MHC Super List

Sanctification and Mother’s Day

2008-05-10T17:28:08Z

by Addie Gerlach

Titus 2:3-5 (ESV)
“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

I barely feel qualified to speak as a mother, let alone a good mother. There are so many great, amazing mothers at Mars Hill. In the time that I’ve had two children, a mere 3 years, God has shown me graciously and painfully how much I need Him in order to be a good mom, (or even a mediocre mom, that just shows how sinful I am!). It has caused me to reflect on my relationship with my parents, my life, my sins, everything I do. That’s called sanctification. I will fail, but Jesus won’t. Jesus will be there to catch my kids when I fail and drop them.

Having Amelia last August has caused me to deal with a lot in my life. I have gone through many emotions (some as a result of postpartum hormones!), fear and anxiety (I’m not doing this right, what if I get pregnant again so soon), and joy (like when the kids play together well). Ultimately Jesus has given me peace. Things will happen in God’s good timing. The baby will sleep through the night. The big sister will get potty-trained. We will have another child in His timing. Maybe His timing isn’t right now, maybe never, maybe tomorrow.

It’s Mother’s Day this Sunday, and God is using this day to sanctify me. It was hard on my first Mother’s Day to not feel like someone owed me something. Caley (my oldest) was all of 4 months and I felt like since I was now a mother that I should get a cake, balloons and a parade, totally overlooking the fact that GOD made me a mother and I should be spending this day thanking HIM for that. Our culture has such a tendency to focus on mothers, or fathers, or [insert holiday here]. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t thank our mother/father or honor them and the hard job they may have. But these days really belong to God. I am thankful that for my life, in this time in my life, I am a mother. Maybe I will get to have more kids, or not. Maybe my kids will be healthy, or maybe they will get sick. Maybe I will have the life I imagine, or maybe I won’t. But I can trust that for right now I am in the right place and I shouldn’t worry because it’s ultimately all in His timing.

So have a good Mother’s day and thank your mother, but know that really it’s about Jesus.

Calling All Men

2008-05-08T23:43:47Z

This year’s Men’s Advance is rapidly approaching. The health, vitality and ultimate legacy of this church, and this campus in particular, rests in the hands of the men of WS. Men are uniquely called to lovingly lead, shepherd, and be the heads of their families and church. When this doesn’t happen, families and church suffer. Yet, this does not happen with our own strength, wisdom or resources but through being vitally and deeply connected to Jesus Christ, for apart from him we can do nothing (John 15:5f). Men, I invite you to join us May 16th-18th as the men of Mars Hill Church ‘advance’ into the woods to study (Heb 12:1-3), worship with other dudes from across our six campuses, connect with other brothers from West Seattle, strategically think through how we (individually and corporately) can best reach our city with the Gospel, teach the other campuses how to play softball, and pursue Jesus and what he has for us in the coming year. Make it work with your schedule. Volunteer if you can’t afford it or let us know and we’ll find a sponsor. Cancel your plans to sit on your couch all weekend and watch the M’s loose yet again. Make it happen. Be there.

Because the tomb is empty and there’s still breath in our lungs,
Pastor Adam

Click here to register

Event brief:
Jesus Christ is the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:1-3). It is in, through and for Jesus that we are called to run with endurance the race that is set before us. In other words, Jesus is the means by which we run and the prize for which we are running. Join the men of Mars Hill Church at the 2008 Men’s Advance, “Jesus - Author & Perfecter”, as we examine every Christians’ call to run with endurance and lay aside every weight and sin, while looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
FEES:
$120 for Friday - Sunday
$75 under 17 years old
$60 Saturday only, includes lunch & dinner
$100 Staff
$75 Scholarship price (email events@marshillchurch.org to request - limited availability to please consider your need carefully before requesting)
$0 Saturday only Volunteer price (must be approved to register at this amount)

To Whimper or To Conquer, That is The Question

2008-05-08T23:03:28Z

by Pastor Steve Tompkins

Calling all Shoreline dudes! (“last minute” dudes that is—you know who you are!)

I am writing because the Men’s Advance is right around the corner, and I have a question for you: Has Jesus called us together to play fake religious games where we pretend our lives are “together” while we try to look good on the outside? Or, has Jesus perhaps called us to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely” that we might “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb 12:1)? Hmm . . . let me think about that.

