Oceanview!

Over the past few weeks I've had some pretty neat times at Oceanview Community Church. Different things that I have been learning in the Kaléo program have influenced my view of ministry and my perspective as I get involved. 


From "Camp and Youth Ministry" with Sid Koop we learned about the honour and responsibility it is for leaders who instruct and work with children. God holds us to a new standard and that needs to be taken seriously. This reminder has encouraged me to lift up the children and youth I see every week in prayer.  

On another note, Makayla found out that October is Pastors' month so we thought it would be sweet idea to get Pastor Darrin a fun gift. I work with his wife, Lori, in Children's Ministry so I got the scoop on what he likes to snack on. After trying to break into his office at youth two weeks ago (fyi: if a bobby pin fails, boldly ask the elder who's in the office next door for a key), we cleared a spot on his table and made a pyramid out of three cases of Dr. Pepper. (Why get only one, when they are on sale, right?) He loves dark chocolate so we decorated the pyramid with chocolate bars and placed a handmade card on top with an inspiration poem I wrote:

"Roses are Red
 Violets are Blue
 Because you're our Pastor
 We're not a Disaster. . .
 or something like that!
 Happy Pastor's Month!"

(Okay. I understand that I could have come up with a better rhyming scheme. It's the thought that counts?!) We had leftover cans so we hide them around his office room. Who doesn't want to find a warm Dr. Pepper in the paper shredder or behind your family picture frame in 2 months?  

I'm realizing the dedication and sacrifice of leaders in the Christian church. A little encouragement can go a long way. Encouragement and apprecaition is something I can pass on. Giving is always better than getting. 


If you were looking for me last Thursday evening I was at the "Ladies Fall Tea" with Stacey and Makayla at church. We had the wonderful privilege to lead the group in a few worship songs. Earlier that morning while we were preparing, it was very clear to us that Stacey was still getting over her cold and I had just caught one. I was reminded from reading about Jesus being tempted by Satan in the dessert in one of our "Spiritual Formation"class books (Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero) that--although we could have sounded a lot better--our identity wasn't in our performance or what others thought, but rather God’s incredible love for us. "Thou has taught me to say, it is well with my soul."