Dear church –

It’s hard for me to believe that next week is already the end of April! We are 1/3 of the way through 2010 and 1/3 of the way through the Bible. If you haven’t yet started reading along, this is a good time to join in. I am glad we are through some books (like Leviticus!) and are reading in I and II Samuel and I Chronicles and Psalms. We are doing some jumping around now in order to read through the Bible chronologically. I am finding the stories about David’s life both challenging and encouraging.

In I Samuel 13:14, we are told that the Lord “sought out a man after His own heart”.  I’ve been thinking about that this week. What was it about David that made his heart like God’s? David was like most of us in a lot of ways - he was afraid, he ran and hid in his fear and he wanted things that God told him to stay away from (like having 8 wives). In addition, David sinned in some really “big” ways; such as having a man murdered so he could have the woman he wanted. None of this seems much like God’s heart; yet there is a reoccurring theme to David’s life which has encouraged me. David loved God, sought Him out, and chose to repent and to turn back to God every time he sinned. I think what God saw in David was his willingness to admit he had sinned and his passion to repent.

 I’m guessing most of us would like to be described like David. We want to be men and women who have God’s heart. The encouragement for us is that this does not mean we have to be perfect. It does mean we have to turn away from sin and turn our hearts to God. It’s the turning of our hearts towards God that is repentance, not just being sorry we sinned. It takes courage to repent; yet as David’s life shows us, turning to God can lead to some pretty amazing things.

This week let’s pray together for God to give us the courage to turn away from the stuff we want and turn to Him, so that as it says in Ruth 4:14, the name of Jesus might be made famous!

Blessings –

Shelley on behalf of the Leadership Council

This Sunday:

• Community Worship, 9:15 am
• KidStuf Family Worship at 11:19 am. April Virtue: Friendship – Spending time with someone you trust and enjoy

Other Announcements:

Friendship Pictures

For our KidStuf virtue application for the month of April, kids and parents are encouraged to bring pictures of themselves with their friends. Those pictures will be displayed on the Friendship bulletin board in the hallway.

GLO Activity Night

GLO (Jr./Sr. High Students) will be meeting at Ewing Park I, 1420 Towanda Ave., from 6:00-8:30 pm for their monthly Activity Night on Wednesday, April 28th. Students are to go directly to the park, please. Get ready for another great night of Braveheart/Patriot Games!

Baby Dedication

Contact Brad Houchin at if you would like to have your baby or child dedicated on Sunday, May 9th during Community Worship at 9:15 am. There will be another Baby Dedicationon Sunday, October 31st if you are unable to be here on May 9th.

KidStuf Summer “Break” Ice Cream Party

Sunday, May 16, 2010 will be our last KidStuf Family Worship before summer break. We want to celebrate what fun we have had and what great stuf we have learned with a KidStuf Summer "Break" Ice Cream Party! The yummy fun will take place in the Fellowship Hall immediately following KidStuf at 11:19 am. More "Breaking" news will be coming during KidStuf on the first Sunday of May!

Honoring Class of 2010

We would like to honor the students of the Class of 2010, both high school and college, on Sunday, May 23rd during Community Worship. If you are a graduating student and would like to be honored on this day,  click here to RSVP for Graduation Sunday!

Cost Lunch on May 23^rd

Immediately following Community Worship on Sunday, May 23rd we will have Cost Lunch together. Enjoy some time of community, connections and great food! Cost is $4 per person 10 years and older, $2 for kids nine years and younger, kids under two years eat for free.

Greeters Needed

If you like to meet new people and give everyone a warm welcome on Sunday mornings, please contact Jill Rosenau at . We would love to have you be a part of the Guest Assistance Team. 

Communion and Offering Team Members Needed

The Communion and Offering Team is looking for a few new members. This team prepares and serves communion each Sunday, along with collecting the offering. If you are interested in serving on this team or have any questions, please contact John and Lisa Brittingham at 825-0474.

Camp Scholarships Available

We once again have been given up to five scholarships worth $50 each towards summer camps from Converge Mid-America’s Camp Fund. Scholarships will be available for students who are entering into 4th grade through those entering into 12th grade this coming fall. Scholarships will be awarded on a first come basis and will be limited to one per family. If less than five requests are made, then families will be awarded other available scholarships if needed. Our hope is for these scholarships to benefit families who are in need of this assistance for their children to attend camp. We ask that you would strongly consider your need before making a request, so we can be sure to help those who need it most.

Scholarship requests must be submitted by email only to Rachel Kuehl at no later than today, Thursday April 22nd. Please provide the following information the scholarship request:

    * Campers name
    * Campers age
    * Grade entering next fall
    * Name and address of camp attending
    * Dates attending camp

Note: Camp fees will need to be paid in full by all families. Those awarded a scholarship will receive it in the form of a reimbursement check sometime later this summer. Scholarships are not guaranteed and will be awarded based on the available monies of Converge Mid-America’s Camp Fund.

Community News:

ACV Preschool Garage Sale: This Saturday, April 24^th A Child’s View Preschool will be having a garage sale at Crosswinds in the Fellowship Hall from 8 am – 3 pm. Lots of great items!

Free Movie Viewing: Calvert & Metzler Memorial Homes and WJBC are sponsoring a free, limited seating viewing of the recently released Letters to God at the Galaxy 14 Cinema at 111 Wylie Dr. in Bloomington on Wednesday, April 28 at 10:30am. Doors will open at 9:30 am and there will be free coffee and doughnuts and giveaway door prizes prior to the showing.  This event is filling up quickly! There are only 150 seats available. You must RSVP to reserve your seat. Call the Letters to God 24-hour movie reservation hotline at 309-827-7577 to make reservations. You must be at least 18 yrs old to attend.