Let me ask some other questions: Does it really matter how I live my life? Is eternal reality really more important TODAY, than earthly reality? What does it mean to live a fruitful life for Jesus now? When I stand before Jesus some day will the works of my life burn like a house of cards such that I am saved “only as through fire” (1 Cor 3:15)? What words will Jesus speak to me personally? Will I hear, “you wicked and slothful servant!” (Matt 25:26)? Or will I have fruit to present to the King, receiving reward from His hand, and hearing “well done good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:23)?

Shoreline Campus brothers! What we are doing with our lives right now really counts for eternity. This life is a battle against the deceptive nature of sin and demonic lies that would trip us up and cause us to live frustrating, unfruitful lives of futility. This daily battle is very real, and Jesus has given us a great gift in this fight – each other! As the Head of the Church, He has called us to do life together. He has called us not to “look good” maintaining a religious exterior, but to be gut-real with each other in the fight. When we do this in each others lives His strength through His Spirit is powerful against sin, deception and the evil one. He has called us not merely to survive this life with a whimper, but to be among those who genuinely “conquer” (Rev 2:7).

The Men’s Advance is a key opportunity, not only to hear good teaching and have fun, but to be gut real before God and your brothers in this fight because Jesus fully intends, not that we go out with a whimper, but that we conquer! The Holy Spirit says “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another . . . (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Don’t miss this year’s Men’s Advance. Now is the time to register, and you can do so here. Or go to www.marshillchurch.org and click on “News and Events” then you will see the link to “Men’s Advance: Jesus Author and Perfector.”

Call to Mission - Children’s Ministry

2008-05-07T23:26:38Z

As part of the Call to Mission for Mars Hill Church the West Seattle Campus staff, pastors, and interns have undertaken getting our vision for our ministries on video. We hope to engage the community of West Seattle through short videos that connect the mission of the church to the needs of the West Seattle Campus.

And so we begin with Shan Applin’s vision for the Children’s Minsitry

The Call to Mission | Day of Service - The Aroma of Christ

2008-05-07T19:00:36Z

By Justin Schaeffer

2 Corinthians 2:14-15
14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,

As I participated in the scraping, masking, and painting an entire house, garage, and basement of a foster home in rainy Lynnwood this Sunday along side 50 or so fellow Mars Hillians, I was struck by the fragrance of Christ. It was such a blessing to experience the body of Christ as it acted out His love on His behalf, for His glory, in His name. I really mean it was a blessing. It is a shame that our culture (especially our suburban culture) has developed into such an autonomous society. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.” I hope for those of you who participated this last Saturday, that you got a taste of how fulfilling worshiping God in Gospel Fellowship is.

On May 3rd roughly 120 Shoreline Campus attendees & members spread out through Shoreline and Snohomish County to love others in Jesus name. Here are some praises we lifted up to God this morning at Men’s Morning Prayer from the 4 different projects that we were involved in…

Shoreline School District - Parkwood Elementary(Shoreline)
About 40 people showing up to help love the shoreline schools in Jesus’ name by planting, doing outdoor cleanup, and landscaping. May the Lord be lifted up and glorified in the eyes of the Superintendent and the parents who stopped by to see them work. Mars Hill participated as 1 of 11 Shoreline Churches working together to make Jesus’ name famous in Shoreline through serving the Shoreline School District. We will again have an opportunity to bless the Shoreline Schools during our Back to School Drive that we do in August to help Shoreline kids get the supplies they need to go to School. click here to see a slide show of photos from the event.

Pioneer Human Services – Cypress House (Lynnwood)
Praise for about 50 people showing up to serve these Foster boys in Jesus’ name by painting the ENTIRE exterior, garage, and interior of the basement of a house, hauling away trash, hanging out with the Foster boys, and buying them new house nubmers. Praise that nearly the entire exterior of a home, a garage, and the interior of a basement were able to get painted in one day! It was truly a miracle. Also praise for the people who are new to our campus getting a chance to connect with and be known by our church body. Pray for continued opportunities and for willing servants from our body to love and serve the 5 teenage boys who live there and the women who run that organization.
click here to see a slide show of photos from the event.

Catholic Community Services (Snohomish County)
Praise for about 20 volunteers showing up to serve disabled & elderly shut-ins in Jesus’ name. Praise for the blessing that these people were to our servants and for the opportunities we had to bless them through yard work, chores, errands, and fellowship. Pray that the Lord would continue to provide ways we can bless theses organization and to develop relationships with these people in need to God’s glory and our joy.

