A sneak peek

Last Saturday evening we met with many of our key leaders at Seneca Creek. It was an exciting evening of worship, celebration, and solemn commitment. We challenged them to give an advance commitment toward Chapter Two. And they did exactly that! Together, these leaders stepped forward to lead the way into the future for Seneca Creek. At the end of the evening, we had almost 60 families making their commitments, and the total received to this point is over $930,000. We give thanks to God for an exhilarating evening, and a huge step toward our overall goal of $2.5 million. And we also say thank you to each leader who has stepped up to this point.

Then Sunday morning we got another glimpse into what God is doing when the Middle School students and PowerHouse kids brought their commitments to Chapter Two. God was rockin’ the house, for sure! These young people set the bar high for all the rest of us.

Last weekend was just a sneak peak into what will happen this Sunday. And this Sunday will be the chance for everyone else to join in with the leaders. During our Firstfruits Celebration Sunday we’ll all bring our commitment cards, as well as our one time gifts. We’ll supply the necessary cards and envelopes in case you need them. In addition, we’ll have the Seneca Creek choir, some great personal stories, videos, and more. In football terminology this is the two minute drill. This is a historic moment for us as a church, and I know God is going to show up big time. I hope to see you there!

Puncturing the mundane

Before my feet hit the floor today I prayed that God would help me to respond to what he was doing in and through me. (That should have been my first clue!) If you got a chance to read the prayer journal for today, you read the following from Mike Hurt’s prayer:

My prayer is that God will use 13 Firstfield as a place where ordinary people living in Montgomery County can come and find and experience Christian community in ways that radically change their purpose in life.

Then underneath the prayer was this suggestion:

Walk out in public and pray for the strangers that you pass, that they could come to know God and that God might bring some of them to Seneca Creek.

During a lunch meeting the waitress shared some life concerns and challenges. My friend and I offered to pray for her, which she gladly accepted. We sat for a few moments and brought her concerns before the God who could help her. She asked about the church, and I explained we met at Seneca Valley High School, and had just purchased a building in Gaithersburg. Turns out, she lives in the neighborhood around us! She was eager to learn about Seneca Creek, and I expect God will bring her there soon. I also expect that will radically change her purpose in life!

It was one more reminder of how God delights in puncturing our mundane activities and events with his incredible plans. Pray for God to use you today, and that includes the strangers you pass by. Then look out, because it’s going to happen!

An avalanche of prayer

I've been encouraged and inspired by the daily prayers in our Chapter Two prayer journal. As we gear up for the 24 Hours of Prayer today (starting at 4 pm this afternoon), read through the prayer entry for today. And after you read it, let it trigger your own prayer for God to speak and act in your own life, and in our church. I think of it as starting an avalanche of prayer that will flow from this church for the entire 24 Hours of Prayer!

Lord,

I thank you for all of the many blessings on my family and my Seneca Creek family. I pray that all of the people that call Seneca Creek their home will take their participation at Seneca Creek to a new level. I pray for health for our church, that all of God’s people will grow in their quiet time with you, grow in their relationships both in their family and their community at Seneca Creek, and find their place to serve in our church, the local body of Christ. I pray that families will talk about Chapter 2 and pray about what God is calling them to do, both in service and financial contributions. I pray that all of the people not involved in community within the church will find a place to connect. I pray for all of the ministries such as small groups, PowerHouse, Impact, Quest, Worship Teams, Make It Happen.... Please Lord, let us all have a keen awareness that time is short and serving you, Oh Lord, is the only way to live.

Thank you Lord for Chapter 2 at Seneca Creek. You are an exciting God!

(Written by Julie Schrock - PowerHouse Pre-K Coach & Small Group Leader Coach)

I hope to see many of you at our special prayer event. I'll try to be there the entire 24 hours. Stop by and join me for an hour...or two or three. Let's start an avalanche!