Where Are We Going?

I think this is a question every church needs to answer as simply yet as detailed as possible.

Maybe another way to put it would be, "Why do we Exist? This past Sunday I threw these thoughts out to the congregation. I have been praying on this for some time and God is stirring in me. Here is what I have gotten so far.

1.) We are to "expand" God's Kingdom!
2.) We are demonstrate Jesus' love to a hurting world!

We are called to grow and expand God's Kingdom. In other words reach people, wherever they are reachable, and expose them to the reality of Jesus' saving grace. The key to this last sentence is to reach them "wherever" and "however" they can be reached. Church, as we all know it, is probably not the means by which this is going to happen. We live in a different world now.

Here is what I know. 
People are all seeking something!
People in many cases really don't know what it is they are seeking but they know there is something missing in their life!
People want to be loved!
People want to feel important!
People want to belong to something that matters!
People want answers to hard questions!
People are seeking peace, and Joy, and Fulfillment!
People struggle with many things in life!
People take notice, and are moved when showered unexpected acts of kindness, and love!

Do you think knowing Jesus and being connected to others who know Jesus would help answer the questions above?  I do! I know that Jesus is the answer to all the above! But here is the rub. There are thousands of people in our community who need what Jesus offers but they are not going to come to our church, as it currently exists to find out! And it's not just our church, they aren't going to show up at any church. So, if we are called to Expand God's Kingdom, but we keep saying, "Our doors are open come on in!" and expect that to be fulfilling our mission. We need to have our heads examined.

So what is the answer?  Jackie and I are developing a plan. It is a huge step in the right direction.  We are going to need help. Lot's of help. We can do this. This past Sunday I said it was my goal to reach 10% of the Glen-Ed population which is about 4,000 people. This is doable. Jackie and I will be meeting regularly with the boards and will begin unveiling the plan soon. We would like your input!

See you Sunday, 10:00am Glik Park. All church service and picnic. We will discussing this and more.
Love pastor Kent

This Sunday!

This Sunday I will be giving a brutally honest sermon.  I think you are going to be shaking your head in a agreement. I hope you will join me because our bus needs your input!

What?
Our Bus?  What Bus?
What are you talking about?

You will see! It's time!

See you Sunday 8:45am, 800 North Main Street Edwardsville, IL.

See you Sunday!  Love, pastor Kent

What Is The Purpose of Church???????

This Sunday I will be discussing the purpose of church!  "Why do we gather as a family of believers, sing a few songs, shake each others hands, listen to a message and go home?" What is the point? 

I have an amazing answer for all of you who have ever wondered about these questions. I know I have had questions about church for a long time. That is why I have spent hours praying, reading, and researching this important question. I believe the answer is going to help all of us become more committed and give us a renewed energy and purpose of why we meet as a family of believers! Pastor Jackie and I along with Joe Newman and Kory Kuba, the two board presidents, have begun discussing the huge possibilities that currently lie dormant within these two congregations. I believe we are on the verge of seeing some very exciting yet challenging doors to walk through soon. Pray for God's guidance and strength as we enter this time of renewal and faith expanding challenges. 

Come join us this Sunday at 8:45am. We are located at 800 North main Street Edwardsville in the Immanuel Methodist church. You will see our banner outside stating that two churches, Praise Community Fellowship and Immanuel Methodist have come together to worship as one family. 

This week the praise team, Anna Harris, Steve Loucks, Matt Conway, Jeff and Christine Wiles, Dave Rader, Lori Rodgers, Jennifer Kaburik, and Debbie Loucks, will have some new songs that I know you will enjoy.   

Looking forward to seeing you Sunday! All are welcome. 

Announcements:

Praise Community Fellowship and Immanuel Methodist will be busy feeding children this summer through 2 separate programs. Volunteers are welcome at both programs. This program is to provide lunches 5 days a week to children in need since school is now out for the summer. PCF will be serving the lunches through the TWIGS program. If you would like to sign up to help, call Faye Heuchert at 618-656-5885. If you would like to volunteer for the SAKS program that Immanuel Methodist is helping, please call the office at 618-656-4648. This is a way for you to be a blessing to those in need!

Mark your calendars for June 5th picnic at Glik Park. There will be a fun special service at 10:00am with picnic to follow. We are accepting deserts and bring a lawn chair. Bring a fishing pole of you want to fish in one of the two stocked lakes. Bring your friends! 

Hope to see you Sunday! Love, pastor kent

It's Not about Bar-B-Q!

This next Monday will be Memorial Day. Memorial day is about remembering the thousands of men and women who died while serving this country.

Just a reminder that we have so much to be grateful for. Jesus said these words: John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."

Jesus was talking to his disciples about what He was about to do for them. Many young men and women have done the same through out the years so that we may enjoy freedom we have in this country. Take time to remember and pray for all the families who lost a loved one while serving. 

Yes there will be picnics and bar-b-q's but it's because of those who we remember!

God has a plan for your life! Come and discover what it is with the rest of this church family!  Now is the time to come visit us. God is real and He wants to work through you! When you allow God to work through you, look out! It's going to get very interesting and very fulfilling! 

This Sunday, Praise Community Fellowship will be leading worship. See you at 800 North Main Edwardsville at 8:45am Sunday! The place where two different churches have come together to worship as one family! Praise Community Fellowship and Immanuel Methodist coming together to do more for the glorification of God!