Deaconess Children’s Services (Snohomish County)
Praise for about 20 volunteers showing up to love the battered moms and those who serve them in Jesus’ name. Praise for so much work accomplished in 6 hours of cleaning, painting, staining, laying floor tiles, etc… Praise that God was glorified in the eyes of those who serve the down trodden in this small town 65 miles outside of shoreline and for the work He did in the hearts of those who participated to glorify Himself and to impress upon them His grace.

Romans 12:1, 3-8
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

I enjoyed worshiping with y’all corporately as a body this past Saturday. Please continue with me in repenting of the sins of omission that we have committed by forgetting those in need and by forgoing fellowship within the body of Christ through serving others.

Ballard Campus News and Events | May 6, 2008

2008-05-06T04:00:09Z

EVENTS THIS WEEK & UPCOMING

JUST TWO WEEKS LEFT!

2008 Men’s Advance: Jesus | Author and Perfector

Men of Mars Hill, you have one opportunity a year to advance with your brothers in Christ at an intensive weekend of training and growth. These weekends have produced incredible fruit in the past. Men, DO NOT MISS THIS!
The advance will occur at Warm Beach Camp on May 16th - 18th. Pastors Mark Driscoll, Bill Clem, Tim Smith and Scott Thomas will be throwing down, as well as your campus pastors. Check out this link for full information and registration.

OTHER NEWS

The City - Mars Hill’s own online community networking site.

Built by Mars Hill’s pastors and staff to support the community life of Mars Hill’s body. Ask your community group leader, service group lead or stop by any desk on Sunday to get invited. Check out this link to a great story about it.

Spring 2008: The Call to Mission

This is a very unique time in the life of our church as each member and attender is essentially attending our membership class each Sunday, through Pastor Mark’s preaching. Check out the Call the Mission special website.

Shoreline Campus eLoop | May 5th 2008

2008-05-05T18:45:10Z

News and Announcements
Mother’s Day Baby Dedications
This Sunday, May 11th. Email shoreline@marshillchurch.org to sign up.
2008 Men’s Advance: Jesus | Author & Perfector
Men, don’t miss out! This year’s event is May 16-18th at Warm Beach Camp. Pastors Bill Clem, Mark Driscoll, Tim Smith, and Scott Thomas will be speaking. Click this link for more info and registration.
Children’s Ministry Needs Parents to Serve ONCE every SIX weeks
In order to prevent volunteer burnout, avoid turning kids away on Sundays, and have a maximum effect on children’s lives for Jesus–we’re calling parents at Shoreline to serve ONCE every SIX weeks in the Children’s Ministry. You DON’T need to be a member to serve and we simply need you to support the teachers in the classrooms by keeping an eye on the half pints.
Email mattg@marshillchurch.org for more info.
Click here for a CM application. Submit completed app to CM check-in desk (on Sundays) or email to mattg@marshillchurch.org.

Upcoming Events
WEDNESDAY, May 7th - Men’s Morning Prayer
7am at the Shoreline offices. All men are welcome. Click here for a map and here for last week’s agenda.
**For MORE UPCOMING EVENT INFO visit theShoreline Events Calendar

Serving Needs
The PRODUCTION TEAM needs volunteers to run the soundboard, PowerPoint, lighting, or video at all services. Email shoreline@marshillchurch.org to help out.
**See our SERVING NEEDS PAGE for more opportunities.

Mars Hill Church Shoreline lives for Jesus as a city within the city of Seattle: knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus. For more information, visit us HERE. For information on community groups go HERE. For information on other ministries go HERE. For general questions, you may email us at shoreline@marshillchurch.org.

