Let it bubble up now and then, and spill over. Don’t forget what it was like to be a child.

John 10:7-10 ESV
7So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Questions or comments on this devo?
jaymckenney@sunsetpres.org

Opportunities to Grow

WCA All Ministry Training Day
Sunday, March 14th, 12:30pm
We’d like to THANK and INSPIRE and TRAIN YOU so we are excited to be offering all of these in one afternoon, Sunday March 14th. Please plan to stay after the eleventh hour for a time with our entire Worship & Creative Arts serving team. We’ll be together from 12:30 to 4:45 with lunch provided. Sorry, we were not able to arrange for childcare.
As Jay mentioned previously, “My goal would be that a couple hundred of us would be there. From our ushers to our choir to our orchestra to our vocalists to our prayer warriors to our band to our communion serving team to our tech... we are all on one team and the goal is to be all together on this day.”
Please RSVP (however this is not required to attend) to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org so we can appropriately estimate food quantities.
We look forward to being with you on the 14th!

Opportunities to Grow

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083. It’s a great opportunity to your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Contact

Volunteers and Pillar Candles
We will be offering the walk-thru exhibit, The Experience, this Easter. If you are available and willing to volunteer on 3/31, 4/1 or 4/2, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org. We’re also looking for donations of pillar candles, which can be dropped by the church office or left at the book & tape counter on Sundays, please mark that they are for “The Experience, attn Carrie Peeples”. Thank You!

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
Mar 14, WCA All Ministry Training Day, 12:30pm
Apr 1, The Way to The Cross Experience
Apr 4, Easter (Sat 4 & 6, Sun 9 & 11)
Apr 23, Family Unity Night
Apr 23-25, Highschool Spring Retreat
May 2, Church Leaves The Building (see below)
May 6, National Day of Prayer
May 7, Annual Golf Tournament
May 9, Mother’s Day

On Sunday, May 2, we are asking our entire congregation to sign up to go out (as one big wave) into the community and serve different agencies and/or families. We will have a short corporate worship service, after which we will continue to worship by providing service to our community.

This is a large undertaking! Therefore, we encourage families, care groups, and friends to sign-up to serve together. With projects ranging from helping individual families in need to cleaning up graffiti in the community, from prepping a community garden site to working in the kitchen providing meals for all the volunteers, there is a place for all people to serve the community. All the projects are in conjunction with a community group or a Sunset Ministry.

Sign up online or in the lobby on Sundays.

W&CA Workshop day, March 14th

2010-03-01T10:21:00.000-08:00

We’d like to THANK and INSPIRE and TRAIN YOU, our volunteers, so are excited to be offering all of these in one afternoon, Sunday March 14th. Please plan to stay after the eleventh hour for a time with our entire Worship & Creative Arts serving team. We’ll be together from 12:30 to 4:45 with lunch provided. Sorry, we were not able to arrange for childcare.

As Jay mentioned previously regarding this event, “My goal would be that a couple hundred of us would be there. From our ushers to our choir to our orchestra to our vocalists to our prayer warriors to our band to our communion serving team to our tech... we are all on one team and the goal is to be all together on this day.”

Please RSVP (however this is not required to attend) to carriepeeples at sunsetpres dot org so we can appropriately estimate food quantities.

We look forward to being with you on the 14th!

Worship Update 2/26

2010-02-26T16:16:00.000-08:00

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.

Opportunities to Grow

WCA All Ministry Training Day
Sunday, March 14th, 12:30pm – more information to come!
Please pencil out the afternoon on March 14th. We will be providing lunch right after the eleventh hour, and then various breakouts and ministry wide moments will be shared together.
My goal would be that a couple hundred of us would be there. From our ushers, to our choir, to our orchestra, to our vocalists, to our prayer warriors, to our band, to our tech... we are all on one team and the goal is to be all together on this day.
Sincerely, Jay

Opportunities to Serve

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083. It’s a great opportunity to your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Contact

Volunteers and Pillar Candles
We will be offering the walk-thru exhibit, The Experience, this Easter. If you are available and willing to volunteer on 3/31, 4/1 or 4/2, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org. We’re also looking for donations of pillar candles, which can be dropped by the church office or left at the book & tape counter on Sundays, please mark that they are for “The Experience, attn Carrie Peeples”. Thank You!

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
March 14, WCA All Ministry Training Day, 12:30pm
April 1, The Experience
April 4, Easter
April 23, Family Unity Night
April 23-25, Highschool Spring Retreat
May 2, Church Leaves The Building (see below)
May 6, National Day of Prayer
May 7, Annual Golf Tournament
May 9, Mother’s Day

On Sunday, May 2, we are asking our entire congregation to sign up to go out (as one big wave) into the community and serve different agencies and/or families. We will have a short corporate worship service, after which we will continue to worship by providing service to our community.

This is a large undertaking! Therefore, we encourage families, care groups, and friends to sign-up to serve together. With projects ranging from helping individual families in need to cleaning up graffiti in the community, from prepping a community garden site to working in the kitchen providing meals for all the volunteers, there is a place for all people to serve the community. All the projects are in conjunction with a community group or a Sunset Ministry.

Sign up online or in the lobby on Sundays.
Click here to sign up as an individual or family
Click here it to sign up a group

Worship Update 2/19

2010-02-19T15:20:00.000-08:00

Thoughts from Jay McKenney

Questions

My house is a house full of questions. "Daddy, can I have a cookie?" "Daddy, why do people get married?" "Daddy, is that fat on your tummy?" "Daddy, when do we go to heaven?" Questions, all day, every day. When you are a child, questions are a part of life. And then for some reason, at some point, they stop... or they are harder to ask... or asking makes us more uncomfortable than our desire to be sure. We become people who desire to look like we have the answers rather than having questions.

How should I be spending my time? My money? What does it mean for me to really walk with Jesus? Is He really pleased with me despite my actions? What is church all about? How should I view it? Why do I still struggle with this or that? What would my wife say if I asked her how I could be a better husband and friend to her? What would my friends say if I asked them what was the number one trait they see in me? What is behind my emotions? Am I a good example? Am I a good boss, employee, friend, team member?

What are the questions rattling around in your head that you are afraid to ask? What questions are you afraid to hear the answers? In Matthew 18 Jesus talks about us needing to have faith like a child. My daughter completely trusts that Jesus is God, and feels comfortable enough in her faith to ask questions out loud as they form in her head. A child typically has no problem asking, usually accepts the answer, and naturally trusts that the intent of the answer is good. My challenge for you today is to take one of your hidden questions and actually ask it, out loud, to God or a friend or both today.

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3-4 New International Version (NIV)

Focus on Marriage –
Saturday, February 27, 8:15 am – 3:30 pm, SPC Gym
Celebrating God’s Design for Commitment is live via satellite. Join thousands of couples all across America as we celebrate God’s design for commitment. At this marriage-strengthening simulcast we will tackle Christianity’s biggest challenges – empowering you and your spouse to stay faithful, committed and encouraged in your marriage. Excellent faculty, cost $35 per couple.

WCA All Ministry Training Day
Sunday, March 14th, 12:45pm – more information coming next week!
Please pencil out the afternoon on March 14th. We will be providing lunch right after the eleventh hour, and then various breakouts and ministry wide moments will be shared together.
My goal would be that a couple hundred of us would be there. From our ushers, to our choir, to our orchestra, to our vocalists, to our prayer warriors, to our band, to our tech... we are all on one team and the goal is to be all together on this day.
Sincerely, Jay

Opportunities to Serve
Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083. It’s a great opportunity to your feet wet in ministry. Interested? Contact

Volunteers and Pillar Candles
We will be offering the walk-thru exhibit, The Experience, this Easter. If you are available and willing to volunteer on 3/31, 4/1 or 4/2, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org. We’re also looking for donations of pillar candles, which can be dropped by the church office or left at the book & tape counter on Sundays, please mark that they are for “The Experience, attn Carrie Peeples”. Thank You!

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events
February 21, All Church Conference (more info above)
February 27, Focus On Marriage (more info above)
March 14, WCA All Ministry Training Day, 12:30pm (more info next week)
April 1, The Experience
April 4, Easter
April 23, Family Unity Night
April 23-25, Highschool Spring Retreat
May 2, The Church Leaves The Building
May 6, National Day of Prayer
May 7, Annual Golf Tournament
May 9, Mother’s Day

Miss a weekend gathering?
Sunset’s website has podcasts! Catch up on a message you missed here, and choose the Sermon option. You can also purchase a CD from the Book/CD counter in our lobby area.

Ways to stay connected!
We hope this will be a place for the Sunset community to encourage one another, gather information and connect throughout the week.

Sunset Worship Community Facebook, check it out by clicking here!

Worship Update 2/5

2010-02-05T10:56:00.000-08:00

WCA All Ministry Training Day
Sunday, March 14th, 12:45pm

Hey all,

For some time now a dream has been surfacing about having a ministry wide event where we could thank our amazing volunteers with some inspiration and training in one event. We hope to make this an annual thing; so we are kicking this year’s off on Sunday, March 14th in the afternoon for a few hours together.

We are still forming content, but the goal is to provide opportunities that would both increase your knowledge about areas of interest in music and the arts at Sunset, as well as provide a bigger picture of purpose and meaning behind what we do together week in and week out.

Please pencil out the afternoon on March 14th. We will be providing lunch right after the eleventh hour, and then various breakouts and ministry wide moments will be shared together.

My goal would be that a couple hundred of us would be there. From our ushers to our choir to our orchestra to our vocalists to our prayer warriors to our band to our tech… we are all on one team and the goal is to be all together on this day.

Sincerely,
Jay

Opportunities to Grow

All Church Conference!
Nancy Heche Guest Speaker - Febuary 21, 2010
Dr. Nancy Heche is a popular Bible study teacher, author, and speaker. She holds a masters and doctorate degree in Pastoral Counseling and is the author of The Truth Comes Out. Dr. Heche will be speaking at all services, sharing her life story of dealing with homosexuality in the lives of people she loves. Nancy’s story is one of faith and survival as she learns that the only person you can change is yourself. Nancy shares how to respond lovingly, yet appropriately, to homosexual family members and friends. Find God’s presence and power for any situation—His grace is what offers anyone who has faced disappointments of difficulty, hope and encouragement for the future.

There will also be two afternoon seminars entitled "What to do when you don't know what to do" and "What to say when you don't know what to say."

Nancy will speak during our worship gatherings 9, 11, & 5:30, as well as 2 afternoon sessions 2-5pm.

Focus on Marriage –
Saturday, February 27, 8:15 am – 3:30 pm, SPC Gym
Celebrating God’s Design for Commitment is live via satellite. Join thousands of couples all across America as we celebrate God’s design for commitment. At this marriage-strengthening simulcast we will tackle Christianity’s biggest challenges – empowering you and your spouse to stay faithful, committed and encouraged in your marriage. Excellent faculty, cost $35 per couple.

Opportunities to Serve
For other ways to serve throughout Sunset and our community, be sure to check your weekly bulletin.

Food Drive this Sunday!
At Worship Services 9, 11am & 5:30pm
Volunteers will be at Donation Tables in the East and North Entrances.
Suggested donations are: Cereal, Skillet Meals, Vegetable Oil, Canned Fruits and Rice.
If you need to bring your donations next week—you can drop them in the Helping Hands Bin at the East
Entrance, or place them in a Helping Hands Barrel at any of the entrances. Thank you for your generous
support of the Helping Hands ministry.

