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Hello, church family! I have returned from sunny (and not quite warm) Florida after the COB Large Church Gathering that Pastor Kevin and I attended last week. I came home to a very busy weekend, I was sad to miss worshiping with you all yesterday, but enjoyed a family day that was planned for some time now. 

Pastor Kevin and I had a nice experience at the conference last week, it was a joy to learn and share alongside others in ministry. It is not often that you get the opportunity to share best practices and encouraging words in a setting like we had, so I am grateful for the opportunity. We will share a short report with you in the coming weeks, so look for that in a Sunday Worship Service. One thing I was particularly encouraged by, and have been continuing to think about, is the ways that we can streamline our curriculum development and distribution at all age levels, while offering deeper discipleship opportunities to all church family members. 

This Sunday, we will hear from Aliza Kraynak, our COM Administrator, for our monthly Moment for Missions. I know many of you appreciated her time of sharing last year and certainly will again. She will be sharing about an opportunity for church family members to “visit” and engage with the students in the various COM ministries, to which you’ll have the opportunity to sign-up for after the service. I would also anticipate that she will share about the upcoming Wee Friends Preschool 50th Anniversary Carnival Fundraiser. You may have seen the flyer in the Gathering Area or the donation form. Another way you can support our Preschool Families is by purchasing items needed on their Amazon Wishlist which you can find HERE.

Thank you to the many church friends who signed up to be a Branch for our upcoming Branches Brunch. This event snuck up on me as we have quickly come into Lent, March and soon-to-be Spring! I still have some vacancies so I will be reaching out to some more of you today!

This week is a Wednesday Roots Night! Make every effort to join in our fellowship and discipleship opportunities. Also, be sure to check the Cottage Meeting schedule, if it doesn’t suit to join in your Deacon’s gathering, find one that does suit your household! This is a wonderful opportunity for you to share your joys and concerns about the life of our church family!

I’m a little behind on podcast episode drops, stay tuned this week as those get caught up and released. I hope that has been a valuable tool for your household to continue the BELIEVE conversations and learning. You can grab the podcast on our church website, under Family Ministries (see the link below), on Spotify or on Apple Podcasts.

 

What WE’RE Learning This Week: A nugget of what our Lil’, Youth and Adults Roots heard this week

Our Key Idea: “I believe everything I am and everything I own belong to God.”

Our Key Verse: Psalm 24:1-2

How Every Generation Lives This Out: Complete this week’s “Taking Up Lent” challenge - Bless others!

Check Out This Week’s PODCAST

*This season of the “The Dig” podcast is specifically designed for EVERY 

GENERATION to deepen their understanding, ignite their curiosity and grow as fruit-producing, God-glorying disciples! Don’t miss out! To make it easier for you to find and listen, you can now grab “The Dig” episodes on the church website: https://www.mgcb.org/family-ministries/the-dig-podcast--8

 

What I’M Learning This Week: Sharing what I’m reading and listening to lately

We’re studying through the Gospels this year in D-Gorup, the women’s Bible study that I 

lead, so in the beginning of the year, we are of course studying first, the Gospel of Matthew. So we’ve just recently been back in the Sermon on the Mount (a fun revisit from FAMJAM 2025) and are moving into Jesus’ life and ministry. 

I was listening to this podcast today on Matthew 6-7 and was struck by a little section that felt timely for our BELIEVE theme of Stewardship this past week. This pastor is talking about the three categories that Jesus goes into in these chapters - giving, praying and fasting, and the heart posture that Jesus calls us to in each. 

In light of where we are in BELIEVE, I wanted to share with you the way he differentiated between tithes, offerings and gifts. He says this about these three categories of giving…

  • Tithe: Literally means 10th. It is our FIRST tenth, and it belongs to the Lord. Tithe is our first and our best.
    • He says this specifically about tithing… “Tithing needs to be a priority, it needs to be a practice and it needs to be progressive.” In other words, don’t stop at 10%!
  • Offerings: above and beyond the tithing - it’s gospel giving. Offerings are giving above and beyond what you’re doing at the local church.
    • He says this specifically about offerings… If tithing is our first fruits, then “you can’t actually bring an offering if you’re not tithing.”
  • Gifts: Extra that you set aside to use to bless people as the Lord prompts you to. This would be like Spirit-led, one time giving occasions.
    • He says this specifically about gifts… “During this Lent season, put some folding money in your pocket relative to your economic ability and be on the lookout to give it away.” Pray hard about how God wants you to use it!

You can catch the rest of his thoughts on how we can act out Jesus’ call for us in giving 

(Matthew 6:1-4), by listening to this podcast (starting at minute 14) or this corresponding Sunday sermon.

 

Make Every Week Count: Parenting, Grandparenting & Spiritual Mentoring Resources

Something to Read: Here’s a devotional book you may find timely for Lent.. Jesus Was Human Too.

Something to Listen to: My cousin is a pastor in Ohio and recently preached an excellent sermon on parenting, it’s for all of us really! Give “Godly Parenting in a Godless World” a listen!

Something to Follow: Oh, I’m just so excited about this Lent resource that is about to be released from one of my favorites, Tiny Theologians. The “He Is Risen Easter Banner and Card Set” is coming soon!

 

How Can You Pray? Prayer Requests and Praises from Roots Ministries

PRAY for Pastor Kevin and the Deacon team as they host many Cottage Meetings over the next few weeks.

PRAISE for the ways God is using our “Taking Up Lent” challenges for form our hearts this Lent season!