West Seattle Campus eLoop | May 5th, 2008

2008-05-05T08:01:20Z

THE TOP 3:
What You Need to Know This Week
Annual Men’s Advance: Jesus | Author and Perfecter: At Mars Hill, we don’t Retreat, we Advance! Advance the Gospel, Advance the Mission of Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:1-3) . This year, the advance will once again occur at Warm Beach Camp on May 16th - 18th. Pastors Mark Driscoll, Bill Clem, Tim Smith, Scott Thomas and the campus pastors will be preaching and teaching. Spots are limited so check out this link to register (or for more information). (Space is limited and this will be the final all-campus Advance, so register today!)
The City has arrived in West Seattle! The City is a new way for Mars Hillers to network with each other in a way that reflects real life instead of replacing it like other social networking sites. New users must be invited by current users, so talk to your community group leaders or service leads to get plugged in…or check with the Info Desk in the Commons on Sunday. For more information about The City, read Nate Ellis’ recent blog or check out the Codex blog from the IT ministry.
Have You Heard The Call? Are you curious about the “mission” of Mars Hill? Do you want to become a member of Mars Hill and aren’t sure what the process involves? The Call to Mission website will help answer these questions. Mars Hill has undergone a massive reorganization over the last year and has revamped the membership process (now using The City–mentioned above–and the current sermon series called Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe–see below). We are praying that this will result in a new and committed membership community of growing disciples on mission with Jesus in Seattle. You can follow this link for more information.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
What’s going on in West Seattle?
Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe is the current sermon series that started March 30 and will continue as part of the new membership “class” at Mars Hill. The series will conclude with an opportunity for all who attend to join Mars Hill as part of the body of Christ in Seattle. Check out the Doctrine series website for more information.
Spring Midweek Classes are in progress. Check here for more information or register here (the “New Life in Christ” class will begin May 7th). Most classes will go through May 28th.
Pssst! It’s Spring! You can go outside now.
Mars Hill Outdoors has some great Spring activities planned for this week. If you are interested in finding an excuse to get outdoors, or looking for a great opportunity to meet new people and fellowship in the beauty of Our Lord’s Creation, check out the May calendar at marshilloutdoors.org

(Photo Courtesy of Daniela Geleva)
MONDAY MORNING MEN: The men of Mars Hill are invited and encouraged to gather Monday mornings at 7:00am to pray for our church, leadership, and community. For more information, e-mail westseattle@marshillchurch.org or just show up to the church’s side entrance on Ida St.
For additional upcoming events please check outour calendar.

SERVING:
Where can I get plugged in?
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
(Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)
Smile in The Spirit:
THE WELCOME TEAM is looking for smiles, and the people who use them. If you are interested in helping with greeting the guests who come to the West Seattle campus to meet Jesus, email westseattle@marshillchurch.org today.
Play without ceasing:
The THE YOUTH MINISTRY TEAM is looking for leaders who are passionate for Jesus and the youth of West Seattle. Please email westseattleyouth@marshillchurch.org if interested.
By their orange vests you shall know them:
THE PARKING TEAM is looking for volunteers to help with the new parking lots we have been given to steward. We need people to serve the neighborhood and the body by helping to park cars in the lot and not in front of the neighborhood houses. E-mail westseattle@marshillchurch.org to get connected.

Come be part of this team!
Eat, Pray, Clean…It’s all Worship:
THE BREAKFAST CLUB is a great ministry to begin getting plugged into Mars Hill, or to continue in fellowship and service. We meet at 9am each Saturday for a meal, some time of fellowship, prayer and looking into God’s Word and our own hearts, and then team up to prepare the building for Sunday services. We also reach out into the community to check in with our neighbors and show them Jesus. E-mail ryanm@marshillchurch.org for more info, or just show up on Saturday!
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
(1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV)

Mars Hill Church West Seattle lives for Jesus as a city within the city of Seattle: knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus. For more information, visit us HERE. For information on community groups and other ministries go HERE. For general questions, you may email us at westseattle@marshillchurch.org.

Men’s Morning Prayer Replay 5.1.08

2008-05-01T14:29:31Z

by Matt Grant

Yesterday morning, Pastor Steve continued his devotional on the Lord’s Prayer. This week’s focus was on the phrase from Matthew 6:12, “and forgive us our debts.”

The below notes from Pastor Steve’s devotional shed further light on our justification, ongoing sanctification, and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. I hope you’ll enjoy and be edified in Christ. Following the devotional notes are specific prayer requests for the Shoreline campus.

Our Purpose (Romans 15:30 paraphrased): I urge you brothers, by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayer to God the Father for the glory of the name of Jesus.

Matthew 6:9-13
9Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread,
12and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Jesus says we are “Debtors” . . .
Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders (same word) than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?

If all our sins are forgiven at the moment we are justified, placing our faith in Jesus and repenting of sin, then why do I need to pray daily for forgiveness of sin?

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Disciples of Jesus are not made perfect in this life. Indwelling sin is real. We continue to sin. But belonging to Jesus by his grace and mercy both calls for and creates in me a radical, active, ongoing response – a fight.

