Distractions, Thanksgiving, and Worship

My focus throughout this week has been worship.  I taught about it on Sunday (and even got to play a little bit of drums), wrote about it all week, and have focused on it throughout each day.  I’ve been quite purposeful about drawing near to God at the beginning of each day and doing whatever was necessary to stay there throughout the day.  It’s been a great week.

Celebrations

November has been a big month…

Leading off with International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

We learned about and prayed for those far and near, who are suffering physically for their faith, yet rejoicing as hope is shared and Christ is embraced in the middle of persecution.  The most powerful weapon in our arsenal is prayer and we joined forces with brothers and sisters around the world to pray for their families, their persecutors,  their strength, their endurance, and for their battle to not be in vain.
Continue to pray and celebrate what God is doing with the Monthly Prayer Calendar.  Pick up a brochure at the Ministry Counter or subscribe to have them delivered to your email weekly.
You can visit this page to read Prayer Updates.

Operation Christmas Child

Family Christmas Program Goes Full Swing!

Sunday, November 29th Begins Children and Student Practices!

Christmas is right around the corner!  This year our Family Christmas Program will take place on Sunday, December 20th at 6pm.
There are opportunities to participate on stage with music or drama, as well as behind the scenes with stage, sets, sound, camera, videography, costumes, and more.  This is a great way to give a gift to Christ and so many others this Christmas season as we share the Good News of Christ in a fun and creative way.

Sit and Savor Lunch

Sunday December 6th immediately following 2nd Service.

This months theme is truly potluck!  Bring a favorite dish, dessert, salad, or simply yourself! 
These are great opportunities to invite friends and make some new ones as you mix and get to know others here at Life Bridge.  What better way to welcome the coming holidays and winter than with a timeless potluck get together!

Christianity and Islam

What do we know about Islam?

How does it match with Christianity?

Explore these and other questions - Sundays 6:30pm.

• 6:00 Coffee & Munchies
• 6:30-8:00 Study led by Frank Guzzo

If you missed our introductory week last Sunday, it’s not too late! Because of schedules the next class will meet on Sunday, November 22nd. These sessions will help you gain a better understanding of Islam and Christianity, give you confidence in your faith, and help you to begin building bridges as you encounter people of Muslim faith. While this is occurring during student Encounter time, everyone is encouraged to participate.

Ongoing Events

Greenhouse Café

M-Th Holiday Hours Beginning Dec 1 Noon-5pm through the holidays

Enjoy a relaxing environment to work or meet with others at Life Bridge’s Café!

Mondays

• Ministry Mondays 6:30-8pm meets to be purposeful in developing our serving skills and to coordinate ministry efforts. All are welcome.
• IV (Intentional Valparaiso) is a small group for post-High School and young adults from all over Northwest Indiana. They meet at Life Bridge on Mondays from 8:30pm-10ish.

Tuesdays

• Tuesday Midweek Bible Study Potluck Dinner at 6:30 followed by studies for children, students, and adults! Current study: "Imagine" Deeper

Wednesdays

• NO Faith-Based Cancer Support Group (taking a break through the holidays)  (regularly meets 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at Life Bridge 6:30-8pm) *
• NO Questions? Bible Study  (taking a break through the holidays)7pm Bring your questions about God and Faith as you study 1 Thessalonians. *

Thursdays

• Worship Arts Bible Study and Band Practice Thursdays 6:30-9pm

* Will resume in January.

Travelling, Shopping, and Giving Thanks

Today I find myself in Mishawaka,  IN because the Sam's Club here had a pre-Black Friday deal I wanted to take advantage on a piece of technology (surprise, surprise) this year. As we are grocery and Life Bridge shopping for the week, I am being reminded of all the holiday activity that is about to begin.

- 500 Turkeys just bought 1100 turkeys to distribute to families this weekend. Praise God!

- Pie Night at Life Bridge is this Wednesday already. We get to invite friends, enjoy good pie, and be thankful together.

- Thanksgiving day and Black Friday will be taking us to Cincinnati (Lord be willing) to be with family.

- This Sunday and next we get to enjoy being with our Life Bridge family.

I'm thanking God right now for the many, many blessings He pours out on us. You are among those blessings, so I'm thanking God for you.

Happy Thanksgiving
Pete

24n Hour Prayer Vigil Begin TODAY!

24 Hours of Prayer

Friday, November 20th 2pm – Saturday, November 21st 2pm

It is time for the most important part of our Thanksgiving/Christmas outreaches…  It’s time to pray!
While I know that much prayer has gone into projects like 500 Turkeys, Operation Christmas Child, and upcoming events such as our Thanksgiving Eve Pie Night and Christmas Programs/Services;  as these events move from our hands into the hands of those receiving boxes [both of food (500 Turkeys) and care items, toys, and more (OCC)], and invitations, we need to pray.
We need to pray for:

500 Turkeys Distribution THIS WEEKEND!

Meal Gift Distribution Days

Saturday, November 21st 11am-6pm

Sunday, November 22nd 2-6pm

Location: Valparaiso Nazarene Church
There are still opportunities to participate this weekend with 500 Turkeys.
Over these 2 days we will share the collected food with 1000 families. 300 volunteers are needed to help our guests feel welcome and loved throughout the day.
Come be part of the blessing!
Click this link to sign up: Meal Gift Distribution Sign Up

Thanksgiving Eve Pie Night

Wednesday, November 25th 6-7:30pm(ish)

Life Bridge Christian Church

Start off your Thanksgiving weekend with DESSERT!  
What can you expect?

