URC Weekly 8/23/09: Radiance and V-Ball



Exodus 34: 29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.

Dear Family,

Back from the Youth Retreat, and I’ve never heard so many retreat testimonies of how powerfully God worked in and through our URC leaders. There is a radiance in your faces, much like that of Moses after meeting the Lord on a different mountain. But Moses came back and gave the people the commands of the LORD, and his encounter with God was meant to empower his ministry back home. My prayer is that for all of you who saw God face-to-face, for those who experienced His power as you prayed with one another, for those who knew He was using you to touch a soul eternally, that you would bring that radiance and blessing home to minister to our entire church. Please put into practice the things we talked about in discipleship: 1) Consider how you came to know God more; 2) Build on relationships you made with students and leaders; 3) Pray with one another on all occasions; 4) Share what you experienced as a testimony to encourage the church.  In these ways, the blessings of the retreat will multiply.  Praise God, from whom all blessings flow…

1) RETREAT LEADERS’ DINNER: THIS SATURDAY FROM 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM @ CHURCH.  From the facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123455271522): “To show everyone that we appreciate the amazing job y’all did, we are having the TACO MAN come to UNION to feed all of us leaders!  Please RSVP ASAP on the facebook page!”

2) TNF: THIS THURSDAY @ Banana Bay @ 7 PM.  After a brief break, TNF is back!

3) V-BALL PRACTICE: THIS SUNDAY @ 1:30 PM.  Every Sunday unless otherwise noted.  Last week, we were horrible.  I personally swung big and missed on a perfect set, and then the ball landed on my face as we lost the point.  Later, Andy spiked super hard, except below the net and into my stomach.  We need practice.

4) SCRIPTURE READING/OFFERING: Austin Lee

5) DEVOTIONS: Psalm 41-46 (“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God”; “Be still , and know that I am God”)