See you soon! Love pastor kent

Church Picnic

Mark your calendars. June 5th both Praise Community Fellowship and Immanuel Methodist will meet at Glik Park for a 10:00am service with a picnic lunch following. Kent will be leading this service and plans on having a special program that day. It will be fun! We are planning on having the main dishes catered but will accept deserts. We will be meeting at the big pavilion in Glik Park located on East Lake Drive in Edwardsville. There are air-conditioned restrooms, playground for the kids, a sand volleyball court, basketball hoops, walking trails. Please mark this date and plan on joining us. This will be a good chance to meet and mingle.  There will be more info to come.

When New people show up at our service!  I believe that when a new person or family shows up at our service, God has brought them to us for a reason! It is up to all of us to make sure they feel welcome and comfortable. God has a plan with new people and we must not hinder that plan by ignoring this gift! And when someone new shows up at a church, it is a gift!
Pastor Jackie and I will be doing a special Greeters training on June 21st at 7:00pm at the church.
We believe that greeting is a ministry! We are looking for volunteers who would be interested in this ministry. This is a very important ministry because when God sends new people to us, it is critical that we connect with them in a very special way. That is what this training will be about. Pray about this and please join us on the 21st if you would be interested in this ministry.

Prayers requested.

Floyd Fisher, please pray for Floyd who will be having several tests this week for his heart and kidneys.

Colin Rives, grandson of Judy and Bill Daubensteck. Colin is 13 years old and has osteosarcoma and is in treatment.

Connor, Mary and Lee Knapp's grandson, healing for severe head trauma.

Pray for God to unveil an "Impossible" glorious plan for our two congregations.

Announcements

PCF will be participating in the TWIGS lunch program this year. We will be delivering lunches 5 days per week during the summer. We will be going to our Cottonwood location and the Trailer Park in Glen Carbon. We are needing volunteers to help with delivery. Please call Faye Heuchert at 618-656-5885.

On June 19th, Fathers Day, we will recognizing graduating seniors at the service. If you are a graduating senior and have not yet done so please contact Anita at the church office so we can get you in the program. Church office number is 618-656-4648.

Hope to see you Sunday. I'm not yet sure what God has for us, but I am praying for it! 
Love, pastor Kent

Impossible?

What could two congregations coming together as one do for God's Kingdom?

Impossible is defined as: Not capable of being accomplished! Something which cannot be done!

It's interesting to me that at one time traveling faster than a horse could run was called impossible. To have light after dark without a fire of some type was impossible. Only 120 years ago flying was impossible. And we could go on and on. Maybe a more accurate term would be present reality. What seems impossible for your life or your circumstances at this moment might better be defined as present reality. But our present reality does change!

In the bible God showed man over and over that what seems impossible to us, is not with Him.
Directing a very old man Noah to build a boat big enough to carry life through a huge flood.
God gave a child to Abraham and Sarah long after child bearing age.
Producing water from a rock in the middle of a desert.
Spreading a sea.
The fall of Jericho
The feeding of 5000
The raising of Lazarus just to name a few.

God is still very much alive and well today and is looking for people who are willing to surrender to His guidance, to accomplish His work in a spectacular way for His glory!

 That is my prayer! God show us how we can make a huge impact in this community for your Glory! It might seem impossible, but we know that with you, all things are possible.
Will you join me in this magnificent prayer?

God, reveal to us a work so grand, that only you working through us, will it be possible! Reveal to us just how amazing you are! Give us the "impossible" dream so that we may experience your greatness as we enter your purpose!

Praise Community Fellowship and Immanuel Methodist, two churches seeking the power of God to reveal His plans for His people.  Come join us!

Need to speak to a pastor?  Pastor kent   618-334-3575  Pastor jackie 618-656-4648.

Hope to see you this Sunday at 800 North Main Street at 8:45am.  Love pastor kent and pastor jackie

The Narrow Gate

Why is saying I'm sorry so difficult? Especially when it holds the possibility of giving us back our peace. There is nothing worse than holding on to anger. Deep anger can trigger heart attacks and all sorts of other health issues. Anger is an internal burning coal that can do severe damage to our life experience.

God's peace is available to those who are willing to walk through the Narrow Gate and there are few who find it. Look at this verse:

Matthew 7:13-1413 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

I believe that this verse is teaching us about God's peace which is available here and now to those who are willing to step out in faith and do what seems so difficult for many. But healing comes when you apply God's word. It seems easier to do what most would do. To hold on to anger. To hate those who do us wrong. To punish those who make us mad. The narrow path on the other hand is narrow because not many find it or choose it. It just seems to hard and definitely make no sense to our human ways of thinking.  Look at the verse below. Love, Do Good, Bless, and Pray.

Luke 6:27-2827 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

These are the keys to the kingdom of God's Peace! These words are God's answer to those who have lost their peace and who are harboring anger and hate in their hearts. LET IT GO and LIVE! Think about this, "God loves the person you are so mad at as much as He loves you!" You are loved equally because in God's eyes you are brothers and sisters. He has given us the answer but you must apply it! 

Praise Community Fellowship and Immanuel Methodist, a place to learn how to love our neighbors with our hearts, our talents, and our resources!  Worship Sunday mornings at 8:45 am. 800 North Main St. Edwardsville.

See you soon! Love pastor kent.