A Beginning and an Ending?

This week I was blessed by a beginning and an ending.

This past Sunday, over 30 families were commissioned by our laying on of hands, prayer and blessing as they move out of the walls of Bel Air UMC and into the community of Abingdon to Emmorton Elementary School. It was a powerful and touching experience for all of us as we saw, not the end of our goal to start a new ministry and worship service in Abingdon, but a huge first step into fulfilling the mission of our church " to make disciples of Jesus Christ, as we show all people the way to the Father, teach them to know the Son, Jesus Christ, and prepare them to grow in faith and ministry, empowered by the Holy Spirit."

Praying for The Vine at 9:20 Service

I invite you to "drop by" Emmorton Elementary

this Sunday from 10-12. The Vine team will be there to welcome you and you can join in a brief consecration and communion service. They will happen every 30 minutes, starting at 10AM. I will be dropping in between the 920 and 11 service.

Praying for The Vine at 11 Service, Photo by Jim Schepers

 

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The VIne is being sent forth this Sunday by Pastor Stan Cardwell

This is it. . . Make no mistake where you are. (Wow - that Kenny Loggins song just popped into me head when I wrote those first three words - and some (not all of the song fits).

Okay (stop ADDing) . . . This is it - The Vine's last week in McComas Hall before we are sent into Abingdon.  And it is a BIG DEAL.  Or it should be.  I titled the grap.eVine newsletter The Art of Blessing, because blessing is a major stream running through the Bible.  From God's first words to His creation - "be fruitful and multiply" to Jesus' blessing the children brought to him, the act of blessing is a significant part of God's plan even if lost on our current culture. (Read Gary Smalley's The Blessing to understand this gift and why it is important to bless.)

On Sunday, members of The Vine will be attending all or part of all the morning worship services to be commissioned (sent) and BLESSED.  We need the blessing of our sending church.  We hunger for the blessing on our sending church.  Like a child seeking the blessing of a father, so we must be sent with a blessing.

And that blessing isn't reserved for us. The Vine is being sent to bless others. (Blessed to be a blessing.)  We have been called to love people into a relationship with Jesus Christ - the ULTIMATE BLESSING.  Be fruitful and multiply - go and make disciples.  The other wonderful thing about blessings is that the blesser is also blessed. God loves to bless blessers.

Please keep this critical concept in mind as we come together on Sunday.  8:00ers, 9:20ers, Igniters (not pyros), 11:00ers and Viners all need God's blessing.  So come.  This day is historic.  This day is epic.  This day is it!  Come to be blessed on Sunday.  My message on Sunday is entitled Set Apart . . . to Love and to Share.

Stan

http://connect-to-the-vine.blogspot.com/