Join us this Sunday, 7/6, as we move to our new location, still meeting at 9am, 11:15am, and 5pm. The following Sunday, 7/13, we will be hosting a Campus Kick-Off BBQ, following our 11:15am service.

You can view Pastor Jesse’s interview with Pastor Mark, playing now on the MH Main site.

Yesterday, I’m on the Schwinn, pedaling hard. David Crowder Band is playing on my iPod way louder than my mother would approve of. One eye is on the analog dial and all I know is I can’t let the big hand slip beneath the ‘4’ until the readout says ‘57000’. This is my own concocted method of torture without which a day can hardly be considered a success. I need the endorphins, the rush, the challenge and the confidence that only comes through conquering something.

The truth is I’m mostly ineffectual. I sin. I mess things up. Often, I can’t fully live up to even the mediocre goals I set for myself. In the midst of a life of discovering over and over that, yet again, I am not the woman, the wife, the daughter, the employee or the Christian I would love to be, at least I can push on a lever system with my feet and hands until my breath comes fast and I know once I’m done I’ll feel as weak bodily as I am spiritually. This all occurs to me halfway through song #3, pedaling like my salvation depends on maintaining a ‘4’ until ‘57000’. God’s Word says He removed my sin from me as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12). So why do I work so hard?

God, please help me to accept your grace! Forgive me for rejecting it by continuing to strive in my own strength. I can do nothing without you. Father, teach me to rest in you. “Raise me up from this grave. Touch my tongue and then I’ll sing. Heal my limbs and joyfully I’ll run to you” (David Crowder Band).

This is a great opportunity to get physical and spiritual exercise together as well as get top quality MMA (mixed martial arts) training. This is going to be challenging and fun without bad attitudes or intimidation. Coach Joe is opening up Eastside MMA just for us so our classes will be private. It is also a missional outpost so invite some of your friends who are interested in MMA to join us who might not otherwise get involved in our church or the sport of MMA. I’m excited by the overwhelming response of men who are choosing to get more physically and spiritually fit. We have 72 men initially wanting to train together.

Team Eastside will have classes available on Saturday mornings at 8:30 - 10:00 AM & Thursday mornings at 7:00-8:30 AM. Classes will be limited to 20 and must have a minimum of 8 participants for class to be held. Email coach Joe at (eastsidemma@mac.com) to reserve your spot.

Choose the class that best fits your schedule.

Training sessions will start with the word & prayer for 20-30 minutes and end with an hour of training. Training for Mars Hill MMA Club will take place on the following days in May:

• Thursday May 8th & 22nd. 9-10:30am
• Saturday May 10th & 24th 8:30-10:00am

As with anything worth your time and effort there is a cost. Coach Joe and Eastside MMA has made this very affordable considering they are opening up the club during off hours just for us. $68.11 includes your enrollment fee, boxing gloves, hand wraps and first class fee ($15) and tax. There is a $15 drop in fee per class thereafter.

Email Coach Joe at (eastsidemma@mac.com) to reserve your spot. We will be creating a Mars Hill Eastside MMA Club group on The City to coordinate training days and to give you the opportunity to reserve your spot so it is critical you email Coach Joe now to reserve your spot, get in on The City group and stay informed. Many of you gave so many options for time it was hard to pick a time that suits everyone. Coach Joe is available for earlier training times like 6 or 7 AM on different days so we can look at options.

There are no shower facilities at Eastside MMA and I’m sure you will need a shower after a hard workout. Please send me suggestions for different times. Coach Joe and I are excited to work with all of you and provide you a great experience. Ill see you on the mats!

Pastor Jesse

As the tide receded and the clams took to breathing in the fresh sea air, we took broken shells and dove onto the mini clam-geysers that sprayed up in random succession all around us. To our chagrin, all our scooping only revealed little wiggling clam butts as they muscled away to safety under bubbling puddles of kelp. Tricky little devils! For revenge, we trotted down the beach annihilating the empty shells of their less fortunate brothers, giggling at the gratifying crunch our posthumous mortification created. Seagulls screamed, waves rolled, and we subdued the earth. On our way back, we held hands and talked about our spiritual goals for our third year of marriage.