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events

February 7, Helping Hands Food Drive
February 12-15, Middle School Winter Camp, for more info click here

February 13, Men’s Breakfast, 7:30-9a
Features Monty Williams, Assistant Coach of the Trailblazers; he will be speaking and will bring with him one of the team players. Monty has played basketball in the NBA, coached with the San Antonio Spurs when they won NBA championships, and is a strong Christian with a great testimony. Monty will be able to shed some light on the drama we have had on the Blazer team this year. All men are invited along with their sons and daughters, friends, co-workers, and classmates. Cost for a full breakfast is only $6.00 each
SIGN UP this weekend in the lobby or online here

February 21, All Church Conference (more info above)
February 27, Focus On Marriage (more info above)
March 14, WCA All Ministry Training Day, 12:45pm

Miss a weekend gathering?
Sunset’s website has podcasts! Catch up on a message you missed here, and choose the Sermon option. You can also purchase a CD from the Book/CD counter in our lobby area.

Ways to stay connected!
We hope these will be places for the Sunset community to encourage one another, gather information and connect throughout the week.

Sunset Worship Community Facebook, check it out!

Worship Update 1/29

2010-02-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

This week’s devotion from Jay McKenney;
http://jaymckenney.wordpress.com/

Are you an iron man?
I get sucked in every year watching the Iron Man footage from Hawaii. There is a 99.9% chance I will never compete in one of those. But I love watching the stories of people who push past the pain and finish, or attempt to finish when it would seem in their situation impossible. I try to look away but can’t when it shows individuals whose bodies, legs, knees have given out; but their minds keep them somehow stumbling forward long after most of us would have given up, till they finally reach the destination they have been striving to attain, and then they rest.

I think this is, in reality, how we approach Christ. We come broken. We come empty. We come in pain.

I also feel like one of the battles we continue to fight in church though is appearing like we sprint to Christ… in clean running uniforms… no dirt on our shoes… breathing easy… not breaking a sweat. If we have it that together, why do we need Christ? I think it is easy to make a subtle shift into thinking that Christ needs us, that He needs us to run for Him because we are good runners. He doesn’t and we aren’t. We need Him and He is the good runner. He needs us to come broken, humbly, needy.

I love the song Hungry. My favorite verse is the 2nd verse…
Broken I run to You
For Your arms are open wide
I am weary, but I know Your touch
Restores my life

Matthew 11:28-30:
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

What type of things happen at church that hinder or help us be a place where we can be broken?
Feel free to shoot me an email at jaymckenney@sunsetpres.org

Opportunities to Grow

WCA All Ministry Training Day
Sunday, March 14th, 12:30p
New day set! Put it on your calendars and look for more information in the weeks to come…

All Church Conference!
Nancy Heche Guest Speaker - Febuary 21, 2010
Dr. Nancy Heche is a popular Bible study teacher, author, and speaker. She holds a masters and doctorate degree in Pastoral Counseling and is the author of The Truth Comes Out. Dr. Heche will be speaking at all services, sharing her life story of dealing with homosexuality in the lives of people she loves. Nancy’s story is one of faith and survival as she learns that the only person you can change is yourself. Nancy shares how to respond lovingly, yet appropriately, to homosexual family members and friends. Find God’s presence and power for any situation—His grace is what offers anyone who has faced disappointments of difficulty, hope and encouragement for the future.

There will also be two afternoon seminars entitled "What to do when you don't know what to do" and "What to say when you don't know what to say."

Focus on Marriage –
Saturday, February 27, 8:15 am – 3:30 pm, SPC Gym
Celebrating God’s Design for Commitment is live via satellite. Join thousands of couples all across America as we celebrate God’s design for commitment. At this marriage-strengthening simulcast we will tackle Christianity’s biggest challenges – empowering you and your spouse to stay faithful, committed and encouraged in your marriage. Excellent faculty, cost $35 per couple.

Opportunities to Serve
For other ways to serve throughout Sunset and our community, be sure to check your weekly bulletin.

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Come support and bolster the immune system of the weekend services.
Help us inoculate them with powerful prayers.
Each week, a few of us gather to pray over the weekend services. We typically meet on the night of the service rehearsal, which is generally on Thursday. We'd love to have you join us, whenever it might fit in your schedule. Come once, monthly or weekly.

What to expect: We enjoy a devotional time together first, with the whole service team, at 7pm. That lasts about a half hour. Then we break off for a time of prayer that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Join us?
Occasionally the day/time varies. With that in mind, contact Melinda melindalgroth@gmail.com to verify the schedule.

Upcoming Events

February 7, Helping Hands Food Drive
February 12-15, Middle School Winter Camp, for more info click here

February 13, Men’s Breakfast, 7:30-9a
Features Monty Williams, Assistant Coach of the Trailblazers; he will be speaking and will bring with him one of the team players. Monty has played basketball in the NBA, coached with the San Antonio Spurs when they won NBA championships, and is a strong Christian with a great testimony. Monty will be able to shed some light on the drama we have had on the Blazer team this year. All men are invited along with their sons and daughters, friends, co-workers, and classmates. Cost for a full breakfast is only $6.00 each
SIGN UP this weekend in the lobby or online here

February 21, All Church Conference (more info above)
February 27, Focus On Marriage (more info above)
March 14, WCA All Ministry Training Day, 12:30pm

Miss a weekend gathering?
Sunset’s website has podcasts! Catch up on a message you missed here, and choose the Sermon option. You can also purchase a CD from the Book/CD counter in our lobby area.

Ways to stay connected!
We hope these will be places for the Sunset community to encourage one another, gather information and connect throughout the week.

Sunset Worship Community Facebook, check it out!

Worship Update 1/22

2010-01-22T10:54:00.000-08:00

from Jay

Fully surrendered

I don’t know if there are two scarier words that you could pair together. Just reading them right now might cause your heart rate to go up and your breathing to become labored. Being fully surrendered is a condition of the heart, and you know right at this moment whether you are or aren’t.

They are scary words because to be fully surrendered to God means giving up power, control, or possession. Even if it’s right, it still hurts, it costs something, and there is pain involved. And in general, we like to avoid pain.

Speaking of pain, thanks to years of construction, I have a back that sometimes goes out of alignment. I can still function to a point when it’s out, but it’s all I think about, it consumes me and the discomfort grows making it awkward even to breathe. God designed my wife Allison to be the perfect weight to walk on my back, and she knows just the right place to bounce a little and pop it back into shape. It doesn’t work so well the other way around… she would die. 

Part of my journey walking with Christ over the years feels a little like the experience of my back. I go from a fully surrendered state, to something in my life that I allow to come between Christ and His will for me. Initially there is the rush and feelings of independence… like I know what I’m doing, what’s best for me, and I can handle it. But soon the discomfort from being out of alignment with God grows to the point where it is all consuming, and though I might be walking straight on the outside, inside I am hunched over and crippled. The pain of giving whatever it is back to God can never compare with the grace and healing of His hand to put your soul back in line.

What is it for you? A call you need to make? A letter you need to write? Something you need to get rid of? Whatever it is, don’t put it off any longer. The people in your life need you fully surrendered and walking straight up and down on the inside.

Celebrate with Helping Hands!

This past Tuesday, Helping Hands received a Postal Money Order made out to Helping Hands
Community Center in the amount of $455.00!

The note with the money order reads:
“Here at your local Bales Thriftway Starbucks, we donate our tips. For the month of December one of our Barista’s decided we should pick your organization. Her name is Karen. I know it may not seem like much but please take this $455 and use it to continue to provide great service in our Cedar Mill area.
Thank you, Starbucks Manager – Toni McLean”

Wow! Those Starbucks employees thought enough of our Helping Hands Community Center to consider us for their tip offering. We’re sending an official Thank You card to Toni, and ALL of the Starbucks employees will be thanked.

If you happen to go to Bales Thriftway on NW Cornell (east of Murray Blvd.), make a point to let the Starbucks folks know how much their gift is appreciated! And if you see Karen at work, give her a special thank you!

Opportunities to Grow

All Church Conference!
Nancy Heche Guest Speaker - Febuary 21, 2010
Dr. Nancy Heche is a popular Bible study teacher, author, and speaker. She holds a masters and doctorate degree in Pastoral Counseling and is the author of The Truth Comes Out. Dr. Heche will be speaking at all services, sharing her life story of dealing with homosexuality in the lives of people she loves. Nancy’s story is one of faith and survival as she learns that the only person you can change is yourself. Nancy shares how to respond lovingly, yet appropriately, to homosexual family members and friends. Find God’s presence and power for any situation—His grace is what offers anyone who has faced disappointments of difficulty, hope and encouragement for the future.

There will also be two afternoon seminars entitled "What to do when you don't know what to do" and "What to say when you don't know what to say."

Focus on Marriage –
Saturday, February 27, 8:15 am – 3:30 pm, SPC Gym
Celebrating God’s Design for Commitment is live via satellite. Join thousands of couples all across America as we celebrate God’s design for commitment. At this marriage-strengthening simulcast we will tackle Christianity’s biggest challenges – empowering you and your spouse to stay faithful, committed and encouraged in your marriage. Excellent faculty, cost $35 per couple.

Opportunities to Serve
For other ways to serve throughout Sunset and our community, be sure to check your weekly bulletin.

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or 503.292.9293 x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Upcoming Events

2010 NW Regional Men’s Conference
This begins on Friday, January 29th (7-9 pm) and resumes on Saturday, January 30th
(8 am-12:30 pm).

Location: New Hope Community Church
Just off I-205, across from the Clackamas Town Center in Clackamas.

This is our Men’s Retreat for 2010. Register at: www.nwmensconference.com

January 31-Feb 1, High School Winter Play Day
February 2, Unemployment Support meeting, 7p
February 7, Helping Hands Food Drive
February 12-15, Middle School Winter Camp
February 21, All Church Conference (more info above)
February 27, Focus On Marriage (more info above)

Miss a weekend gathering?
Sunset’s website has podcasts! Catch up on a message you missed here, and choose the Sermon option. You can also purchase a CD from the Book/CD counter in our lobby area.

Ways to stay connected!
We hope these will be places for the Sunset community to encourage one another, gather information and connect throughout the week.

Sunset Worship Community Facebook, check it out!

Worship Update 1/15

2010-01-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

from Jay

Disconnected

Disconnected:
having been divided: having the unity destroyed; a split group; not plugged in or connected to a power source.

Not too many situations in life where that is a good word. Connected is so much better.

Though I have certainly experienced disconnection in my life, I had never heard the word more than I hear it at church.

Now I hear the word and feeling expressed all the time. “I feel disconnected.” I have heard it so much I think I could sell t-shirts with that on the front and make a decent living.

Can I be really blunt? That phrase scares me to death as a leader. It scares me because sometimes what I hear when this is said to me is, “Jay, it’s your fault, it’s your failure as a leader that I am feeling disconnected.” When I go through my own periods of isolation, the helplessness I feel when I know someone or many people feel that way can be overwhelming.

I know what church is supposed to be, what I and we want it to be… a place of community and a place of connection, a place with connection to Christ and connection to one another. I long to be able to hear and hear often, “I feel so connected.” Or to know that Sunset, was like the church in Acts where we read, “All the believers were together and had everything in common”, or, “The believers were one in heart and mind.”

We all have a limited amount of time, bandwidth, and energy to connect. I do believe that, in general, I choose whether to isolate or to connect, to engage in community or to back away from it.
What do you see as things that enhance connection and community or help destroy it? I would love your input.

Opportunities to Grow

Correction!
WCA All Ministry Training Day
We gave you a date last week that we discovered needs to be changed, sorry for any confusion. As soon as we are able to find a new date we’ll let you know!