What are the consequences of ongoing unconfessed sin in our daily lives?

1 John 1:5-6, 8 God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
(Heb 3:13 “. . . you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin)
(Jer 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?”)
We can “quench” (1Thess5:19) and “grieve” (Eph 4:30) the Holy Spirit

The Fight is real. Either you put sin to death (by the Holy Spirit), or it will put you to death. Sin always has consequences. It always creates death . . .

Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

How then shall we respond?
1 John 1:7,9
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Hebrews 3:12-13 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Ephesians 5:13-21
Our Father in Heaven . . . forgive us our debts . . .

Strategic Prayers for our Campus

THE CALL TO MISSION
• Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to work in the hearts of our congregation in response to the All Members Meeting and the day of prayer and fasting.
• Pray that Jesus would be glorified and lifted up in the hearts of our congregation and that the Holy Spirit would open the eyes of our hearts to see that Glory.
• Pray that those who renew their membership would be faithfully dedicated to Jesus and to the work that He is doing through Mars Hill Church.
• Pray for faithfulness in our members’ giving of their time, treasure and talents to the work God has given us.

CALL TO MISSION: Day of service (5.3.08)
• Pray that God would use the Call to Mission/ Members meeting and day of prayer to inspire/ empower our members toward Gospel Mission (loving others).
• Pray for a HUGE response from our body to the need for servants to love our community in Jesus’ name.
• Pray that this day would be a huge blessing to those serving and those served through our Proxy & Crux families, our Covenant Ministry, and our Children’s ministry as they seek to participate in specific projects.
• Pray that our people would get a taste for Gospel Mission & loving people in Jesus’ name and that they wouldn’t want to wait for the next ‘organized’ event, but that community groups and families would organically fill volunteer positions and care for those in need in our community.
• Pray for the organization and details to be worked out to God’s glory for each of the serving opportunities listed below:
• Shoreline School District (Shoreline)
Cleaning, landscaping, and improvements at Parkwood Elementary School
• Pioneer Human Services – Cypress House (Lynnwood)
Painting Exterior & Interior of Group Home for Foster Boys
• Catholic Community Services (Snohomish County)
Home projects for seniors and people with disabilities at various homes around the county.
• Deaconess Children’s Services (Snohomish County)
Cleaning and yard work at facility for women and children from abusive situations.

SHORELINE 11:15AM CLASSES
• Please pray for Pastor Tyler and Justin that they would be guided by the Holy Spirit in their preparations to teach their classes on Parenting and Spiritual Disciplines respectively
• Pray that the Holy Spirit would teach and build up our body through these classes and that the fruit in the lives of those participating would be a blessing to our campus and those around them.

PERMANENT LOCATION
• Please continue to pray that God would provide a building for us in the Northend.
• Pray that our relationship with Crista would be able to continue as needed and would be a blessing to both organizations.

CAMPUS PRAYERS
• Pray for people and their families on our campus that are asking God for faith, but feeling forgotten by God
• Pray for wives on our campus who are victims of spousal abuse
• Pray for the many broken marriages on our campus
o Marriages near to divorce
o Spouse attends church alone w/ out their spouse
o Wives who desire their husbands to lead spiritually and husbands who have abdicated their roles.
o Pray for divorcees and single parents on our campus – that they can find the love of Jesus through His body – the church and that by the Holy Spirit they might see their true identities in Christ.
• Pray for a young lady who recently found out about the death of her father, whom she’d never known. Pray that God would heal her in through her grieving and that He would show Himself to her as her perfect Father in heaven.
• Pray for those in our body experiencing stressful financial times, those who are looking for work, and those who are having a hard time at work.

West Seattle Campus All-Member Meeting Follow-Up

2008-04-30T18:07:00Z

Last Monday, April 21st, 430 members and soon-to-be members (approximately 50% of our Sunday attendance) gathered in West Seattle for an evening of BBQ, fellowship, music, prayer, and vision. There was a general air of excitement for what Jesus is doing at MHC and what this next season holds for the church generally and this campus in particular.

Here are some snapshots of the evening on The City…

If you haven’t yet joined The City, or don’t even know what it is, check out this post or come by the campus on Sunday to sign up at our info desk.

