What is a ChristCare Group?

Posted by Christ Care on February 29, 2008

ChristCare Groups Begin at Praise!

Posted by Christ Care on February 28, 2008

All members of Praise are invited to come and see what  ChristCare is all about.  Praise’s first ever ChristCare groups will begin  to meet the week of March 9th.   Please sign-up in the Narthex at Praise to be a part of the group.  If you need any additional information contact Amy Boston at 627-8422. 

ChristCare Meetings:

Combined Men & Women Group led by Heidi Dancy 627-3927  will meet Tuesday, March 11th & 25th from 7-8:30 p.m.at the Dancy’s Home

Women’s Group led by Kristy Stanski will meet Thursday, March 13th & 28th from7-8:30 p.m. in the Youth Room at Praise Lutheran Church.

Men’s Groupled by Steve Damschroder 484-9402  will meet Friday, March 14th from 7-8:30 p.m.at the Praise Lutheran Church in the Youth Room and Friday, March 28th from 7-8:30 p.m. meeting location to be announced at a later date.

Quo Vadis?

Posted by Pastor Dancy on February 18, 2008

QUO VADIS? It’s Latin for “where are you going?”

Simon Peter asked this of Jesus just before Jesus informed him of Peter’s impending denial. Simon asked Jesus, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” John 13:36. Simon Peter wasn’t able to comprehend what Jesus was telling him because Peter was locked into a particular line of thought. Today we call it a paradigm. When a line of thought or process is so ingrained in a person or organization, doing something outside of it is not deemed possible.

Jesus asked lots of questions, as the gospel-writers record. The strange thing about Jesus’ questions is that He already knew all the answers, but He wanted others to think about what they were doing and then to explain their actions. He wanted to give them a spiritual paradigm: a new way of thinking.

The question, “Where are you going?” could be asked of us on several levels.

Where are you going…in life?

God asked Adam a similar question, “Where are you?” Adam and his bride were hiding in the Garden of Eden because they were ashamed of their awful sin. Our sin destroys our relationships with God and each other. It crushes our confidence, our joy for life.

God asked Cain no less than five questions, including, “Where is your brother, Abel?”, and, “What have you done!?” God already knew that Cain had killed Abel, but Cain had some serious explaining to do.

The Lord asks you, “Where are you going?” Where are you headed? If you continue on the path you’re on, where will you end up? We’re then forced to examine our lives and give an explanation for our sinful behavior. Sometimes, like Adam, Eve and Cain we try to come up with excuses or we blame our actions on others.

“Where are you going”…in your faith? Are you growing closer to your Lord through daily Bible reading and devotions? Are you putting your Lord first in your priorities for Sunday mornings by coming to worship Him every week? Have you found a way to serve others using your spiritual gifts? So many questions!!!

“Where are we going”…in our Church? Several leaders at Praise did some “vision casting” in January and we now have Goals, Objectives and Action Plans to move toward our “preferred future,” a new paradigm of thought. Soon, we’ll have an opportunity for members of Praise to catch the vision of where we think the Lord wants us to be. God has big plans for Praise, and He will provide the power, the means, the opportunities, the resources and the success!

“Where are you going”… in your personal stewardship? We saw how God has blessed us in a multitude of ways during our “Ten-for-Ten” emphasis, and members of Praise have stepped up to raise their offerings by a whopping 20%! God’s people respond in generous ways when God’s Word and Spirit touch our hearts. “With God, all things are possible!” Many folks now have a new paradigm of Christian stewardship.

During this Lent season we see Our Lord teaching His disciples in the upper room and instituting the Lord’s Supper as a lasting covenant to bring forgiveness to His own people. We see Jesus being betrayed and denied, slandered and tried, whipped and crucified. Nothing could deter Him from His eternal mission…to save you.

Quo Vadis? “Where are you going, Jesus”? He is going to Calvary, to the cross, as His greatest goal and finest moment. All your hideous offenses have been paid in full, washed with the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. And because of this…

Quo Vadis? “Where are you going?” You’re going to Heaven!

ChristCare Ministry Begins at Praise

Posted by Christ Care on February 10, 2008

Praise Lutheran Church kicked off it’s ChristCare Ministry on Sunday, February 10th with the commissioning of it’s ChristCare Leadership Team.  Heidi Dancy, Kristi Stanski and Steve Damschoder were commissioned as ChristCare Group Leaders and Amy Boston was commissioned as ChristCare Equipper.