All Church Conference!
Nancy Heche Guest Speaker - Febuary 21, 2010
Dr. Nancy Heche is a popular Bible study teacher, author, and speaker. She holds a masters and doctorate degree in Pastoral Counseling and is the author of The Truth Comes Out. Dr. Heche will be speaking at all services, sharing her life story of dealing with homosexuality in the lives of people she loves. Nancy’s story is one of faith and survival as she learns that the only person you can change is yourself. Nancy shares how to respond lovingly, yet appropriately, to homosexual family members and friends. Find God’s presence and power for any situation—His grace is what offers anyone who has faced disappointments of difficulty, hope and encouragement for the future.

There will also be two afternoon seminars entitled "What to do when you don't know what to do" and "What to say when you don't know what to say."

Focus on Marriage –
Saturday, February 27, 8:15 am – 3:30 pm, SPC Gym
Celebrating God’s Design for Commitment is live via satellite. Join thousands of couples all across America as we celebrate God’s design for commitment. At this marriage-strengthening simulcast we will tackle Christianity’s biggest challenges – empowering you and your spouse to stay faithful, committed and encouraged in your marriage. Excellent faculty, cost $35 per couple.

TURKEY Short-Term Ministry Opportunity
5 more team members needed!
SPC is partnering with People International, taking a short-term missions team to Istanbul, Turkey, June 19 - July 1. The purpose of this team will be to provide a children’s program for the children of missionaries, while their parents attend a weeklong conference. There will be opportunity to tour Istanbul and the city of Ephesus. Two of SPC’s missionary families are part of PI and will be
attending the conference.

Attend the last, no obligation, information meeting on Sunday, January 24, in Conference Room 2 (west end of lobby). Choose the best time for you: 10:15 to 11a or 12:15 to 1p

Opportunities to Serve

For other ways to serve throughout Sunset and our community, be sure to check your weekly bulletin.

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or 503-292-9293x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Upcoming Events

January 15-16, 2010, Mission Connexion, Crossroads Community Church
Over 120 informative workshops, over 70 mission exhibits and resources.
Open to all - free admission. Crossroads Community is located in Vancouver, WA
For more info www.MissionConneXion.com
This Sunday, January 17…
Pancake Breakfast after morning services!

Night of Hymns, 6:30p
A night when theology, history and tradition collide for one of your favorite times together as a church in worship and song. Invite your friends who you know love hymns as much as you do and make it a special night.
Tuesday, January 19, check your bulletin for additional info…
Divorce Care, 6:30p, Upper Room
Unemployment Support, 7p Fireside Room

2010 NW Regional Men’s Conference
This begins on Friday, January 29th (7-9 pm) and resumes on Saturday, January 30th
(8 am-12:30 pm).

Location: New Hope Community Church
Just off I-205, across from the Clackamas Town Center in Clackamas.

This is our Men’s Retreat for 2010. Register at: www.nwmensconference.com

Miss a weekend gathering?
Sunset’s website has podcasts! Catch up on a message you missed here, and choose the Sermon option. You can also purchase a CD from the Book/CD counter in our lobby area.

Ways to stay connected!
We hope these will be places for the Sunset community to encourage one another, gather information and connect throughout the week.

Sunset Worship Community Facebook, check it out!

Worship Update 1/8

2010-01-08T13:16:00.000-08:00

from Jay

In the in between times

When I was little we took a cross country trip in a car from Florida to Oregon. Even though it was over 25 years ago, I remember it. It took 5 unbelievably long days. The beginning of the trip was full of excitement, about the adventure and the journey, where we were heading and how great it was going to be to finally get there.

Soon though, the trip became a never ending saga of flat, viewless stretches of road with no air conditioning, and no cars to play the alphabet game on their license plates with my family. My life and existence became confined to the back seat of that plastic seated car, and soon I couldn’t remember where we were going, I was only lost in the present.

Life can feel this way. Your job can feel this way. Your marriage can feel this way. School can feel this way. Anything in your life that is worthwhile and takes time and effort and stamina can go through these stretches.

We kept driving, and eventually, slowly, the scenery began to change. Hills and landscape and trees began to emerge, and then we eventually saw it. The image that’s burned into my brain my entire life is of Mt. Hood in the distance taking my breath away and signaling we had made it, we were home, and the journey had been worth it.

You are somewhere on that journey today. You have either started something new, are arriving at a destination, or are somewhere in between in a place you can’t remember the start or the destination, all you know is you feel stuck in the back seat of a car you want out of.

I challenge you to remember what you are striving for, what your journey is all about, as we start this New Year together. We were made to glorify God with our lives, and we all do it in unique wonderful ways that matter and count and shape eternity. God does the majority of His work on our character in the in between car rides of our journey; so… if that is where you find yourself today, embrace it and keep going, Mt. Hood is out there.

Romans 8
18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.

Opportunities to Grow

Winter Spiritual Formation Class
Wednesdays, 7-8:30 pm, January 13 to April 7
“I’m Glad You Asked”
A spiritual formation class designed to provide men, women and couples a place to dialogue and find answers to the tough questions about Christianity. Where can you go when you are searching and struggling for answers about faith and God and life? What do you do if you want to investigate faith but without the pressure to commit? What do you do if you are a Christ follower and a friend asks you a question you don’t feel equipped to answer? This class taught by Jeff Hart, will help you dialogue with friends or allow you to investigate the claims of Christ and Christianity with truth and grace.

Jeff Hart is the Portland area director of Search Ministries. Search Ministries was created to help men and women who are searching for meaningful answers to life’s toughest questions. Search helps create non-threatening environments where people can ask and find answers from a Biblical perspective.
(“I’m Glad You Asked” workbook is $25)

Focus on Marriage –
Saturday, February 27, 8:15 am – 3:30 pm, SPC Gym
Celebrating God’s Design for Commitment is live via satellite. Join thousands of couples all across America as we celebrate God’s design for commitment. At this marriage-strengthening simulcast we will tackle Christianity’s biggest challenges – empowering you and your spouse to stay faithful, committed and encouraged in your marriage. Excellent faculty, cost $35 per couple.

TURKEY Short-Term Ministry Opportunity
5 more team members needed!
SPC is partnering with People International, taking a short-term missions team to Istanbul, Turkey, June 19 - July 1. The purpose of this team will be to provide a children’s program for the children of missionaries, while their parents attend a weeklong conference. There will be opportunity to tour Istanbul and the city of Ephesus. Two of SPC’s missionary families are part of PI and will be
attending the conference.

Attend the last, no obligation, information meeting on Sunday, January 24, in Conference Room 2 (west end of lobby). Choose the best time for you: 10:15 to 11a or 12:15 to 1p

Opportunities to Serve
For other ways to serve throughout Sunset and our community, be sure to check your weekly bulletin.

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or 503-292-9293x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Upcoming Events

January 15-16, 2010, Mission Connexion, Crossroads Community Church
Over 120 informative workshops, over 70 mission exhibits and resources.
Open to all - free admission. Crossroads Community is located in Vancouver, WA
For more info www.MissionConneXion.com
Next Sunday, January 17…
Pancake Breakfast after morning services!
Hymn Night, 6:30p
Tuesday, January 19, check your bulletin for additional info…
Divorce Care, 6:30p, Upper Room
Unemployment Support, 7p Fireside Room

2010 NW Regional Men’s Conference
This begins on Friday, January 29th (7-9 pm) and resumes on Saturday, January 30th
(8 am-12:30 pm).

Location: New Hope Community Church
Just off I-205, across from the Clackamas Town Center in Clackamas.

This is our Men’s Retreat for 2010. Register at: www.nwmensconference.com

Miss a weekend gathering?
Sunset’s website has podcasts! Catch up on a message you missed here, and choose the Sermon option. You can also purchase a CD from the Book/CD counter in our lobby area.

Ways to stay connected!
We hope these will be places for the Sunset community to encourage one another, gather information and connect throughout the week.

Sunset Worship Community Facebook, check it out by clicking here!

Worship Update 12/18

2009-12-18T09:53:00.000-08:00

From Jay

Your source of worth
My sophomore year in high school I started dating a girl named Laura. As much as you can be in love as a sophomore, I was. She literally became my “everything”. I don’t know if you know that feeling (and I would describe it as an unhealthy feeling) when something or someone becomes your “everything”. That something or someone becomes everything that life hinges on, that significance comes from, and that your worth is determined by. We dated off and on until a year after high school.

I broke it off 6 times during the time we dated, each time because I recognized the condition of my heart, and how I was letting my relationship with her determine my significance and not God.
At one point, I had decided to marry her and I told her I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, she ended it with me at that moment.

I remember it like it was yesterday… the feeling. It was like something from a movie, when sound fades, when time stand still, when you feel your heart stop, when the brain crashes and can’t reboot. Suddenly, my worth was gone, my validation was gone, my significance was gone, all because I had wrapped it in something incapable of sustaining or maintaining it for the long haul.

When all that took place, I was a believer, I knew Jesus. Becoming a Christian does not change the temptation to get my worth from illegitimate places. I just finally have the tools, the knowledge, and the Holy Spirit’s power to practice getting it from the only source that can sustain it, from God Himself.

We long to be loved. And we are loved, He has proved and continues to prove that. We long to have significance, and because of who we are, who created us, and what He has done for us, we are significant. We long to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, and because we are His children we are. No girlfriend or boyfriend, no husband or wife, no title or position, no possession can sustain the significance we crave, that we were created to crave. Only Christ can. He often uses relationships to reveal Himself and to bring love into our lives, but the source has to originate from Him or the source will eventually run dry.

John 1:1-5 (parenthesis added are mine)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, (and in Him is still life) and that life was the light of men (and that life still is the light of men). The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood

A note from Pastor Ron…
It was encouraging to have Taylor McFarland share his story in our worship services last Sunday. Taylor is the son of longtime members Mark and Rhonda McFarland. Over the course of his freshman year in college he became addicted to alcohol and marijuana. His parents made the decision to send him to Capstone, a rehab center in Arkansas, where he was touched by Christ and made decisions to follow Christ with his whole heart. Taylor has been clean for nine months and has cultivated a strong network of Christian friends around him here in Portland. I’m sure Taylor will appreciate your prayers for him to remain strong in following Christ.

We had a full sanctuary last Sunday evening for the “Hallelujah! Light Has Come” presented by the Sunset Choir and Orchestra. The Aloha High School Drum Line was a highlight as were our many soloists. I appreciate all the weeks of preparation these folks did to give us a delightful evening of Christmas music and worship.

While I was preaching Sunday, I was losing my voice, so I had Jay McKenney help me by reading all the Scriptures in my message. By Monday I had lost my voice totally and was in bed for three days. I am getting better and look forward to seeing you this weekend.

Prior to the 9:00 service this Sunday Meghan and Lauren Timmons, granddaughters of Pep and Dorothy Timmons and Keith and Janet Harmon, will be playing their flutes for the prelude. And,Terry Goldman and Regina Veillet will be singing, and Scott Mather will be playing his trumpet in the 9:00 service. It will be great! Invite your friends and family.

I hope you are already thinking about and praying for people you can invite for Christmas Eve services. It’s one of the best times of the year to extend invitations and have most people accept. Our services are scheduled at 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, and 10:00pm, so one of those should fit your schedule for this special day. Children’s programming is available during the 3:00 and 5:00 services. Children are always welcome.

The building is buzzing this week with people getting ready for packing and delivering Food and Toy Baskets on Saturday. Even if you haven’t already signed up to help, come and enjoy the blessing of helping serve hundreds of needy folks in our community. It’s a project your whole family could enjoy together.

I wish all the joys of this Christmas season to you and your family—and I hope to see you Sunday and Christmas Eve.

Opportunities to Serve
For other ways to serve throughout Sunset and our community, be sure to check your weekly bulletin.

