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We’re all Kids at Covenant Pines
September 3rd, 2010
Last weekend was the 4th annual all-church trip to Covenant Pines Bible Camp. As always, it was a great mix of fun, rest, and building relationships with one another and our great God. We were challenged to experience Sabbath Rest as well as live the life God has called us to. We also enjoyed fabulous, warm weather in the beautiful woods. We left with many good stories and feeling full of God’s grace and goodness.
Posted in eideboucher | Comments (0) »This Sunday- a church at play
August 27th, 2010
Don’t look for church at South High this Sunday on August 29th - we’ll be at Covenant Pines Camp for our annual All church weekend. This is always a highlight for our church community, and we know God has great things in store for this weekend, the fall, and beyond. See you at the Pines or back together at South next weekend
Baptism & Being One
July 23rd, 2010
Ephesians 4:4-5 encourages us, “There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” It’s been a theme this summer of being one. We were welcomed into our larger Covenant denomination on June 25th as a member Covenant church and now we’re learning how to be one with the larger body of Christ. We had an outdoor communion service on July 4th and were reminded how that sacrament of the body and blood of Christ makes us one with him and one with each other. And in this verse, and in our baptism we learn that there is one faith, one Lord, and one baptism. Heaven rejoices when even one is baptized and enters into the eternal joy and salvation of Jesus. And we get to rejoice in the God who makes one faith, one hope, and unity in Jesus possible for His church.
World Cup - South African Style
July 16th, 2010
On Sunday July 11th, the Worlds’ eyes were on South African for the 2010 World Cup Soccer Championship. God saw fit to bless Living Stones with friends of ours from South Africa to visit, lead worship, and testify to the Hope in Jesus. Hope 29:11 blessed us with amazing worship and wonderful stories of God’s love and power. It was an amazing day to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. In 2002, the DinoMights hockey ministry went to Capetown, South Africa for on a mission trip. While there, one of the kids we met was Jerome. Eight years later, Jerome is apart of the Hope 29:11 ministry group, and was blessing living stones in playing the keyboard and leading us in worship. After service we were able to celebrate World Cup style with an international potluck (and yes, we even had dishes from Spain and the Netherlands)
I love Living Stones
June 24th, 2010
“I love Living Stones!” That’s what Sandy (in the center) wrote on her communication card during church last Sunday. Sandy, Tre, Joeny, Paola, and several other Living Stones youth are heading with the DinoMight hockey ministry to Kids Across America Camp near Branson, Missouri tonight. Since they’ll miss the official ceremony of being welcomed into the Evangelical Covenant Church at the annual meeting at the River Center in St. Paul tomorrow, I took them out for breakfast to celebrate them, tell them Living Stones loves them and wanted them to be a part of this historic event. As we neared the entrance here, Alan Forsman just so happened to be the only other person walking by and took this picture (Alan used to be on staff with my home church, Faith Covenant, and was one of the founding board members of the DinoMights) I think it was just one more sign that God loves these youth, God loves DinoMights, and God loves the people of Living Stones!
Sara Renner @ Living Stones
June 3rd, 2010
We’re excited to welcome Sara Renner and friends to church on June 6th to help lead worship and share with us the beautiful gift of song that God has given her. Many of us at Living Stones have been blessed by Sara’s gift of music through the ministries of Open Door, Heart of the City, Park Avenue, Club 3 Degrees, and more. We appreciate her heart for God and amazing blend of gospel, soul, and jazz style. We hope that you can join us and Sara this Sunday as we kick off our summer series, “An Emotionally Healthy and Missional Church.”
One Step
May 27th, 2010
During the month of May we’ve been doing a sermon series, One Step Closer, in which we’ve defined Evangelism as the process “to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and others, to bring one person, one step closer to Jesus Christ.” All the while we’ve asked what’s our individual steps through praying, caring, or sharing to bring one person one step closer to Jesus? It is humbling and awesome to know that God is at work in the lives of people around us. It is also amazing to watch the ways that God is at work specifically in the lives and in the life of Living Stones. Let’s celebrate what God is doing, let’s celebrate our collective one steps, and let’s celebrate how God is leading us to participate with him and one another in this movement of turning and drawing closer to God. Have a one step story you want to share and give people another reason to celebrate?
Steppin’ out to Mexico
May 13th, 2010
Andrea Martinez definitely had to step out in faith in order to raise $3,800 to go on a short term mission trip to Ixtapaluca, Mexico this summer. And God did it! Andrea wishes to thank all those from Living Stones who helped make this possible (close to $1,600 came in from our church- Andrea’s church). We want to thank Andrea for her example and encouragement in the faith step that she demonstrated. We are excited to partner and pray for her on her trip (May 26-July 21). Pray for her and the 15 others who go to work together with a local missionary helping with construction on a church, helping English teachers in the public schools, helping teach Kid’s Club/Bible classes, and sharing the love of Jesus in many ways. Thanks Andrea for your step of faith! We bless you and will continue to pray for you on your trip. Thanks for living out God’s promise, “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” I Thessalonians 5:24 God did it!
Chartered by Grace
April 21st, 2010“What’s a Charter Service?” A good question. On paper, it’s the historic signing of Charter Members who say we’re committed to seeing this new church grow in God’s grace. In hearts, it’s the experience of those gathered in worship who tangibly experience the Holiness and Grace of God. I think our prayer was answered, “that God would be glorified” as we witnessed the faithfulness and goodness of God. LS kids led us in the reciting of our 2010 mission verse (I Thessalonians 3:10,12), we heard powerful witness of answered prayer, saved lives, and the gracious presence and testimony of a cloud of witnesses who have paved the way through prayer, love, and support to help establish the building up of living stones. For everyone who celebrated and helped make this possible, thank you and praise God!
Living Stones Milestone: 4/18/10
April 1st, 2010
This past Palm Sunday, my eldest, Gabby, came with her daddy to help minister to the retirement community at Bethany Covenant Village in North Minneapolis. The 7 year old blessed her daddy and the older ladies as she handed out palm branches and did her first special music duet with her proud dad.
During the service I told the seasoned group (including 102 and 106 year old sweet ladies) that on April 18th, Living Stones is marking an official beginning with a Charter Service. I then asked if anyone had ever been a part of the historical beginning and charter service of a church, and no hands or palm branches were raised. It then struck me how incredibly blessed Gabby, me, and the rest of the living stones are who will get to be apart of this historic milestone. On this day, kid and adult stones get to sign the charter document as charter members and make a public declaration that we’re committed to serve and watch God’s faithful hand build up Living Stones.
You’re probably not close to being 106 years old, but if you’ve been a prayerful part of this beginning or just want to celebrate God’s faithfulness with us, please consider joining us at 10:30am on 4/18/10!
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