Shoreline Campus eLoop | April 28th 2008

2008-04-28T17:47:36Z

News and Announcements
May 3rd Day of Service!
Join MH Shoreline as we seek the welfare of Shoreline and Snohomish County by participating in one of the service opportunities listed below:
Shoreline School District (Shoreline): Cleaning, landscaping, and improvements at Parkwood Elementary School (Children’s Ministry volunteers, families, and kids are being called to help with this project. RSVP to shorelinekids@marshillchurch.org)
Pioneer Human Services - Cypress House (Lynnwood): Painting exterior & interior of group home for foster boys
Catholic Community Services (Snohomish County): Home projects for seniors and people w/disabilities at various homes around the county
Deaconess Children’s Services (Snohomish County): Cleaning and yard work at facility for women and children from abusive situations
Email shoreline@marshillchurch.org for more information.
Mother’s Day Baby Dedications!
Sunday, May 11th - email shoreline@marshillchurch.org to sign up.
2008 Men’s Advance: Jesus | Author & Perfector
Men - don’t miss out! This year’s event is May 16-18th at Warm Beach Camp. Pastors Bill Clem, Mark Driscoll, Tim Smith, and Scott Thomas will be speaking. Click this link for more info and registration.

Upcoming Events
WEDNESDAY, Apr 30th - Men’s Morning Prayer
7am at the Shoreline offices. All men are welcome. Click here for a map and here for last week’s agenda.
**For MORE UPCOMING EVENT INFO visit theShoreline Events Calendar

Serving Needs
The CHILDREN’S MINISTRY badlyneeds volunteers to serve Shoreline children and families at all Sunday services. Email shorelinekids@marshillchurch.org to help out.
MH YOUTH needs men and women to help disciple, encourage, and reflect Jesus to kids ages 13-18. Email shorelineyouth@marshillchurch.org to get involved.
The PRODUCTION TEAM needs volunteers to run the soundboard at all services. Email shoreline@marshillchurch.org to help out.
**See our SERVING NEEDS PAGE for more opportunities.

West Seattle Campus eLoop | April 28th, 2008

2008-04-28T08:01:09Z

THE TOP 3:
What You Need to Know This Week
Annual Men’s Advance: Jesus | Author and Perfecter: At Mars Hill, we don’t Retreat, we Advance! Advance the Gospel, Advance the Mission of Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:1-3) . This year, the advance will once again occur at Warm Beach Camp on May 16th - 18th. Pastors Mark Driscoll, Bill Clem, Tim Smith, Scott Thomas and the campus pastors will be preaching and teaching. Spots are limited so check out this link to register (or for more information).
The National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 1st. A West Seattle prayer gathering will take place at 6:30pm at the Alki Beach Statue of Liberty (Alki Ave & 62nd St.). Come appeal to the Father, through Jesus, in the Spirit for our city and mission. Mars Hill is one of 12 community churches participating, and Pastor Adam will have a role in leading prayer. Check out this link for more information.
The City has arrived in West Seattle! The City is a new way for church members to network with each other in a way that reflects real life instead of replacing it like other social networking sites. New users must be invited by current users, so talk to your community group leaders or service leads to get plugged in. For more information about The City, read Nate Ellis’ recent blog or check out the Codex blog from the IT ministry.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
What’s going on in West Seattle?
Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe is the current sermon series that started March 30 and will continue as part of the new membership “class” at Mars Hill. The series will conclude with an opportunity for all who attend to join Mars Hill as part of the body. Check out the Doctrine series website for more information.
Call to Mission is what we are calling our campaign to revamp the membership of Mars Hill Church. This includes a new membership class (Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe) and new “member” site (The City). Mars Hill has undergone a massive reorganization over the last year and this is one of the final components. This will include wiping the membership slate of Mars Hill clean and then calling those that are on mission with Jesus to re-commit to a campus of MHC (or commit for the first time for new members). We are praying that this will result in a new membership, 3,000 strong, on mission with Jesus in Seattle. You can follow this link for more information.
Spring Midweek Classes are in progress. Check here for more information or register here (the “New Life in Christ” class will begin May 7th). Most classes will go through May 28th.
Mars Hill Outdoors has some great Spring activities planned for this week. If you are interested in finding an excuse to get outdoors, or looking for a great opportunity to meet new people, checkout the April calendar at marshilloutdoors.org
The men of Mars Hill are invited and encouraged to gather Monday mornings at 7:00am to pray for our church, leadership, and community. For more information, e-mail westseattle@marshillchurch.org
For additional upcoming events please check outour calendar.