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or 503-292-9293x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in March and April. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Upcoming Events
December 19 – Food & Toy Delivery Day
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services 3, 5, 7 & 10pm
When Heaven Came Down, Consider the Wonder of the Christ Child
December 25 – Christmas Day
January 1, 2010 – New Years Day
January 15-16, 2010, Mission Connexion, Crossroads Community Church
Over 120 informative workshops, over 70 mission exhibits and resources.
Open to all - free admission. Crossroads Community is located in Vancouver, WA
For more info www.MissionConneXion.com
January 17, 2010 – Hymn Night

2010 NW Regional Men’s Conference
This begins on Friday, January 29th (7-9 pm) and resumes on Saturday, January 30th
(8 am-12:30 pm).
Location: New Hope Community Church
Just off I-205, across from the Clackamas Town Center in Clackamas.
This is our Men’s Retreat for 2010.
Register at: www.nwmensconference.com

Miss a weekend gathering?
Sunset’s website has podcasts! Catch up on a message you missed here, and choose the Sermon option. You can also purchase a CD from the Book/CD counter in our lobby area.

Ways to stay connected!
We hope these will be places for the Sunset community to encourage one another, gather information and connect throughout the week.

Sunset Worship Community Facebook, check it out by clicking here!

Worship Update 12/11

2009-12-11T12:00:00.000-08:00

From Jay

Sunset and you
As I sit down to write this morning, I know what I want to write about, but have zero creativity or brain power, and have literally been staring at the screen for 5 minutes waiting for my fingers to begin moving. They have, as evidence you are reading this. J

I would love to start a discussion with you, if you are willing. For several weeks I have been meeting in the morning on Wednesday’s with about 10 people, basically looking at the DNA of Sunset. We are asking questions like: “What is unique about Sunset?”, or, “As a result of someone being exposed to Sunset, what do we hope happens in their lives?”, or, “What, because of our community and resources, are we uniquely equipped to do to make a difference in this area?”

The reality is, although these types of discussion include a goal of bringing more unity and focus to a church, they can’t just happen in a room with 10 people. They have to be taking place all across the church. It’s important that key leaders have your input and feedback constantly, not just once a year with a survey, etc.

So I am asking for your feedback and response to three questions. You can email me your answers at jaymckenney@sunsetpres.org Or, you can go to Sunset's Worship Community Facebook Page, and answer these questions in more of a discussion format, I will post this as a note on that page.

What drew you to Sunset originally?
What has you here today?
What would keep you here in the future?

Here are my personal answers to those questions:
What drew me here originally was a strong sense of calling to a ministry role at Sunset.

What has me here today is a continued strong sense of calling, along with relationships and consistently seeing the hand of God work in people’s lives.

What would keep me here in the future is relationships, a continued sense of calling to serve here, and to continue to witness people’s lives changed spiritually as a result of God’s work through this church body.
Your turn!

Seasons of Service
Food and Toy
Food & Toy 2009 will take place the week of December 14, culminating with Delivery Day on Saturday, December 19. Throughout the week, cookies will be baked, toys will be wrapped, and food will be packed for up to 700 families. Please mark your calendars and consider how you and your family and friends can make this part of your Christmas tradition and celebration.Click here for more information. Click here to volunteer.

Something New…
Contact Info: Rachel Hansen
In order to facilitate better communication and serve the needs of adopted families, there’s been a "Wants" and "Gots" discussion board created for Food and Toy.The purpose is to create a place for you to post some of the bigger needs of families that have been adopted. It is also a place to post items that you have and no longer need at your house. Think of it as a modified "Craigslist" for Food and Toy.Follow this link and check it out... then pass it on to all Sunset members to help get the word out:
http://tinyurl.com/wantsandgots

We are already aware that there are families sleeping on the floor or that do not have a table so they can eat together as a family. Examples of items you may be finished with:
couch, kitchen table, furniture vacuum you are replacingbed and or mattress extra TV you no longer needcrib or a toddler bed your kids grew out of a computer you are replacingbedding you are replacing perfect condition clothes or shoes (no junk)Small Appliances full set of dishes (toaster oven, blender, microwave)Please email me personally if you have any questions.Merry Christmas... may the SPIRIT of our LORD overwhelm you with JOY!
Rachel Hansen

Opportunities to Serve
Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or 503-292-9293x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in March and April. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Upcoming Events
December 13 – Christmas Concert, Sunset Choir & Orchestra
December 16-19 – Food & Toy
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services 3, 5, 7 & 10pm
When Heaven Came Down, Consider the Wonder of the Christ Child
December 25 – Christmas Day
January 1, 2010 – New Years Day
January 15-16, 2010, Mission Connexion, Crossroads Community Church
Over 120 informative workshops, over 70 mission exhibits and resources.
Open to all - free admission. Crossroads Community is located in Vancouver, WA
For more info www.MissionConneXion.com
January 17, 2010 – Hymn Night

Worship Update 12/4

2009-12-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

From Jay

As to the Lord rather than for man
Last Wednesday night I was supposed to speak at an event and share a short devotional. I had a long time to prepare, and only had to speak for 10 minutes.
Dating back to high school, I was petrified to get up in front of people and speak. It terrified me. I so much preferred the safety and comfort of the other side, sitting and watching someone else speak. My hands and knees would tremble, mouth would suddenly lose every drop of moisture, and I had a hard time making eye contact. (The mouth thing still happens to this day.)

Today because of my calling and vocation, I find myself in front of people more than I would have guessed; but usually it’s within the safety of numbers and when I speak it only has to be quick, so I can manage.

But this was ten minutes… just me… and I was very nervous. I spent a lot of time with God, praying and thinking about what to share. I kept thinking over and over how I wanted to do a good job, wanted it to have a main point, be understandable and memorable. And to be honest, I began to make it about me.

I was pretty worked up right before I had to speak, and desperately needed some perspective with about 5 minutes to go. My mind and heart were racing and I needed some peace and calm, and needed to know Jesus was with me and I was not alone.

As God has done so many times in my life, He spoke to me exactly when I needed it and exactly what I needed to hear. He said, “Jay, it doesn’t have to be epic, it just has to be for Me.” Instantly my heart rate slowed, my mind cleared, and I felt peace in what I was about to do. I felt confident that I spoke for Him and Him alone. (Even though my mouth got dry and I’m pretty sure it was about a C+ talk. J)

Are there things in your life that you want so badly to be epic, things that you want to impress people with that, in the process, they cease to be for God and become about you?

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Welcome baby Millie!
Carrie Peeples, the Worship team admin, is on maternity leave and baby Millie Elizabeth Peeples was born Sunday, Nov 29th, in the afternoon. Check out pictures here!

A note from Pastor Ron…
Christmas at Sunset Presbyterian… this is one of my favorite times of the year when families gather and
show love to each one. You’ll not want to miss any of the gatherings here at Sunset during this holiday season. Here’s December’s list of some of the special gatherings:

12/6 - 9 & 11am “Christmas of Compassion” - InsideOut Kids Choir & Cast
12/13 - 6:30pm “Hallelujah! Light Has Come” - Sunset Choir & Orchestra
12/14-18 - Prep week for Food & Toy
12/19 - Food & Toy delivery to community families
12/24 - 3, 5, 7, & 10pm Christmas Eve Services
When Heaven Came Down – Consider the Wonder of the Christ Child

It’s my Christmas wish that you consider Advent Conspiracy... Advent Conspiracy is not a four-point checklist of how to do Christmas. It is not a formula or a fool-proof system to make your Christmas more meaningful. It is about entering the story of Jesus more deeply with a desire to worship fully. It is
not enough to say no to the way Christmas is celebrated by many, we need to say yes to a different way of celebrating…
- Worship Fully
- Spend Less
- Give More
- Love All

Seasons of Service
Food and Toy
Food & Toy 2009 will take place the week of December 14, culminating with Delivery Day on Saturday, December 19. Throughout the week, cookies will be baked, toys will be wrapped, and food will be packed for up to 700 families. Please mark your calendars and consider how you and your family and friends can make this part of your Christmas tradition and celebration.Click here for more information. Click here to volunteer.

William Walker, Our Adopted School
There is a need to help 5th graders for an hour, one day a month to do more advanced work, working one-on-one with a student in an activity provided by the teacher. Also there is need for Art support, helping students with art projects and art literacy.

To volunteer click here or you can also go to the table in the lobby to speak with our representatives to find out more.

Opportunities to Serve
Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or 503-292-9293x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in March and April. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Join Sunset Choir
Choir has started!! But it’s never too late to join. If you love to express your heart for God through song, please plan to participate in choir this year. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the basement on the west side of the building. For questions or more information, contact jillhofer@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
December 6 – Christmas of Compassion - InsideOut Kids Choir
December 13 – “Hallelujah! Light Has Come” - Sunset Choir & Orchestra
December 16-19 – Food & Toy
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services 3, 5, 7 & 10pm
December 25 – Christmas Day
January 1, 2010 – New Years Day

Millie Elizabeth Peeples!

2009-12-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

Carrie and Mark Peeples welcomed Millie into the world on Sunday November 29th!

They are so in love with their little one!

She weighed 8lbs 7oz.

Look how cute mom and baby are together!

Getting To Know Us: Bruce Rupprecht

2009-11-30T16:07:00.000-08:00

How/why do you serve at Sunset?
I serve on the worship teams and a fill-in guy on the tech team when available. You can find me on a worship team playing Bass guitar with my wife Joyce ( who plays synth) every few weeks or behind the scenes running camera or tech directing. We have been helping in this area at Sunset for over 6 years.

Current hobby?
Now that Joyce and I are empty nesters, we are slowly redefining our free time. I do enjoy working on projects around the house. Last year it included building bird houses for my 'girls' for Christmas. Find it here: http://tinyurl.com/yjdy5z3

What are you passionate about?
Doing my best to create an excellent worship experience. Spending time wth family and friends and getting to know new folks, sooo if you haven't met us , we'll be looking for you...8^)

Favorite place to meet friends and why?
Rock Creek tavern - It's just a great place - In the winter, a cozy wood stove and in the summer outdoor seating tucked away in the country.

What’s your “day job”?
I spend my day keeping thousands of computers connected to School district servers and the Internet. I know kinda nerdie, there goes my rock star status.

Worship Update 11/20

2009-11-23T11:44:00.000-08:00

From Jay

Living life with intentionality
I will never forget last night. It was one of the most encouraging times in my faith I can remember in a while. We were at rehearsal, and before we began we were gathered together for discussion and prayer. We went around the room (there were probably 25-30 of us), and we shared times in our lives where we were moved closer to God in a worship setting in the context of a church or conference or retreat etc.

To listen to how God had wrapped his arms around people, had clarified things for people, had ministered in unique ways, it was just powerful.

I was thinking about the difference between Sunday morning and the rest of my week. I think one of the main discrepancies, at times, is how intentional we can be at church or a conference or a retreat to expose ourselves to the truth and reality of God… we allow time and space to consider, respond, praise, and be with Him. When we do that we open the door for Him to work in and on our hearts. The truth is we have to be that intentional throughout the week if we expect to connect with Him.

This can and will look different with every one of us; what won't look different is our choice to be intentional in order to live life with Him and to worship Him on more than just Sunday.

Ephesians 4:22-24
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (NIV)

THANK YOU for the ways you serve in Worship & Creative Arts. Our W&CA staff, as well as the leadership team are so grateful for your partnership, your talent, your time and the heart each of you brings. It is a joy that we get to serve together while connecting people to Jesus.

We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!

Welcome Traci Franzke to our staff!
Carrie Peeples, the Worship team admin, will be taking maternity leave November 20th - February 15th. Mark and Carrie are expecting a baby girl very soon. Jay and Janet interviewed three candidates and are pleased to introduce Traci Franzke as our interim admin during Carrie's leave.