My step-family includes interior designers, quiet atheists, busy businessmen, and doting grandparents. To comfort themselves with thoughts of love and hope, they have lined the walls of the beach house with hundreds of happy memories and witty sayings. The photographs are of my preschool-aged step-cousins crabbing, fort-building, and being generally adorable while the placards are the trendy wood-type saying, “Once you’ve slept on an island, you’re never quite the same”, “If life is a stage, I want better lighting”, and “What if the hokey pokey IS what it’s all about?”

As we stepped in from our walk it was easier to see these superficial trappings as artifacts of a longing deeper than a simple design element. I was confronted with the thought that, to them, ‘the good life’ may actually BE what it’s all about. No powerful Creator. No loving Sustainer. No personal God.

My first spiritual goal this year is to use my Biblical knowledge instead of hiding it inside for only me to see. I took a deep breath and asked God for a chance at a conversation this year: Guess what? I’ve got some Good News you guys! And it’s not about the hokey pokey….

This is a critically important meeting for the health of Mars Hill Church. We will be sharing a lot of information on where the church is at and where we are going. We also have the opportunity to cast vision for what the future holds for the Eastside campus. Additionally, we have the opportunity to introduce you to our new facility on the campus of Eastside Christian School in Bellevue. Directions can be found by clicking here. We will be kicking off a capital giving campaign at this meeting for the launch of the Eastside Campus in our new facility so please come prepared to give cheerfully toward what God is doing in and through us on the Eastside.

Come join us for an evening of celebration, worship and vision casting for what God has in store for the Eastside campus. 

Blessings,

Pastor Jesse

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. Full information and registration…

Men’s Morning Prayer Men, come join us on Wednesday mornings at 7:00 AM at the Eastside Campus as we pray for our church and our region. Check out a word from Pastor Jesse.

What Christians should believe. The new sermon series started yesterday 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 website for more information.

Men’s Retreat, Save the Date!
May 16-18th @ Warm Beach Christian Camp. More details to come.

Women’s Study at Wedgwood

Inductive Study 101
Reading God’s Word and Finally Getting It!
Teacher/Facilitator: Amy Knorr

Have you ever read a verse over and over again without getting it? Are you afraid you often misapply the Word? Or do you just feel stuck, like your knowledge and understanding of the Word is not deepening? Join us for an evening of teaching as we explore and practice one method of studying the Word of God. Bring your Bible and a notebook (and a friend!). We’ll be practicing what we learn, so be ready for an active night…not a lecture!
Campus: Wedgwood
Date: April 9th
Time: 6:45pm -9pm

The City
You can get hooked to Mars Hill’s new social network by invite only, so talk to your service lead or community group leader to plugged in.

MH Eastside is hosting an All-Members Meeting on April 21st from 7-9pm. If you’re a member of Mars Hill Church - or seriously considering joining our family - then you’re invited to join this special gathering. This event will be held at the Eastside Campus.

Serving Needs

We need more volunteers for our Facilities and Welcome Teams Volunteers. If you’re interested, email kevink@marshillchurch.org.

News and Announcements

Join us for these somber services at 6:00 and 8:00 PM on Friday, March 21st. Child care offered at both.

Our biggest Sunday of the year! Come celebrate Jesus’ resurrection at the 9:00 AM, 11:15, and 5:00PM. Services on Sunday, March 23rd.

Men’s Morning Prayer Men, come join us on Wednesday mornings at 7:00 AM at the Eastside Campus as we pray for our church and our region. Check out a word from Pastor Jesse.

Men’s Retreat, Save the Date!
May 16-18th @ Warm Beach Christian Camp. More details to come.

Serving Needs

The City needs you! Check out volunteer opportunities for Mars Hill’s upcoming new online network.

And check out the Eastside Campus Start Serving page.