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Feels like a sleepy day today with all of those gray clouds and rain drops! There’s some energy in the building today though, we welcomed in the new class of Summer CLASP participants this morning! It is fun to see all of the little faces and hear little voices around!

Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads out there - biological and spiritual! We’ve got a good bunch of hard-working men around here. This year will bring some unique opportunities for the church to support and embolden the spiritual growth and leadership of men in every generation. I am prayerfully expectant for how God will use those opportunities for our guys!

There is no weather forecast that isn’t suitable for ice cream. No one has ever collected data on such a matter because that would just be silly. Ice cream is an every-season food - especially when covered in rainbow sprinkles!! I hope to run into you at Son’s grabbing ice cream in support of our Sr. High Youth Roots headed to the MVMNT Conference in Northwest Montana in July! All you have to do is head there between 6-9pm, mention our youth group and this trip, order your favorite sweet treat and then eat it in your car (to stay dry!)! If you want to learn more about the MVMNT Conference, you can check it out here or here. 

On Friday I’m rolling out to Juniata College with 7 pretty cool Jr. High Youth Roots and co-advisor Phillip Johnson to the National Jr. High Conference! We’re looking forward to what is in store for us this weekend, you can be prayerful for these three things… 1) safety and good health for each of us, 2) new God encounters for these teens and 3) that each of our hearts would be engaged with the Word and the worship. If you want to leave a special note of prayer or encouragement to the Youth Roots that are going, drop one in their “mailboxes” hanging in the Gathering Area. They’ll be accessible until Friday morning. I have postcards and cards there for you, or you can bring your own. I know they are already looking forward to opening your “mail!” Phillip and I will deliver mail to them before each worship service of the conference. 

On Sunday you’re going to hear all about FAMJAM 2025, which is almost a month away - CRAZY!! We can’t wait for you to start inviting your friends, neighbors and family! Remember, this is a worship weekend for the whole church family!

I’ll be in and out over the next few weeks, going between conferences, a little vacation time and office hours. June has been a really full month, and we’ll be running full speed into July. Somewhere in between all of that, finding some time to hang in my garden - my favorite spot! 

 

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

Our Family Theme: The Lord Is Our Shepherd

Our Root Text: Psalm 23:1–6

Verse of the Month: Psalm 23:1

How Every Generation Lives This Out: Discuss how God is our provider, protector, and source of peace, even in times of trouble.

 

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

I’ll share with you some of my learning from my Bible reading this morning. I was reading 1 Kings 8 today. King Solomon has just finished building the temple and his palace and is now dedicating the temple to God. He is finishing up his prayer of dedication and gives this “benediction…” “May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors.” - 1 Kings 8:57-58. 

Here’s what The Bible Recap had to say about these two verses… “Solomon first reminds them of the blessing of God’s nearness, and then also the blessing of God’s work in that nearness. That He may incline our hearts to him to walk in all his ways. God doesn’t come near to condemn. He can do that from afar. He comes near to change hearts.”

How kind and gentle of God to be near when he changes us. He can condemn from anywhere, but that’s not what he’s after. When we’re near to God there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1), but we can’t help but become more like him - changing from our old self to our new self - when we’re near him! (Ephesians 4:22-24). 

 

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

Something to Read: Save this cookbook devotional for a gift for a friend… Bible and Breakfast: 31 Mornings with Jesus--Feeding Our Bodies and Souls Together

Something to Listen to: Take some time to listen (or watch) this lovely and challenging conversation with Preston and Jackie Perry… “Why Ya’ll Not Talking Bout The Cross No More.” 

Something to Follow: It’s time to start gearing up for FAMJAM25! We’ll be spending the weekend worshipping and learning through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. Here’s a RightNow Media study resource to help you prepare! 

 

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

PRAY for our Jr. High Roots Crew at the National Jr. High Youth Conference this weekend!

PRAISE for the dad’s! What a gift it is to be led by the wonderful men in our lives!