Traci will assume all of Carrie's responsibilities while Carrie is out, working 25 hours per week. You may recognize Traci as she is involved at Sunset serving as a small group leader for Overflow, serves at Sunset Mom's and is a team leader for the Honduras Spring Break Mission trip!
Traci's contact info is: tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org

Seasons of Service

Food and Toy
Food & Toy 2009 will take place the week of December 14, culminating with Delivery Day on Saturday, December 19. Throughout the week, cookies will be baked, toys will be wrapped, and food will be packed for up to 700 families. Please mark your calendars and consider how you and your family and friends can make this part of your Christmas tradition and celebration.Click here for more information. Click here to volunteer.

William Walker, Our Adopted School
There is a need to help 5th graders for an hour, one day a month to do more advanced work, working one-on-one with a student in an activity provided by the teacher. Also there is need for Art support, helping students with art projects and art literacy.

To volunteer click here or you can also go to the table in the lobby to speak with our representatives to find out more.

Opportunities to Serve
For more ways you can serve in Worship & Creative Arts, check out our ministry blog!
For other ways to serve throughout Sunset and our community, be sure to check your weekly bulletin.

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or 503-292-9293x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to tracifranzke@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in March and April. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Join Sunset Choir
Choir has started!! But it’s never too late to join. If you love to express your heart for God through song, please plan to participate in choir this year. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the basement on the west side of the building. For questions or more information, contact jillhofer@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
November 25 – Thanksgiving Eve Service 7p with RESCUE!
November 26 – Thanksgiving Day
November 28 – Please mark your calendar for November 28th AM. It’s our decoration day in the sanctuary. If you’re available from Noon on please email janetfraser@sunsetpres.org. Donuts will be provided!
December 6 – Kidtropolis Drama
December 13 – Christmas Concert
December 16-19 – Food & Toy
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services 3, 5, 7 & 10pm
December 25 – Christmas Day
January 1, 2010 – New Years Day

Getting To Know Us: Seth Heasley

2009-11-16T11:35:00.000-08:00

How/why do you serve at Sunset?
I sing on Worship Teams and in the Choir when I can. I've been involved in music since college and love to use my voice in ministry. I'm constantly inspired both by the other vocalists and especially by the band.

Favorite Thanksgiving tradition?
I've never been a fan of college football, so I've got to go with the eating. Actually, my family used to play Scrabble or Boggle after dinner. I love me some word games.

What are you passionate about?
Books. Well, reading anyway. They know me by name at the library, and I'm constantly reading, even sometimes while walking. Still no major collisions, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I also love to write, so I try to do that as much as possible. Someday maybe I'll even try to get something published!
I'm also a fan of theology. So a fair bit of my reading and writing is on that topic.

A place you’d love to visit and who you want to go with?
Having been to very few places, I'm pretty much on-board with going *anywhere*. I've seen most of the Western U.S., so I'd love to travel on the East Coast with my family.
(There might be a fair number of baseball stadiums on that tour, since my son and I are huge MLB fans.)
For foreign destinations, I'd love to travel Europe a bit. But I'm fine with expanding my domestic travel first.

What’s your “day job”?
I'm one of those techo-Intel guys, and I could easily bore myself describing my job. I always tell myself I'm a famous author in an engineer's body.

Worship Update 11/13

2009-11-13T17:18:00.000-08:00

From Jay

A Moment of Need
You have been there, and so have I. An emotional crisis, a burning question, a state of desperation, or a bout of loneliness… a time when you just needed someone… anyone, to care.

You have felt the pain of no one reaching out, no one seeming to notice. And maybe, like me, you have also known the joy of someone being there, caring enough to engage and being Jesus at the moment of your need.

As a ministry and as a church we continue to explore what it means to be real. And looking for these moments, anticipating them, and acting on them is a big piece of it.

"But Jay, you don't understand, I'm not good with people, I'm too shy."
"Jay I've got too much going on in my own life to be any help to anyone else."
"Jay, I'm far too busy to take time responding to everyone else's need that comes along, I've got my own friends and family to think about."

Luke 6:32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
For even sinners love those who love them.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
(I can respond in the moment of someone’s needs, because of Christ.)

1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God;
whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies;
so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 2:5-11 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I pray today that you and I will become better and better at responding to the needs of those around us, in all the moments that God uniquely gifts to each one of us.

Where in the world is Janet??
Janet will be out of the office Nov 15-22 traveling to Belgium to produce the Global Leadership Summit in Brussels, for Willow Creek Community Church.

Having grown up in a small church, Janet loves the opportunity to bring leadership training and encouragement to smaller under-resourced churches. Please pray for her trip, for the ministry of the global summit to light a fire in the Belgium church community and for leaders to be equipped to serve with greater impact for the Kingdom.

You can check out the ministry of the Global Summit here: http://theglobalsummit.blogspot.com/
or follow Janet's travel updates here http://www.janetfraser.blogspot.com/
She will have limited access to email while she is away.

Seasons of Service

Food and Toy Needs
Food and Toy, our efforts to provide up to 700 food boxes and toys to families at Christmas has a need for a few more team members:
Assistant Toy Coordinator
Box procurement
Liason to Beaverton School District resource center
For more information please contact Kirsten Williams at kp_williams@verizon.net.

William Walker, Our Adopted School
There is a need to help 5th graders for an hour, one day a month to do more advanced work, working one-on-one with a student in an activity provided by the teacher. Also there is need for Art support, helping students with art projects and art literacy.
To volunteer go to www.www.sunsetpres.org, Seasons of Service, Serving Our Schools then to William Walker. Come to the table in the lobby to speak with our representatives to find out more.

Opportunities to Serve

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503-292-9293x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in March and April. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Videographers And Set Designers Needed!
We’re looking for people to serve in filming and editing the children’s dramas, for distribution to parents. Also set designers to help plan and build the sets.
Next drama is December 6th. If you are able to help in either capacity, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org.

Join Sunset Choir
Choir has started!! But it’s never too late to join. If you love to express your heart for God through song, please plan to participate in choir this year. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the basement on the west side of the building. For questions or more information, contact jillhofer@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
November 25 – Thanksgiving Eve Service 7p with RESCUE!
November 26 – Thanksgiving Day
November 28 – Please mark your calendar for November 28th AM. It’s our decoration day in the sanctuary. If you’re available from Noon on please email janetfraser@sunsetpres.org. Donuts will be provided!
December 6 – Kidtropolis Drama
December 13 – Christmas Concert
December 16-19 – Food & Toy
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services 3, 5, 7 & 10pm
December 25 – Christmas DayJanuary 1, 2010 – New Years Day

Getting To Know Us: Traci Franzke

2009-11-10T11:19:00.000-08:00

Traci (top right) with some of her students

Traci is taking over while Carrie is on maternity leave, as our part-time admin.

How/why do you serve at Sunset?

I began attending Sunset in 1998 as a HS student, and was involved with a small group, attended camps, went on the senior mission trip. After graduating from college I moved home and Sara Phillips invited me to check out giving back to what I had gained so much from in my high school days. SO...I jumped head first into a group of Junior girls, and finished out high school with them! I am now currently a leader of sophomore girls!

I love spending Thursday mornings with the Toddler's in Kids Club during MOMS.

I am also co-leading the upcoming Spring Break mission trip to Helene Honduras.

What’s on your favorite playlist?
Music is my hidden embarrassment. I hate answering this question, haha...Here are artists on my favorite road trip playlist: The Eagles, Lifehouse, Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, The Fray, Ingrid Michaelson, Journey, Shania Twain, Pinstripe Rebellion, Tim McGraw, Michael Jackson, Amos Lee, Brooks and Dunn, DCB, Bob Dylan, Matt Wertz, Skynyrd, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Needham, Green Day, and DMB.

What are you passionate about?
I love people the most! Being in relationship with them, encouraging them, just being a part of their lives! I find my connections with these people through the other things I love: sports, students/kids, Jesus, coaching, and Oregon State :)

Why were you interested in a temporary part-time position?

I am a Varsity Girls Basketball Asst Coach at Westview HS and with season here I needed a job to fill the day but not take from my time on the court and my role in the program off the court.

What’s your “day job”?
Quickly put, my day's are full of all sorts of things! ...In the 'off-season' I am a private contractor and do creative project management and event/wedding coordination. I also 'nanny,' aka help out my mom-friends when I can. I spend time helping out in the Athletic Office and supervising athletic events over at Westview. I am in the weight room and on the court with the basketball team a lot these days also!

Worship Update 11/6

2009-11-06T17:08:00.000-08:00

From Jay

One of the highlights of my role at Sunset, is the people I get to interact with in ministry. I am often challenged, inspired and encouraged by the people I am teamed with. Tyler Braun is no exception. His intellect combined with his heart make him a joy to be around. I have asked him to write some thoughts about the words we use this year as a ministry, and below is what he wrote.
Jay

By now you've all heard about our worship team's tag line for the year:

"Together we Praise, Together we Serve,
Together we Love."

I've been thinking a lot about that statement this past week and thought I'd share some thoughts to each of you on how that relates to us.

Each week we are all part of helping a worship gathering happen. Sometimes this is from the stage, sometimes from the seats.

First and foremost we desire our worship to be directed towards and focused on God, but when we are doing this on a Sunday morning it is something we do together. Not only as a band, vocals, and tech team, but also we are engaging in worship with the people in the seats.

All this is done together, but I often wonder if God is fully satisfied if it just ends there. If we have a wonderful experience of worshiping God together and we come back a week later and do that again, is that enough?

I'm going to say no, which is why this tagline nails it for me. We praise, practice, and engage relationally together and at the same time as we do this we are serving one another, God, and the congregation. But the last part of the tagline, "together we love," is how this all connects together.

There is this aspect of community and love within our worship towards God that we all too often overlook.

Philippians 2:1-4
"If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care – then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." (The Message)

I think this is what we desire even more than quality songs played by talented musicians, technicians, and vocalists.

Each weekend we have a little over an hour together to take the focus off of ourselves in order to focus on loving God and those God has placed around us. If our worship only ends with God and doesn't push us towards loving others it has missed the mark.

Note from Pastor Ron
This is a busy week for our family. Our third son Luke is marrying Jamie Steinfeld, his girlfriend of three years, on Sunday, November 8. All our kids who live out of town are coming home. Many of Luke’s friends who are groomsmen are staying at our house, so we have twenty people staying with us this weekend. With the weekend being so busy I asked John Franklin some time ago to preach for me. John is Vice President of Young Life with a busy schedule, but he always does a great job and is very well appreciated at Sunset. His message is “We Have An Adversary” based on 1 Peter 5:1-8. Join us this Sunday for a great message.

SPRING BREAK 2010!! Helene, Honduras
We are going back! Join us and experience what 200+ other Sunset members know about God’s work on the island of Helene! Helene is a small Honduran-island that is English speaking, impoverished and faith-seeking – they need your help with meaningful ministry projects!
Curious for more information or have a desire to serve?
Leader contact info Mark Runberg: 503.380.2736 or md.runberg@yahoo.com
URGENT – Deadline to turn in applications for this trip Sunday, Nov. 8 with a $100 deposit. Applications can be downloaded at our website, click here and turned in to Cindy Heinz at the church office.

Seasons of Service

Food and Toy Needs
Food and Toy, our efforts to provide up to 700 food boxes and toys to families at Christmas has a need for a few more team members:
Assistant Toy Coordinator
Box procurement
Liason to Beaverton School District resource center
For more information please contact Kirsten Williams at kp_williams@verizon.net.

William Walker, Our Adopted School
There is a need to help 5th graders for an hour, one day a month to do more advanced work, working one-on-one with a student in an activity provided by the teacher. Also there is need for Art support, helping students with art projects and art literacy.
To volunteer go to www.www.sunsetpres.org, Seasons of Service, Serving Our Schools then to William Walker. Come to the table in the lobby to speak with our representatives to find out more.

