I’m 0-3 on my picks, so feel free to keep your hopes up. After Sunday’s devastating loss, one of my best friends from college left on comment on the blog: “Stop Picking the bears…you are bad luck!”
So, without much comment, I’m taking that advice. I also happen to believe the Bears will get smoked, even though I wish it weren’t so.
Eagles 30, Bears 17
In my little bio on our staff web page, it says my passion is “about making sure Suncrest is never focused on ourselves more than others”. I mean that. And think it is key to our spiritual effectiveness as a church.
So what do you do when there is a need for workers at a sister church facing devastating circumstances…and it happens to be the biggest week of your own church’s life? (We are launching our second campus this Sunday!) That’s easy. You go help the church in need.
So today, we did. Both churches will be better for it because God blesses those who are givers. And along with our ministry staff, we had a number of suncrest attenders show up to help. No wonder, I love this church. Even the ministry staff who just couldn’t make it today are going Friday to serve.
My crew worked ripping out the carpet from South Side Christian Church’s worship area. Previously, they had come through with chainsaws to cut up all of the pews and take them out (see pic with the water still standing). It was heartbreaking, but there is something inspiring about working along side people from South Side and other churches who were also there to help in a time of need.
There will be plenty of work at South Side (and other places in the area) for weeks to come. This Saturday will be a huge one. Could you help?
And…their pastor told me today that they were having an important meeting tonight to begin talking about their next steps from here. Will you pray for that meeting right now? I just did.
I just got a note from Denise Tribble, our missions coordinator and it seems Suncrest has really come out to help some people in the midst of their crisis. Here’s what she said:
Just an FYI how Suncrest has been helping with flood victims. Thankfully through e-mail (reaching people quickly) we had Suncrest people donating time to helping others with basement flooding, sandbags and donating items needed. There was also a call out for donation of dresses and suits for Munster’s homecoming on Saturday night and our people responded, dropping off items needed for their dance. I love to see that!!!!!
I only want to encourage all of us to do more and more of that and there are 2 specific opportunities in front of us.
Helping a Church
You have probably heard about South Side Christian Church in Munster in the news. They were evacuated during their services 2 Sundays ago and their building was overwhelmed with water, ruining most everything in it (picture is of their worship area after the water had somewhat receded). What you may not know is that this church is largely responsible for starting Suncrest 14 years ago. They were a huge financial supporter. John Wasem (our founding pastor) had been their pastor. Many families that launched Suncrest came from there. And they have helped us at many turns along the way.
Now, it’s our chance to help them in a time of great need. Their church building (1000 Broadmoor Avenue in Munster) is open for workers every weekday from 9am-6pm and the work will go on for some time. If you can carve out some time to help them, it would be a fantastic expression of our support. Specifically, our entire staff is going to help clean up tomorrow (Wednesday) from about 10am-2pm…and if your schedule permits, I’d love to have you join us.
I’m meeting with their pastor next week to talk about how else we can help.
Helping Families
There has been an excellent system set up to help specific families affected by flooding also. Why not serve some of those in need this week? The opportunities are:
At the Eads School, 8000 Jackson Street in Munster (corner of Jackson & School). They have lists of elderly and uninsured people who need help cleaning up their property. They are currently operating in three shifts: 8-12 noon, 12-4 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. The 4-8 is the busiest as some residents have gone back to work and can only work on their homes in the evenings.
Also, they are serving meals to homeowners and volunteers at a food tent located at the corner of Madison & School streets. They are in need of donated food as well as volunteers to staff the tent during meal times.
I hope you will let God use you to help put someone’s world back together. If you can make it, I’d love to see you tomorrow at South Side C.C.
Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop once in a while, you might just miss it. -Ferris Bueller
Last week was wild and I have a jam-packed week ahead, so it was nice to start with a productive day off…
-Take Jack to Pre-school.
-Hang out with Abby at Ace Hardware (she loved it…really)
-Wash the deck…like seriously wash it.
-lunch with Jenny and the kids
-Repair some parts of the deck
-Expand the kids sandbox (and make it easier to mow around!)
-Take Jack golfing
-waterproof the deck
-Read and Pray with the kids at bedtime.
…and now for email.
1. East Campus Preview services went fantastic. The picture at left is me teaching on the movie screen taken fromt he back of the room. Launch is next Sunday!
