MORe XI: The Real Gospel
Hi Family,
Who is the real Jesus? What is the real Gospel? Tomorrow, we’re off on our ELEVENTH Youth Retreat (!!!), and let’s pray that our students find the answers to those two most important questions in life.
What will God do there? How will He demonstrate His power? How will He transform lives? I’m filled with anticipation, but we must go with great expectations and desperate prayers to back them up. In our prayer meeting on Sunday, y’all shared the desire to see students learn the true Good News and get off the “rollercoaster faith.” You also asked for a greater heart of prayer within the leaders. I’m 100% sure those are being answered already, and we’ll hit the floor running when we get there…
1) MORe XI RETREAT: THIS TUESDAY TO FRIDAY @ CAMP CEDAR CREST (BIG BEAR). Pray for the people: About 140 students; Daniel’s Praise Team; Pastor Joshua, Sarah and Professor coordinating; about 14 of our URC leading; the many sister churches bringing their Youth (please pray also for me, as I preach)… whether you’re going or staying at home, let’s approach this like a missions trip in the commitment to pray and call on the Holy Spirit. If you are carpooling from church tomorrow, talk to Sarah or Professor about the meeting time.
IF YOU HAVEN’T PAID WON YET, YOU MUST BRING $70 TO ME IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU GET TO THE RETREAT. Yes, it was $100, but Congress unanimously passed the Obama administration’s 2010 MORe Retreat Relief Initiative for URC Leaders and Staff, so it’s $70 (the lowest retreat fee ever)! For those of you who already paid Won $100, you’ll get $30 back on Sunday. WE HAVE TO PAY OUR SHARE WHEN WE GET THERE, SO DON’T FORGET YOUR FEE! THANK YOU!!!
2) REV. LEE AND REV. MOON: As of yesterday, Rev. Lee is officially retired and off to Korea, and Rev. Moon is officially our new senior pastor. The celebration was pretty grandiose, and we also got to celebrate our URC family ordinations: Deacon Sung Kim is now an Ordained Deacon (ahnsoo jipsahnim), while Sarah/David’s mom, Jacob’s mom, and Inee’s mom are now Ordained Deaconesses (kwonsahnims… you can call Sarah/David’s mom “Kwon” sahnim, ahahhahhhha (c’mon, you laughed a little)).
THANK YOU, BIG TIME, to our photographers (Garnet and Hyunjoo), and our videographer (Sam). They logged a total of 12.9 miles of total walking within the sanctuary, trying to get the best shots. There were a couple of points where Sam commandeered an indoor Good Year blimp to get the bird’s eye views. All three were sweaty and exhausted afterward… praise God for your service. Also, thank you to the fellas, who brought the church towels and Rev. Lee’s books, for all to enjoy.
3) JOINT WORSHIP SERVICE: THIS SUNDAY @ 11 AM @ OUR SANCTUARY. We WILL NOT meet @ 9:30 AM, but please be there by 10:45 AM, so we can be an example to the Youth. Youth Group will lead praise, and Pastor Joshua will preach, so let’s support them and receive their ministry.
4) PRAISE TEAM BIBLE STUDY: THIS SUNDAY @ 2 PM. Youth Praise Team is welcome!
5) SURVIVOR PISMO BEACH: A WEEK FROM SUNDAY TO WEDNESDAY (8/15-18). We’ll camp near the beach, grill over fires, kayak, swim, and play beach volleyball/football/soccer/basketball/motocross.
THREE “IF YOU’S”: A) IF YOU HAVEN’T SIGNED UP YET, LET ME KNOW BY THIS SUNDAY IF YOU’RE GOING; B) IF YOU HAVE TENTS/GAS GRILLS/LANTERNS/PROPANE TANKS/ANYTHING USEFUL, PLEASE BRING IT TO CHURCH THIS SUNDAY; C) IF YOU WANNA GO, PLEASE GIVE $40 TO WON THIS SUNDAY (kayaking will be an additional $25/3 hours, and ATV rides will be an additional $60/2 hours, both of which you can pay when you get there).
6) SCRIPTURE READING/OFFERING: Garnet will be a week from Sunday, and this Sunday will be a Youth Group student.
7) DEVOTIONS: Jeremiah 28-33:
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. [b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Lord, at our retreat, may you raise up a new generation of Your faithful. We pray that every single non-believer gives their life to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, so all of heaven can rejoice. Let every believer understand the real Gospel, that you are all in all. Your holy name be glorified.
dude…MORe XI was bomb…thanks everyone for your prayers