Opportunities to Serve

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503-292-9293x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in January and February. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Videographers And Set Designers Needed!
We’re looking for people to serve in filming and editing the children’s dramas, for distribution to parents. Also set designers to help plan and build the sets.
Next drama is December 6th. If you are able to help in either capacity, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org.

Join Sunset Choir
Choir has started!! But it’s never too late to join. If you love to express your heart for God through song, please plan to participate in choir this year. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the basement on the west side of the building. For questions or more information, contact jillhofer@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
November 25 – Thanksgiving Eve Service 7p with RESCUE!
November 26 – Thanksgiving Day
November 28 – Please mark your calendar for November 28th AM. It’s our decoration day in the sanctuary. If you’re available from Noon on please email janetfraser@sunsetpres.org. Donuts will be provided!
December 6 – Kidtropolis Drama
December 13 – Christmas Concert
December 16-19 – Food & Toy
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services 3, 5, 7 & 10pm
December 25 – Christmas Day
January 1, 2010 – New Years Day

Getting To Know Us: Abby Kahl

2009-11-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

How/Why Do you serve at Sunset:
I sing in the choir and I just started singing with the worship team. I serve because when I wasn't there was something missing in my life. It is also a great opportunity to meet new people who also love God and who will challenge me to be a better/stronger christian.

Favorite animal and why?
At the moment my favorite animal would be a cat; specifically my two cats Tiger & Lily. Why? Because they possess a great mixture of independence, unconditional love and they are FUZZY! :) Besides there isn't a better way to end the day, than by curling up on the couch with a blanket, a great book and my cats asleep on my lap.

What are you passionate about?
Music would have to be one of the first things that comes to mind. Combine that with growing in my relationship with God and I'm a happy girl. :) I'm also passionate about helping people; I love doing those little things that help brighten someone's day.

Something that happened yesterday that makes you happy?
I spent Sunday afternoon with my Parents and my extended family. Family is one of the most important things in my life, so when we all get together for a meal or to play card games it makes my whole day!

What's your "day job"?
I am the Director of Agency Products & Services for the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Oregon (IIABO). We provide continuing education, networking opportunities, and other services to the Oregon independent agents. I sell Errors & Omissions Insurance (think medical malpractice for insurance agents) and work with the different agency programs we offer to our members.

Worship Update 10/30

2009-10-30T17:12:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Iron sharpens Iron
I got home last from last weekend exhausted and exhilarated. I had just spent two days in Hume Lake California at a men’s conference, and I was definitely on a spiritual high and a physical low. I had taken a lot of footage of the trip, and was anxious to make a video, and finally got around to it on Wed night. It took me about 4 hours. I was learning a new program, had messed it up more than once, etc., etc. I finally got it all done, posted it everywhere I could, and then the next morning (today actually), showed it to my wife Allison.

About 2 minutes in there was a part on the video where I had been insensitive, and basically was making fun of someone I didn’t know on the airplane. She took one look at it and said you have to take this down. This crosses the line and maybe if you weren’t a pastor or in ministry, maybe (but probably not even then) this would be ok, but you are and it’s not.

I knew she was right, immediately. I pouted though as I deleted it off the places I had posted, realizing I would have to do yet another edit of the video. The reality is I am proud of her, grateful for her, and for people in my life who call it like they see it, and help me think outside myself and make me better.

I could tell you similar stories of the people I work with at Sunset, taking the time and care to point something out to me that has sharpened me and that I needed to hear. It’s part of what I LOVE about the church body as a whole; and you and I need that in our lives, need friends like that. God in His process of refining us, often uses the people around us to do the refining. If you’re like me sometimes the first reaction is defensive or less than warm and grateful; but at the end of the day I’ll take loving constructive criticism over surface relationships every time.

Proverbs 27:17 (New International Version)
As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.

Monday, November 2nd
7p Student Center
The Sunset Global Outreach Team is hosting a reception for John and Heather Witherow, our missionaries to South Africa and Zimbabwe. Join us to hear firsthand what this awesome family is accomplishing.

SPRING BREAK 2010!! Helene, Honduras
We are going back! Join us and experience what 200+ other Sunset members know about God’s work on the island of Helene! Helene is a small Honduran-island that is English speaking, impoverished and faith-seeking – they need your help with meaningful ministry projects!
Curious for more information or have a desire to serve?
Leader contact info Mark Runberg; 503.380.2736 or md.runberg@yahoo.com
URGENT – Deadline to turn in applications for this trip Sunday, Nov. 8 with a $100 deposit. Applications can be downloaded at our website, click here and turned in to Cindy Heinz at the church office.

Seasons of Service

Food and Toy Needs
Food and Toy, our efforts to provide up to 700 food boxes and toys to families at Christmas has a need for a few more team members:
Assistant Toy Coordinator
Box procurement
Liason to Beaverton School District resource center
For more information please contact Kirsten Williams at kp_williams@verizon.net.

William Walker, Our Adopted School
There is a need to help 5th graders for an hour, one day a month to do more advanced work, working one-on-one with a student in an activity provided by the teacher. Also there is need for Art support, helping students with art projects and art literacy.
To volunteer go to www.www.sunsetpres.org, Seasons of Service, Serving Our Schools then to William Walker. Come to the table in the lobby to speak with our representatives to find out more.

Opportunities to Serve

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503-292-9293x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in January and February. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Videographers And Set Designers Needed!
We’re looking for people to serve in filming and editing the children’s dramas, for distribution to parents. Also set designers to help plan and build the sets.
Next drama is December 6th. If you are able to help in either capacity, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org.

Join Sunset Choir
Choir has started!! But it’s never too late to join. If you love to express your heart for God through song, please plan to participate in choir this year. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the basement on the west side of the building. For questions or more information, contact jillhofer@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
November 25 – Thanksgiving Eve Service 7p with RESCUE!
November 26 – Thanksgiving Day
December 6 – Kidtropolis Drama
December 13 – Christmas Concert
December 16-19 – Food & Toy
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services 3, 5, 7 & 10pm
December 25 – Christmas Day
January 1, 2010 – New Years Day

Getting To Know Us: Rose Braun

2009-10-26T14:16:00.001-07:00

Rose with her husband (Sunset's co-praise band director), Tyler.

How and why you serve at sunset?

I serve at Sunset on the worship team and I am also a small group leader for highschool girls who are now Juniors. Why do I do this? First and foremost I love the Lord with all that I am. I want to live a life of obedience and one full of community. I felt called to work with highschool girls many years ago after I graduated from high school myself. I love the life and energy that they bring each week, and they inspire and challenge me more than they realize. I have been with them since they were freshman and will continue until they are juniors. Every Tuesday night they come over and we dig into the Word, have hard converstations, times of prayer and have a lot of fun! Music has always been a part of my life. I had my first solo at church when I was about 7. In college I was looking for someone to be able to co- lead campus worship, and was directed to Tyler Braun, who is now my husband. It is a neat gift we both have and it's a treasure to share that together. Leading people into the presence of God is something I can't even describe and will never take for granted!

If you had a week to travel any where in the world, where would you go and why?

I would go to Hawaii. It's not too far to travel and I love it there! I have been there 3 times, and the last time was on our honeymoon. I would love to go back there with some girl friends this time and enjoy and relax for a week! What a dream that would be. :)

What are you passionate about?

Things I love and bring me passion are: LIFE, Jesus, the Bible and the life it brings, my husband, friends and family, exercise and health, kids and babies, and massage.

Favorite childhood memory?

Growing up in Alaska, ever winter we had some mad sledding hills. I have so many fun memories of racing my family members down our icy icy hill!

What's your day job?

My day job is always changing. But if you mean my "work" I would say, I am currently a waitress and trainer at the Cheesecake Factory. I am currently in school for maternity massage therapy and look forward to making that my career in the near future.

Worship Update 10/23

2009-10-23T17:01:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Jump

I have very fond memories of rock jumping in my teenage years. My favorite spot was in Sandy on the Bull Run River. My friend Brian Remsburg had a Christmas tree farm near there, and he showed us this awesome spot on the river near the dam.

We had to hike about a mile down the river, passing 2 or 3 other medium sized jumps until we got to the big daddy of them all. We called it “the cliff”. Climbing to the top was a challenge. It basically felt like rock climbing it was such a steep ascent. On the top where we would jump was a tree growing out from the side of the cliff that provided about a 1 foot platform to stand on. I remember standing a LONG time there the first few jumps, trying to gain the courage needed to let go of the tree and leap out into nothing. The trick to the jump, was that you couldn't just sort of jump. The cliff wasn't straight down, it came out a few feet in the middle, so you had to jump out enough to clear that hump in the middle. And of course, if you were a guy, like any good jump you had to remember to keep your legs close together when you hit the water. J

Luke 14:28-30
“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’”

Jesus is challenging His disciples to pick up their cross and follow Him. In that time people who were carrying their crosses were on their way to be crucified. So a challenge like that was not a half hearted, sort of maybe, if you feel like it proposal. This was all in… this was be ready to die for your devotion to Jesus. This invitation was to a full on jump.

I think the danger for someone like me, who has known Christ their whole life, is that when I was young I didn't even know what it meant to count the cost. I just knew I loved Jesus and that He loved me.

Sometimes today though I feel like if you saw me, you’d see that I have jumped off the cliff, but I didn't jump quite far enough and I am clinging to the base of that tree, legs dangling, scared out of my mind. What I long for is to jump all the way off, with reckless abandon. At times I am confused when that longing doesn't transfer into action; or I’m frustrated with myself when it feels like I am still just content to remain up on top by the tree instead of living the adventure of a surrendered life.

“Jesus, while I still can jump, teach me to jump all the way for You.”

Seasons of Service

Habitat for Humanity - October 31st
The CREW (our tech & production team) is doing a community service project in October and we have a couple spots open for anyone who would like to join us!

We’ll be working at the Westside project in Aloha and we have a couple openings left:
8:30 - Noon (need one) Noon - 4 (need two)
Lunch is provided. Let me know if you're available- we'd love to have you join us! RSVP today to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org

Message from Ken
Every week I hear people talking about how they see our church becoming a “serving” church! I want to thank Marlene Duncan for being the Sunset volunteer co-coordinator for Beaverton Compassion Clinic. We are hearing amazing stories from those who were served and also those who served. Thank you to everyone who participated.

Please begin to pray for the teams, the many volunteers, the families and individuals who will be serving and be served by Food and Toy. Pray about what God may be leading YOU to do!

Below are the specific needs in our Season’s of Service. If God is tapping you on the shoulder, contact the appropriate person and let them know!

Volunteers Needed At William Walker School and McKinley School
William Walker is looking for volunteers for a PASSPORT CLUB they are starting. It is an opportunity for kids to learn about geography. There is a training on October 20th from 7-8p in the school library and the club day will be on Oct 29th from 8:45 to 11a. This is a once a month commitment.
McKinley is looking for people to help with a family costume dance on Oct 23rd.
Both contacts for volunteering is Carole Long at carolelong@comcast.net.

Food and Toy Needs
Food and Toy, our efforts to provide up to 700 food boxes and toys to families at Christmas has a need for a few more team members:
Assistant Toy Coordinator
Box procurement
Liason to Beaverton School District resource center
For more information please contact Kirsten Williams at kp_williams@verizon.net.

Opportunities to Serve

Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503-292-9293x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in January and February. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Pop Culture Wanted!
Sermon Research Team
We’re looking for people who have an eye for what is current in movies, art, music, and media to partner with Pastor Ron by researching and using these sources for sermon preparation.
Please contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Videographers And Set Designers Needed!
We’re looking for people to serve in filming and editing the children’s dramas, for distribution to parents. Also set designers to help plan and build the sets.
Next drama is December 6th. If you are able to help in either capacity, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org.