2. Comments heard from people who experienced video-cast teaching for the first time.
3. Services at West Campus (St. John) seemed just as full as ever, even with 120 people gone to launch east. Good vibe.
4. Did get a short afternoon nap…loved that.
5. Took our neighbors to the East Campus Big Event. I’m very impressed with volunteer crews and I got to personally meet some families that came to check them out.
6. Da Bears totally blew one today. Good thing church and family life is good, because the Bears are killing me.
Gotta check it out. A new campus has meant a lot of behind the scenese work including an overhaul to our website.
Click here to check it out — www.suncrest.org
Had this picture sent to me by a friend and some people will be able to relate to it after all the flooding!
Of course, the flood is serious business for families and for a church that is very important to Suncrest. South Side Christian Church in Munster had a huge role in starting Suncrest 14 years ago. Before we had a building of our own, they would let us use theirs for baptisms, meetings, etc. from time to time. With the flooding of the weekend, they had water standing throughout their building and the effort to clean it up is going to be huge.
If you are local, could you help? The details for how we can help do remain a little sketchy right now, but I know they are open for workers tomorrow (Saturday) and I’m sure they will be in the coming week also. I’ll try to post more details here as I get them.
Hey Suncrest,
First, let me say I know a number of you are still struggling through the effect of the rain this past weekend. My heart goes out to you and it does my heart good to hear of Suncrest small groups coming around to help others in their community groups . Also, it’s great to hear of you helping your neighbors and friends through a tough time, opening your home to those in need.
Here’s what I love: Your stories are integrating with God’s Story…doing your part to put someone’s world back together! For more ways to help, scroll down past this note on the blog.
There is a lot of news this week, but I’m going to keep this brief…
· The rain and flooding really affected our Sunday at West Campus (St. John). Attendance took a huge hit and it had a significant affect on offerings and our big push for helping people connect in a Community Group.
· East Campus had their first practice service in spite of the flood. It went really great! 10 Days until public launch as I type this!
· We will do sign-ups again for groups this week. Make sure you get in one this week as the whole west campus studies “The Life You’ve Always Wanted.”
· Saturday is our work day. There is work to be done from pulling weeds to using your chainsaws! Our property will be transformed in 4 hours from 8am-noon. Come for all or part of it.
Now, for the most important thing: I’d like to ask you to specifically think of 5 people you can invite to Suncrest for this Sunday. This is the perfect week to do it. We’re starting a new message series called “Losing My Religion” at the very time of year people are most open to starting a new rhythm in their lives. And, I’ve provided a tool to help you. If you click here you will find a note I’ve written to invite your friends.
All you have to do is send them an email yourself with a few personal words and you can include the link to my note.
I have to tell you Suncrest, I’m not sure there has been a more exciting season at our church in more than 5 years. And I believe in these next 4 weeks of this series we have the chance to have God use us to change lives. You gotta invite those five for that to happen. Will you do it right now?
Greg
There have been lots of stories of Suncrest folks helping people in need.
A list is below. Supplies may be taken to the Westminster Presbyterian Church 9 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays.
All sizes of clean usable clothing (including underwear)
Bedding, pillows, blankets, mattresses
Scrub brushes, buckets, mops, rags, gloves
Cleaning supplies- including bleach & Pine-sol
Garbage bags & cans
Shovels
Couches, chairs, card tables, folding chairs
Canned & non-perishable food
Dog food
Toiletries (including sanitary napkins)
Toys
Microwaves, pots & pans
Gift cards to Meijer, Target, Walmart, Menards, Home Depot, Lowe’s
OK. Two weeks down. Two misses on my predictions. I do take some solace in the fact that my keys to the game last week were pretty well on…unfortunately the team that showed up in the 2nd half must have forgotten all these keys they were doing so well in the 1st half.
This week is the home opener and Tampa has former Bear Brian Griese starting at QB. The defense is going to eat him alive. And, I think Matt Forte will have another strong game, though after last week you can bet anyone who has seen the film will have their defense stop the run at all costs and let the bears stop themselves with the passing game.
Low scoring game will still go the Bears way, with one of the TD’s coming from defense or special teams: Bears 17 Tampa 9
.Real.Greg.Lee. 
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