SERVING:
Where can I get plugged in?
THE WELCOME TEAM is looking for smiles, and the people who use them. If you are interested in helping with greeting the guests who come to the West Seattle campus to meet Jesus, email westseattle@marshillchurch.org today.
The THE YOUTH MINISTRY TEAM is looking for leaders who are passionate for Jesus and the youth of West Seattle. Please email westseattleyouth@marshillchurch.org if interested.
The THE PARKING TEAM is looking for volunteers to help with the new parking lots we have been given to steward. We need people to serve the neighborhood and the body by helping to park cars in the lot and not in front of the neighborhood houses. E-mail westseattle@marshillchurch.org to get connected.

Gypsy Come Home

2008-04-25T16:00:42Z

by Melana Bontrager

For the past 15 years I have lived in a plethora of places: cities, countries, flats, houses, condos, but never have I lived in one place for more than 2 years. This fact brings with it a myriad of distinctives that as a whole have defined my modus operandi. For one, my friendships have gone to a two-year level, then have either faded away or have become long distance friendships; well maintained but lacking the details (muck) of daily life. Additionally, the two-year window has generally allowed me the opportunity to get involved in my community and my local church, without encountering anything too uncomfortable. My interpretation of my relatively smooth sailing—for the last 15 years—has been that I am in the know regarding what makes a good friendship, how to address conflict, and how to love others in the pursuit of true community.

What I am learning, however, is that in many ways I don’t know squat about long-term community, nor do I know what to do with friendships that remain “in my face” for longer than two years, nor do I really understand how to delve into true love for one’s neighbor—and enemy—when historically I would just geographically move away from both.

In most areas of my life, you could say that I wrestle with long-term goals and prefer to live in the now, so to see beyond a two year period of time is difficult for me. This month, my husband, sons and I head into our two year anniversary in our little Everett home–with no real plans to move in the near future—and in many ways I don’t know how to proceed now that my “magic” two year window of time has run out. I find myself constantly feeling messy and bewildered as I continue through the days and weeks; often suppressing the urge to run away from the journey is laid before me.

Indeed, I recognize that some things will remain the same and some will change. But the newness comes with the fact that some of the change will occur in the relationships that are still very much a part of my everyday life. Those are the difficult waters for me to navigate. There is a definite tendency toward avoidance in moving from place to place; a sweeping of things under the rug of the past. I have always thought it a positive thing that I could pack my bags and move as I wished, but I see know that much of that ability was really a defense mechanism: the practice of dusting off my shiny little facade and hoping that no one really discovered the crap behind the mask. Staying put is messy; I am new at being messy, and I really don’t yet know how to do it on a long term-basis.

I have met a couple women who have local friendships which they have developed and maintained for upwards of 10 years, and I find myself staring, open-mouthed in awe. There is something that I want desperately in that scenario, and yet it is the wading through the muck of the everyday that seems to drag at my boots. There is something glamorous and winsome about living the nomadic life, but there is emptiness as well. The emptiness resounds more deeply with the passage of time, and although I wrestle against the gypsy draw on my heart, I know that Christ offers more truth and beauty than I have yet experienced.

I don’t think it’s by chance that the entire Bible is full of illustrations of community and friendships or that the apostle Paul writes constantly about how to engage in true community or that Jesus drew to him 12 close companions; there is something powerful in community among God’s creation. Even the Trinity is an illustration of the fullness of community. And so I take a deep breath and realize that perhaps God is revealing to me something more wild and wonderful about his body than I have ever imagined. Perhaps I will find myself growing into this body of believers at Mars Hill Church and will have the privilege of being truly known and truly loved by those with whom I walk, hand in hand.

As foreign as it is to me, it sounds frighteningly lovely!

Men’s Morning Prayer Replay 4.23.08

2008-04-23T18:38:06Z

by Justin Schaeffer
Pastor Steve led us in the following devotion this morning. Hopefully you can follow his thoughts through th e notes below. His insight into “Give us this day our daily bread” was inspiring and convicting.

Our Purpose (Romans 15:30 paraphrased): I urge you brothers, by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayer to God the Father for the glory of the name of Jesus.

Matthew 6:9-13
⁹Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹Give us this day our daily bread,
¹²and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Give us this day our daily bread . . .(What are we asking for in this prayer?)