Join Sunset Choir
Choir has started!! But it’s never too late to join. If you love to express your heart for God through song, please plan to participate in choir this year. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the basement on the west side of the building. For questions or more information, contact jillhofer@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
October 25 – Annual Meeting, 6:30p in the Sanctuary
November 1 – Daylight Savings Ends
November 25 – Thanksgiving Eve Service with RESCUE!
November 26 – Thanksgiving Day
December 6 – Kidtropolis Drama
December 13 – Christmas Concert
December 16-19 – Food & Toy
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services 3, 5, 7 & 10pm
December 25 – Christmas Day
January 1, 2010 – New Years Day

Getting To Know Us: Dan Morgan

2009-10-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

This is Dan with his 2 kids, Emily and Andy.

How/why do you serve at Sunset?
Most Sundays I work in the children's area hanging out with a special needs student. I like being able to provide the social interaction and help give his mom a break. I have also worked on the security team for the FUN nights, which is, um, FUN. We would often attend the old evening service so when the chance came up last year to help with the new Sunday evening service, I was excited for the opportunity to provide this option. So, once a month I perform the setup and teardown of the sound equipment and run the sound board during the service. I find it very interesting to work with technical equipment that's not a computer because it's quite different from my day job. Since this was so much fun, I also signed up to work the camera in the big church once a month. That's a bit more stressful knowing that everyone will see it if I make a mistake, but it is also rewarding to find a really cool picture that may get up on the screen. A side benefit of working both with children and tech departments is meeting and working with the great people that make our church run and it's one of the reasons I love coming in to serve.

If you could have lunch with any person dead or alive, who would it be and why?
I suppose the obvious answer here is Jesus, but I also can't think of a better one. I suppose I could think of a question or two to ask, but even just listening to him speak for an hour would be amazing.

What are you passionate about?
Day-to-day I am passionate about my job, responding to urgent needs as quickly as possible and getting projects done the right way so things run smoothly. I love solving problems with software and making computers do what I want. I am also a strong believer in education, especially literacy and math as important building blocks for both children and adults to better grow and participate in our society and provide the capability for self-improvement, spiritual growth, and greater self esteem.

What’s a dream you have that has yet to be lived out?
Probably more travelling to different parts of our country and world. I think it might be fun to take a motorcycle tour of the US.

What’s your “day job”?

Computer programmer at a local semiconductor manufacturer, TriQuint. We make chips that are used for cell phones, wireless internet, and many other communications devices. The process generates a lot of data and my group is responsible for collecting much of the data, reformatting as necessary, storing it, and making it available to various internal and external customers. I also work on factory automation projects to enable our production tools to talk to other computer systems and improve speed and accuracy.

Worship Update 10/16

2009-10-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Can’t Wait

I don’t often get moved to tears in my quiet time with God, but I was this morning. I am in Colossians right now, reading about how Jesus is the fullness of God; that when you see Jesus, you see an exact representation of His Father God.

This study guide book I am in asked this question: “What are some of the difficulties we have in trying to know and relate to an invisible God?”

Suddenly I was hit with a longing to see Jesus face to face like I never have. If He is my best friend, if He is my Redeemer, my Savior, if I am supposed to be drawing closer to Him, it just kind of seems like I should be able to talk with Him face to face, to ask Him questions, to listen to Him, like other people in my life I love and that love me. I can tell you all the answers I have said all my life about how He speaks to me through His Word and how we can pray to Him boldly, etc. And even though I believe in those things with all my heart, I just really, really, really would like to see Him, face to face.

Colossians 1:15-16…

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.He existed before anything was created
and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—

And so I wait, along with you, for a time when I finally will see Him standing in front of me.

Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. - 1 Corinthians 13:12

Seasons Of Service

Habitat for Humanity - October 31st
The CREW (our tech & production team) is doing a community service project in October and we have a couple spots open for anyone who would like to join us!

We’ll be working at the Westside project in Aloha and we have a couple openings left:
8:30 - Noon (need one) Noon - 4 (need two)
Lunch is provided. Let me know if you're available- we'd love to have you join us! RSVP today to janetfraser@sunsetpres.org

Opportunities To Serve

New Ushers Needed!!
We are in need of ushers for all 3 services, especially the 11am. If you are available and willing to serve once a month as an usher, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or 503-292-9293x3083.

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in December and January. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Pop Culture Wanted!
Sermon Research Team
We’re looking for people who have an eye for what is current in movies, art, music, and media to partner with Pastor Ron by researching and using these sources for sermon preparation.
Please contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Videographers And Set Designers Needed!
We’re looking for people to serve in filming and editing the children’s dramas, for distribution to parents. Also set designers to help plan and build the sets.
Next drama is December 6th. If you are able to help in either capacity, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org.

Join Sunset Choir
Choir has started!! But it’s never too late to join. If you love to express your heart for God through song, please plan to participate in choir this year. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the basement on the west side of the building. For questions or more information, contact jillhofer@sunsetpres.org.

Upcoming Events
October 25 – Annual Meeting, 6:30p in the Sanctuary
November 1 – Daylight Savings Ends
November 25 – Thanksgiving Eve Service with RESCUE!

Getting To Know Us: Carrie Wheeler

2009-10-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

Running in costume at the First Run last New Year's Eve - 5K in downtown Portland that starts at midnight!

How/why do you serve at Sunset?
Alpha Course helper/facilitator - I think Alpha is a fantastic course for all Christians and for those exploring Christianity. It helped me understand and make a real commitment to my faith, so I try to support the class in any way I can.
Stage Manager for 5:30 service 1x per month - I'm a night person and sometimes even making the 11 am service is hard for me, so I wanted to help support the evening service and this seemed like a good way to do it!
Church-wide service projects (Bike Fair, Food & Toy Drive, Helping Hands, etc.) - I love community service and the spirit of joy that comes from working together as a group to serve others - one of the things I love most about Sunset!

Your favorite restaurant and why? My old standby is Bastas Trattoria in NW Portland - great food, good prices (for the neighborhood, anyway!), an atmosphere that can be as dressed up or dressed down as you want, and they have their own (free!) parking lot.

What are you passionate about? God, my family, my dog, foster children, music, traveling/experiencing life in other parts of the world, international humanitarian missions, hiking, dancing, camping, chocolate, reading... just to name a few!

If you suddenly won the lottery, what are the first 5 things you’d purchase?
West Beach Resort on Orcas Island (yes, the entire resort!)
Plane tickets to visit my brother and sister-in-law and their two-year-old twins in Tennessee
Pay the deposit for a mission trip to Haiti I've wanted to do for several years now with Haiti Foundation of Hope/Medical Teams International
Dinner for all my friends and family at Bastas
Some much-needed new clothes (I'm starting to feel like a cartoon character!)

What’s your “day job”? Development and Gifts Manager at Chehalem Youth and Family Services, a Christian non-profit providing residential foster care for kids 11-18 and counseling services for the community.

Worship Update 10/9

2009-10-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Words
I follow a pastor named Mark Driscoll who teaches at Mars Hill Church in Seattle. By follow, I mean I listen to his sermons as often as I can via an app on my phone. His sermons have encouraged, challenged and inspired me, so I keep listening.

People love to have an opinion about Mark that know of him (whether or not they know him). I have heard the following, "He's arrogant." "He is cocky." "He is controversial."

I was reading his blog today and he mentioned that he watched a certain movie with his wife. Under the comments, I read several people's comments who wrote something about how awful the movie was and how disappointed they were that Mark watched it, and would Jesus watch that movie with him etc., etc.

I'm not writing about Mark Driscoll. This isn't based on a personal vendetta or about anyone in particular. What I am writing about is our uncanny ability to judge others. It is really on my heart right now after reading Mark's blog.

It's all fine until it's directed at you or me. When someone who has little or no relationship with you lobs an accusation your way and you hear it third person, it cuts like a knife. We can't understand and we think "If that person really knew me, really knew my heart, took the time to understand me, they wouldn't say that." Or, at the very least, we wonder why they didn't come to us first before they start mentioning us to others casually in conversation.

So why do we do it?? Well ultimately I believe it's just one of many things that our heart rushes to do apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. When we can point out wrong in others, it often makes us feel superior and righteous and better than we are.

The truth is if we are honest with ourselves…
if we read Romans and realize what we truly are apart from Christ in our lives…
if we are honest about where we have come from, about our own day to day battles with our flesh and the whispers of the lies of Satan…
and if we were humbled before the holiness of Christ…
we would not waste our time looking for and pointing out the flaws in those around us. Instead, we need to look for ways to build up those around us and look for the good in them. So, what about our "constructive criticism"? That's something we should carefully speak to those closest to us, those we know and love, and those to whom we're very sure God has called us to speak truth, knowing that our words may cause a wound.

Eph 4:28-32...
Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.

Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. (The Message)

Opportunities to Serve

Praise Band/Vocal Auditions
October 18th… we are looking especially for piano and synth players. Please contact Tyler Braun at tylerbraun@sunsetpres.org to schedule an audition.
Vocal auditions are ongoing; please contact jaymckenney@sunsetpres.org if you are interested in singing. All ages welcome!

Communion Help
We are looking for people willing to serve once a month helping with communion. Specific positions needed are prep, servers, and clean-up. If you are interested and willing to serve, please email to carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org or call 503.292.9293 x3083.

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in December and January. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Pop Culture Wanted!
Sermon Research Team
We’re looking for people who have an eye for what is current in movies, art, music, and media to partner with Pastor Ron by researching and using these sources for sermon preparation.
Please contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Videographers And Set Designers Needed!
We’re looking for people to serve in filming and editing the children’s dramas, for distribution to parents. Also set designers to help plan and build the sets.
Next drama is December 6th. If you are able to help in either capacity, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org.

Join Sunset Choir
Choir has started!! But it’s never too late to join. If you love to express your heart for God through song, please plan to participate in choir this year. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the basement on the west side of the building. For questions or more information, contact jillhofer@sunsetpres.org.

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
October 10 – Compassion Beaverton, info at www.compassionbeaverton.org
October 11 – Infant Baptism and Dedication, church-wide Pancake Breakfast
October 16 – FUN Family Unity Night, 6-8:30p in the Gym
October 18 – Chap Clark conference (morning services and 4-7p)
October 25 – Annual Meeting, 6:30p in the Sanctuary
November 1 – Daylight Savings Ends
November 25 – Thanksgiving Eve Service with RESCUE!

Getting To Know Us: Debbie Schappert

2009-10-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

How/why do you serve at Sunset? I serve at Sunset because it is what God wants me to do. I like to help, and when He lays a need on my heart I try and follow His prompting. I currently am stage manager once a month and love serving on this team. I have wanted to do something in this 'area' ever since I first came to a service at Sunset. So after I joined the church last fall, I felt now was the time to step up and serve! I also had the privilege of co-leading a group of 5 year old's last summer for Kid's Camp, what a great time we all had. I did help a few time with data entry for prayer requests, but ran out of time to continue. Worship & Creative Arts is a good fit for me because I only have to do it one time a month, rather than every week.

What’s your hidden talent? Not sure, I tend to be a 'Jill of all Trades' and can be pretty versatile.

What are you passionate about? I am passionate about my kids and my business, which brings me to 'what is your day job'?. I own a boarding kennel for dogs and cats. We have 7 employee's and lot's of maintenance so between that and having two girls in elementary school, that fills by day up.

What is your favorite meal of the day (breakfast, lunch or dinner) and what would that meal be?Favorite meal of the day is probably dinner, as it is usually the most relaxing time of the day. Favorite food? Anything except fish.