• To begin with, lots of desserts – apple pies, pumpkin pies, cream pies…. you name it, we are likely to have it!
• We will also have a time of sharing together – thankful things, memorable happenings, and more.

This is a family- friendly event where all generations are encouraged to come together and share… hear what the young are thankful for and those who are older, model for the younger in thankfulness and sharing those significant life events.  Invite family and friends to join us!
“I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about His power and His mighty wonders… So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands.”  (Psalms 78:2b-4,7 NLT)
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV)

Family Christmas Program

Sunday, December 20th 6pm

Christmas is right around the corner!  This year our Family Christmas Program will take place on Sunday, December 20th at 6pm.

Begin praying and considering yours and/or your family’s involvement.  There are opportunities to participate on stage with music or drama, as well as behind the scenes with stage, sets, sound, camera, videography, costumes, and more.  This is a great way to give a gift to Christ and so many others this Christmas season as we share the Good News of Christ in a fun and creative way.

Christianity and Islam Resumes this Sunday

What do we know about Islam?

How does it match with Christianity?

Explore these and other questions continuing this Sunday, November 22nd.

• 6:00 Coffee & Munchies
• 6:30-8:00 Study led by Frank Guzzo

If you missed our introductory week last Sunday, it’s not too late!  Because of schedules the next class will meet on Sunday, November 22nd. These sessions will help you gain a better understanding of Islam and Christianity, give you confidence in your faith, and help you to begin building bridges as you encounter people of Muslim faith. While this is occurring during student Encounter time, everyone is encouraged to participate.

Ongoing Events

Mondays

• Ministry Mondays 6:30-8pm meets to be purposeful in developing our serving skills and to coordinate ministry efforts. All are welcome.
• IV (Intentional Valparaiso) is a small group for post-High School and young adults from all over Northwest Indiana. They meet at Life Bridge on Mondays from 8:30pm-10ish.

Tuesdays

• Tuesday Midweek Bible Study Potluck Dinner at 6:30 followed by studies for children, students, and adults! Current study: "Imagine" Deeper

A Better Top

Traci has been working with different groups of people on a project.  She took old CD’s and DVD’s we had left over at Life Bridge, painted them, added a marble and plastic cap to them, turning them into tops.  They’re really cool.  They spin much longer than any top I remember having as a child.  They handle resistance better, the connection to the ground is more stable, and, best of all, we built them using materials we already had available to us.  So, they spin and spin and spin and spin.  These tops will be one of the many gifts we send overseas through Operation Christmas Child.

500 Turkeys Boxing This Week!

500 Turkeys is in the sprint for the end zone!  There are many ways that you can participate.  Here are some upcoming opportunities:
Clothes N Prayers Set Up Saturday, November 14th 1-7PM
Please sign up to help sort, fold & organize clothes that will be given away during distribution days or stop by Valpo Nazarene Church to help out.  Clothing is yet another way to bless those who may have need this season.

Celebrations!

 

Operation Christmas Child Wraps Up Their Year!

The Operation Christmas Child Team thanks everyone who has participated this year in supplying items for the shoeboxes, financial donations, and support of events such as the Rummage No-Sale, Craft/Work Night, and OCC Boxing Night.
One hundred shoe boxes have been packed and are ready to be prayed over this Sunday.  Then they will begin their trek to places around the world to share God’s love with kids.

Ongoing Events

Mondays

• Ministry Mondays 6:30-8pm meets to be purposeful in developing our serving skills and to coordinate ministry efforts. All are welcome.
• IV (Intentional Valparaiso) is a small group for post-High School and young adults from all over Northwest Indiana. They meet at Life Bridge on Mondays from 8:30pm-10ish.

Tuesdays

• Tuesday Midweek Bible Study Potluck Dinner at 6:30 followed by studies for children, students, and adults! Current study: "Imagine" Deeper

Preaching To The Choir

This past week, I had a greater number of comments than usual after a Sunday morning service.  Some folks talked to me directly about what I had said.  Others avoided eye contact.  I could tell God was working through the Scriptures and the words that were said.  One person said, “Your message today was…timely.”  Clearly, God was at work.

Fall Work Day THIS SATURDAY!

Toolbox Ministries

Fall Work Day

Saturday November 7th

9AM-1PM

It is fall spruce up time.  We will be taking care of some tasks around the building… inside and out before winter sets in. 
Many hands not only  makes light work, but makes for great fun and companionship as well!

Celebrating What God Is Doing!

This past week at Ministry Monday, we spent some time talking about how to appropriately recognize individuals’ efforts in ministry.  This discussion is always challenges for me because my experience is that people don’t want too much attention drawn to what they do for God… maybe because of the passage that says not to let your left hand know what your right is doing (Matthew 6:3 –in regard to giving to those in need).

Kairos is at Westville Correctional This Weekend!

Thanks to all who baked cookies, provided meal tickets, made handprints, and have prayed.  The time has come to continue to pray and lift up the Kairos team that is at Westville Correctional this weekend. 

• Pray for the team - that they will speak boldly and clearly for God. 
• Pray for the inmates - that their hearts will be fertile soil for the Word of God. 
• Pray for the ongoing efforts of Kairos with the Indiana State Prison outreach from last month - that God’s work continues.

Just a thought, but Paul’s greatest ministry took place while in prison… imagine what God might be doing!

OCC Boxing Night

Wednesday, November 11th 6:30-8pm
Life Bridge Christian Church

It’s time to pack shoeboxes!!!

Everyone is welcome for this family-friendly event.  We will be packing the shoeboxes, preparing them to be prayed over this next weekend and enjoying some munchies!
Invite your friends and come on down!