We are asking for the physical necessities and provisions needed for daily life. (Mt 6:25-34)

Provision/wisdom/energy/guidance for tasks/jobs/challenging circumstances (James 1:5; Phil 4:13)

Daily bread is a reference to Manna. This bread was given each morning and was good for TODAY only, so why does it say bread for TOMORROW?? Jesus was referring to the “Your Kingdom come”. Praying that the future Kingdom that represents freedom from sin, from bondage, from concerns for health and well-being to come into our daily lives. Hebrews 6:5 “and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come”
Daily bread is a reference to Manna, which is reference to Jesus.

John 6:48-51 “I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. ⁵⁰This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

“Hunger” or “lack” exposes our hearts. Deuteronomy 8:2-3 “And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. ³And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Jesus was hungry, humbled, tested, and tempted by his Father in the wilderness to expose his heart . . . Matthew 4:4 “But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Crucial Questions: What do you “live by?” What is most essential to your daily life? What is it that you cannot live without? What are you most passionate about, moved my, excited for, affected by? Where do you go for comfort, rest, refreshing, enjoyment? Is Jesus your Treasure? Your greatest Joy? Your daily Manna?

John Piper: “How we pray reveals the desires of our hearts. And the desires of our hearts reveal what our treasure is. And if our treasure is not Christ, we will perish.”

Strategic Prayers for our Campus

THE CALL TO MISSION

· Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to work in the hearts of our congregation in response to the All Members Meeting and the day of prayer and fasting.

· Pray that Jesus would be glorified and lifted up in the hearts of our congregation and that the Holy Spirit would open the eyes of our hearts to see that Glory.

· Pray that those who renew their membership would be faithfully dedicated to Jesus and to the work that He is doing through Mars Hill Church.

· Pray for faithfulness in our members’ giving of their time, treasure and talents to the work God has given us.

CALL TO MISSION: Day of service (5.3.08)

· Pray that God would use the Call to Mission/ Members meeting and day of prayer to inspire/ empower our members toward Gospel Mission (loving others).

· Pray for a HUGE response from our body to the need for servants to love our community in Jesus’ name.

· Pray that this day would be a huge blessing to those serving and those served through our Proxy & Crux families, our Covenant Ministry, and our Children’s ministry as they seek to participate in specific projects.

· Pray that our people would get a taste for Gospel Mission & loving people in Jesus’ name and that they wouldn’t want to wait for the next ‘organized’ event, but that community groups and families would organically fill volunteer positions and care for those in need in our community.

· Pray for the organization and details to be worked out to God’s glory for each of the serving opportunities listed below:

· Shoreline School District (Shoreline)

Cleaning, landscaping, and improvements at Parkwood Elementary School

· Pioneer Human Services – Cypress House (Lynnwood)

Painting Exterior & Interior of Group Home for Foster Boys

· Catholic Community Services (Snohomish County)

Home projects for seniors and people with disabilities at various homes around the county.

· Deaconess Children’s Services (Snohomish County)

Cleaning and yard work at facility for women and children from abusive situations.

SHORELINE 11:15AM CLASSES

· Please pray for Pastor Tyler and Justin that they would be guided by the Holy Spirit in their preparations to teach their classes on Parenting and Spiritual Disciplines respectively

· Pray that the Holy Spirit would teach and build up our body through these classes and that the fruit in the lives of those participating would be a blessing to our campus and those around them.
PERMANENT LOCATION

· Please continue to pray that God would provide a building for us in the Northend.

· Pray that our relationship with Crista would be able to continue as needed and would be a blessing to both organizations.
CAMPUS PRAYERS

· Pray for people and their families on our campus that are asking God for faith, but feeling forgotten by God

· Pray for wives on our campus who are victims of spousal abuse

· Pray for the many broken marriages on our campus

o Marriages near to divorce

o Spouse attends church alone w/ out their spouse

o Wives who desire their husbands to lead spiritually and husbands who have abdicated their roles.

o Pray for divorcees and single parents on our campus – that they can find the love of Jesus through His body – the church and that by the Holy Spirit they might see their true identities in Christ.

· Pray for a young lady who recently found out about the death of her father, whom she’d never known. Pray that God would heal her in through her grieving and that He would show Himself to her as her perfect Father in heaven.

· Pray for those in our body experiencing stressful financial times, those who are looking for work, and those who are having a hard time at work.