I feel very blessed to be a part of this worship team and of Sunset!

Debbie, thanks for serving! We are glad to have you on our team!

Worship Update 10/2

2009-10-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

Coming Sunday, October 18, 4-7pm at Sunset Presbyterian Church Gym

This Sunset Community Conference is designed to provide the training and tools adults need to understand the adolescent experience and help us integrate our students into the full life of the church family.

Grounded in a solid theology of church life and community, the seminar helps men and women to grapple with their own fears about our changing world, and allows them to recognize and address how these fears are passed down to the kids that God is calling each of us to serve, nurture, embrace and love. This conference features Chap Clark – a well-known practitioner, adolescent and family scholar, author, gifted trainer-teacher and energetic speaker.

Chap has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (cum laude) from the University of California, San Diego, and a M. A. Theology and Master of Divinity from Fuller Seminary and a Ph.D. from the University of Denver in Human Communications Studies, specializing in relationships, teamwork and leadership, and organizational and family systems.

Chap will also be speaking in our 9 am and 11am Sunday morning services. No conference fees; a free-will offering will be taken. Invite your community… friends, neighbors, teachersClick here to register for free children's programming (birth - 5 year olds) for the 4:30 pm session.

Update/Announcement
Worship & Creative Arts is excited this year to be starting a new process that will track when you serve on Sundays. In the past, some of you who serve regularly have flown completely under the radar. Consequently, our database program (and therefore, our church) has had practically no knowledge that you have even attended!

Starting October 11th we will add a check-in component to the stage manager’s job; they’ll check-in every person who is serving on that Sunday morning through a laptop and our FellowshipOne database. So… if you suddenly start seeing your name associated with a barcode in a binder in the green room, don’t be alarmed. J

Service Opportunities

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in December and January. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Pop Culture Wanted!
Sermon Research Team
We’re looking for people who have an eye for what is current in movies, art, music, and media to partner with Pastor Ron by researching and using these sources for sermon preparation.
Please contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Videographers And Set Designers Needed!
We’re looking for people to serve in filming and editing the children’s dramas, for distribution to parents. Also set designers to help plan and build the sets.
Next drama is December 6th. If you are able to help in either capacity, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org.

Join Sunset Choir
Choir has started!! But it’s never too late to join. If you love to express your heart for God through song, please plan to participate in choir this year. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the basement on the west side of the building. For questions or more information, contact jillhofer@sunsetpres.org.

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
October 10 – Compassion Beaverton, info at www.compassionbeaverton.org
October 11 – Infant Baptism and Dedication, church-wide Pancake Breakfast
October 16 – FUN Family Unity Night
October 18 – Chap Clark conference
October 25 – Annual Meeting
November 1 – Daylight Savings Ends
November 25 – Thanksgiving Eve Service

Worship Update 9/25

2009-09-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Most days

I have been working on a song lately called Most Days. The song isn’t for anyone, it’s just for me, but I thought I would express some of the heart of it if I can.

I have been on staff at Sunset for 5 years. Before that I was in a full time music ministry for 3 years, and nearly full time 5 years before that. Before that I was in church worship teams, choirs, ensembles and other singing ministries on the side. It has been a long time since I was the person coming to church and sitting in the chair.

The danger of that is I can lose touch with reality, your reality. But for today, that is not why I’m writing this. Because the other danger is you can lose touch with mine. So the following are some basic (and not really thought through) thoughts about my reality as someone on staff at a church, some things I think about, some things I struggle with, some things I love about it, etc. My point in this is to let you “in” a little to my brain, and in a sense hopefully let you in on others who work in a church as well, as I find more and more the journey we walk can be so similar.

Most days I’m still trying to figure out life like you are. Most days I feel the battle between my selfishness and God’s spirit so strong that I long for heaven.

Most days I wonder who I’m not reaching out to enough, who is looking down on me for not reaching out to them enough, and realizing I don’t even reach out to my own family enough let alone my church family.

Some days I think I want to do anything but work in music at a church, the wounds you take sometimes don’t feel worth it. But a strong sense of calling, and joy that outweighs the wounds, and relationships that bring life, have kept me in it thus far.

Some days I actually remember a “normal job”, when I worked construction for years and years, and shake my head about God’s plans for my life, and become filled with gratitude to be doing something I’m passionate about.

Most days I realize I have so much more to learn, and that when it comes to relationships in some ways each day starts over, and yesterday’s successes don’t mean today I’m off the hook in learning to love people more.

Some days my motivation “switch” is turned all the way off. God is teaching me the value of showing up in those days, in relationships, in life, and not waiting till I feel “full” to engage. But to also be very aware and let others be aware that my tank is empty when it’s empty.

Some days I get so tired of the same conversations, about church, about music, about serving, about strategy, about leadership, about community, about opinion, that I want to scream. Other days I can hardly wait to dive into the discussion again and see how God will change us, mold us, use us, transform us, mobilize us, and empower us.

Some days I feel that my very presence in ministry, has brought more harm than good, that I lack the skills, lack the vision, lack the leadership, lack the heart, lack the stamina, and lack the love to bring any value to anyone. Some days God reminds me it’s His skill, His stamina, and His love that matters, and that He has more than enough to go around. Those are good days!!!

I could seriously go on forever, but you won’t read forever so I will cut it here. Hopefully something here was insightful or encouraging or revealing to you this day.
Jay

An update from Jay -- Why don’t we sing as much anymore??

Allison and I have been married for 14 years. One of the things we realize we fall into is assuming the other person knows what is in our minds. The reality is, we often don’t, and still need to hear the context, the why, the heart behind an action or decision.

Often times in this ministry I am heading a certain direction based on a heart decision made in the context of team, but realize I haven’t communicated it to the ministry as a whole. From time to time as I think of things I want to address them.

One of the things that has changed in Worship and Creative Arts is the way we approach a weekend. There is a desire to find more ways to engage people, more ways to interact, and more ways to involve people in worship outside of just singing a song. This desire meets the reality of limited time in a service, which is still more or less 70 minutes. The outcome is when the service planning teams comes up with different ways (through prayer and reflection) to engage people differently we sing less.

For example, in the next few months, we are looking at some ways to do prayer and healing differently, to involve the congregation more, and both ideas come at the “expense” of songs normally in that slot. (Still flushing out our plan so I won’t spoil you with details. J) This is intentional. But, if it’s not stated (and you’re playing or singing that weekend with only 3 or 4 songs instead of 6 or 7) you might wonder why there are less songs. We still HIGHLY value praising together in song, but we are looking more holistically at our time together realizing there are many opportunities to grow as a family outside of just singing, in the context of a worship service.

This also means when you serve on Sunday a.m. that your rehearsal on Sunday morning may end a little earlier so that we can run other elements. This will allow you time to grab a bite to eat, relax and be out greeting in the sanctuary as the church arrives!

I also want to take this moment to open the door of my office for you. Let me know if this brings up other things that you have witnessed but don’t feel have been communicated well and you’d like to hear the heart behind it. I know you are not a mind reader and the more informed you are the better!!

Thank you,
Jay

Opportunities to Serve

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in December and January. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Pop Culture Wanted!
Sermon Research Team
We’re looking for people who have an eye for what is current in movies, art, music, and media to partner with Pastor Ron by researching and using these sources for sermon preparation.
Please contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Videographers And Set Designers Needed!
We’re looking for people to serve in filming and editing the children’s dramas, for distribution to parents. Also set designers to help plan and build the sets.
Next drama is December 6th. If you are able to help in either capacity, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org.

Join Sunset Choir
Choir has started!! But it’s never too late to join. If you love to express your heart for God through song, please plan to participate in choir this year. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the basement on the west side of the building. For questions or more information, contact jillhofer@sunsetpres.org.

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
October 10 – Compassion Beaverton, info at www.compassionbeaverton.org
October 11 – Infant Baptism and Dedication, church-wide Pancake Breakfast
October 16 – FUN Family Unity Night
October 18 – Chap Clark conference
October 25 – Annual Meeting 6:30pm
November 1 – Daylight Savings Ends
November 25 – Thanksgiving Eve Service

Worship Update 9/18

2009-09-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

From Jay

Freedom in Worship

The music starts, but I can’t quite tell what’s happening. I don’t know this song, and I don’t feel comfortable singing something I don’t know. No one around me is singing either, and the lyrics on the screen don’t even match whatever is being sung from the platform. It’s too loud or it’s too quiet. This song is too fast, and that one is too slow. Song after song it’s the same thing, if I’m supposed to be experiencing or feeling something I’m not, and I don’t think anyone around me is either.

Have you ever thought anything like that? I have many times! Of course, not at Sunset J. Actually most likely for you of course this has happened here, at Sunset, with me leading on a Sunday morning. Contrast that with the opposite feeling of losing yourself in praising Jesus corporately, and the freedom that washes over you as you pour out your affection to Jesus with a room full of people doing the same.

OK so for all the buzzwords and philosophies and ways to think about worship, let me narrow this conversation for a moment down to what takes place in an hour on Sunday, and our time of praising God together, in song. My hope for what happens there, in that time, for you is also my hope as a pastor for your whole life and my whole life as well. What do you think of when you think of freedom in that setting?

For me, one of the places that freedom in worship starts is being rooted in my true identity in Christ. If I am praising from that place… the place of who I am in Him, of what He says about me and my relationship to Him, than I am praising from a healthy place.

When I’m not free, my identity is found in other things. How well I’m singing or not, what people are thinking of me, positive or negative, whether or not I like a song, the look on that guy’s face that must have something to do with me, etc. When I am in this place I am not free, I am in bondage to myself and my thoughts, and my identity apart from Christ.

One of the goals this year, in regards to Sunday morning, is to continue to give all of us in the room the time and space to get to that place… that free place in our worship. To change our perspective from us centered to Christ centered. I believe when we praise from that place we change from consumers of a product to participants in an experience of lifting up the name of Jesus together. This is the heart of what we want to be about. It doesn’t let those who serve here off the hook to do all we can to provide an environment free from distraction, but the heartbeat of what happens in the hour on Sunday is so that we have time and space to move into Christ centered worship together.

Colossians 3:1-2 and 15-17
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Head’s Up!!

Next Sunday The Gathering will change to its new time of 5:30 pm, in the Gym.
This worship service is designed especially as a community based, conversational gathering of the church. It’s a great way to introduce your friends to Jesus.

Praise Night - Freedom Is Here
Sunday, September 27, 7 pm, Sanctuary
Join us for a night of praise! A night of worship at Sunset Presbyterian Church put together by the youth worship ministry and weekend worship teams. It’s a great opportunity to experience God through worship with your entire family.

Opportunities To Serve

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in January. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Pop Culture Wanted!
Sermon Research Team
We’re looking for people who have an eye for what is current in movies, art, music, and media to partner with Pastor Ron by researching and using these sources for sermon preparation.
Please contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Videographers And Set Designers Needed!
We’re looking for people to serve in filming and editing the children’s dramas, for distribution to parents. Also set designers to help plan and build the sets.
Next drama is December 6th. If you are able to help in either capacity, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org.

Join Sunset Choir
Choir has started!! But it’s never too late to join. If you love to express your heart for God through song, please plan to participate in choir this year. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the basement on the west side of the building. For questions or more information, contact jillhofer@sunsetpres.org.

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. Ifyou have this skill or know someone at Sunset who does, please email me janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

September 20 & 27 – Pathways & Connections
September 27 – Praise Night!
October 10 – Compassion Beaverton, info at www.compassionbeaverton.org
October 11 – Infant Baptism and Dedication, church-wide Pancake Breakfast
October 16 – FUN Family Unity Night