Harvest Fest

This past weekend Sanctuary and the Bean hosted their 4th annual Harvest Fest. We had a wonderful time running carnival games for kids, handing out candy, and making connections with many parents from the neighbourhood. The event was a huge success and a very big thank you is in order for those of you who donated candy, helped set up, ran the carnival games, and took clean up.

posted by Sanctuary Church @ 7:05 PM 0 Comments

Minister of the Word

It is Sanctuary's great honor to sponsor Ben Katt's ordination into ministry in the Christian Reformed Church. As many of you are aware Ben has been called to plant a new church in the Seattle area. He has been listening for direction from God about this process and in an act of openness and transparency has been journaling about that ongoing process at his Awake blog. Like Paul blessing the new church plant in Colossia it is my prayer that Sanctuary will say "since the day we heard about you Ben, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way."

posted by Steve-Dave @ 8:47 PM 1 Comments

Investigating the Mystery of God...

Hello Sanctuary,
What a full day yesterday! And by "full", I don't mean "busy" - I mean "rich" and "good". A baptism, communion, a shared meal at Romio's, the memorial service for John at the Green Bean, and a sister church goes public. All of this on our 3rd birthday!
One thing was clear to me yesterday - God is faithful.

This week I will take the baton from Randy and continue the series on Colossians by taking a look at 1:24-2:5. Here is an excerpt:

2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

So what do you think? What strikes you about this passage? As I prepare this week, I'd love to hear your thoughts/comments/questions about this text. Please email me at bkatt@sanctuarycrc.org!

Buen Camino!
-Ben

posted by Ben Katt @ 10:11 AM 0 Comments

The loss of a friend/member of our community

At Sanctuary, we are a pretty young church. We celebrate weddings, babies being born and even young folks beginning to date or get engaged. Less frequently, we must deal with the death of loved ones.

Last night, John Fason, passed away after an extended battle with cancer. Lisa Etter and Hayden Smith, who have been friends/family to John for the past couple of years, were at his side.

When I first heard the news before dawn today from Sara Caldwell, I wrote this email:

Amen to Sara’s blessing. I saw John for about 15 minutes yesterday afternoon. He could not respond to much, but I did encourage him to let go and release himself to the loving arms of our father and I anointed him with the sign of the cross. I am so glad his suffering is over. He has set sail for a far better harbor.

Lisa, Hayden, Patty --- all who have cared: Rest now, in the loving arms of God yourselves. Mourn well. Heal in time. Live in faith, hope and love.

John was a key part of our life in Greenwood. He was a daily smile, a new poem and a pencil sketch of a cat or squirrel or some other animal scene. There was a simplicity and beauty... an innocence recovered in his expression of art. John's work has been assembled into a book by Lisa and Hayden. I am sure it will soon be on display for all to see and read at the Green Bean.

John made a public confession of faith in Jesus Christ and expressed a desire to "go to heaven" two weeks ago today. It's never too late. And, I am further reminded that at the core of all we are and all we do is JESUS. He is all we have that lasts forever. I am so glad that our ministry at Sanctuary and the Green Bean is all about JESUS and that we are able to love on people and invite them into the forever family of God and the the great party of the Kingdom of God through our various activities....and, even more, through our very lives given to others as Hayden, Lisa and so many others have demonstrated with John.

posted by Dr. Randy L. Rowland @ 5:23 AM 0 Comments

Colossians

Hey Everybody,
Hope you're having a great week!
This is just a reminder to those who have joined us for Sunday worship and an invitation to those who haven't that we are again diving into Paul's letter to the Colossians this Sunday. Specifically, we will be looking at Colossians 1:21-23.

Here's a sneak peak at the passage:
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Let that text percolate in your head and heart for the next couple of days.
See you Sunday, Taproot @ Ten!

posted by Ben Katt @ 5:11 PM 1 Comments