June 26-July 2, 2010
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Softening Prayers "…do not harden your hearts" Psalm 95:8
I heard about Geoffrey and the messy custody battle he was in. Out of concern, his good friend called him to ask him about his emotional and spiritual state. Geoffrey told his friend that although things had been really hard, he had discovered something in prayer that was really helping him to let go. He explained that whenever he found himself getting angry or bitter that he would bring himself to the foot of the cross and kneel there. After kneeling, he would mentally bring his former wife to kneel at his side. His friend sort of gasping said, “That must be really hard.” Geoffrey said, “It can be, sometimes it takes a long time to let go enough to bring her here. But the way I look at it, if I can’t kneel with someone in front of Jesus, my problems are much bigger than the problems I face in this world. So whenever I recognize an obstacle in my heart to that kind of union, I just pick it up and hang it on the Cross.” It takes great courage to bring those we struggle with to the Cross of Jesus, but it is the kind of courage we need more of. Is there anyone in your life that you are angry or bitter towards? Mentally bring them with you to kneel in front of Jesus. Hardened hearts can be softened at the Cross. For More Forgiveness,
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The Orchard is taking a summer journey together to the Cross. We are praying for a cruciform life; that is a life shaped and arranged by the Cross. As we begin, I share this story of heart transformation made possible through the power of the Cross:
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Monday - Praise God for the ways God has changed you recently. Tuesday - Pray for the members of our church that are in job and housing transitions. Wednesday - Praise God for the children and youth that God has blessed The Orchard with. Thursday - Pray for opportunities for us individually and corporately to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community. Friday - Praise God for those who have been the hands and feet of Jesus to you in your faith walk. Saturday - Pray for hearts to see Jesus and not each other in worship tomorrow.
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Weekly Need: $5,386 YTD Total Over/Under Need: -$23,677 All contributions given to The Orchard Church will be used exclusively for charitable purposes in accordance with laws governing a tax-exempt organization organized under state law provisions and that of the Internal Revenue Code. In keeping with the foregoing commitment, we reserve the right to distribute all funds contributed to the area of greatest need. |
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CLICK HERE... The Cruciform Life
We will resume The Grand Sweep in the fall. Kidz Blitz This summer our children are invited to be involved in Kidz Blitz on July 7, July 14 and August 4 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. The activities will include fun, fellowship and Biblical teaching. This would be a great time for you to invite other children who do not have a church home. The scheduled activities are as follows: **July 7 - Minute to Win It Acts 2:42 This Sunday, June 27, during Acts 2:42 at 9:30 a.m. we will have a time of therapeutic and healing community building for all who have experienced loss of any kind - loss by death, loss of a job, loss of relationship, loss of sin etc. Don't miss this opportunity. Keys At the present time we have about 20 keys to the Orchard Ministry Center out. We are in the process of providing opportunities for various groups in the community to use our building and we need to try to consolidate the number of building keys that we have. Some people have been given a key for a special event or project that you no longer need - would you return your key to Pastor Anita so that accurate records can be kept and the number of issued keys can be reduced? If you are still in a ministry area that makes it necessary for you to have a key, please feel free to keep your key but would you notify Pastor Anita that you have a key? This effort will keep us from having the expense of changing the locks on the building. Thank you in advance for your help in this matter.
Dates at a Glance Mark your calendars for the following events: July 7 - Kidz Blitz |
We have just begun our summer at the cross with "The Cruciform Life" series. Both the worship experiences and Acts 2:42 will include times of preaching, teaching, interaction and spiritual conversation, testimony and praying about the meaning of the cross in our lives. We will revisit our values which are cross derived and seek practical ways to live these out within our church family and within our daily lives as a community. The Holy Spirit is stirring my soul and assuring me that He has great plans for The Orchard as we surrender to Him more fully.Inviting lost and hurting people to receive New Life and Healing!
