We started the morning by having all of the students skootch (sp?) their chairs closer together and closer to the stage. We wanted to see everyone for this one.

What talked about what it means to be a family. There might be over 200 people in there on Sunday mornings, but we can still feel and act like a family.

Melissa talked to the students about how this year feels different than the previous few years. Some people were definitely oblivious to the differences, but there were plenty of nodding heads in the room in agreement.

We ended the morning by talking about we, collectively, are “the light of the world”. When Jesus said “You are the light of the world”, he was saying that “you” (plural) are the “light” (singular) of the world. We’re in this together. We’re not 200 different points of light. We, the church, must realize that we are all in this together. EDL has no king or queen (that doesn’t work in the Kingdom of God). We come together to worship God. To pray together. To talk about what it means to live a different kind of life.We encouraged the students to be a community of visionaries. To dream big, and to fill any gaps they see.

We got some great feedback

There are a few things that you guys might want to read over on the student blog.

For the REACH Weekend of April 24-26th we are capping things off with a BBQ. We’re going to invite any of the students that participated to come and hang out/share stories that night. Melissa is going to nail down a location for it right now. Interested in hosting? We’ll also need some help cooking, setting up, etc… email Ryan (rguard@calvarylife.org) or comment here if you are interested.

This Sunday: We are going to have a little family meeting with our students and staff during the EDL service. Melissa and I are going to share some of our thoughts about the state of the union in the EDL group. We’re also going to respond to some of the feedback we’ve heard from students and staff over the past 9 months of the leadership transition. If there’s time, we’ll even let the students share some of their thoughts/opinions/ideas on what they’d like more of, less of, etc… We’ll post some of the talking points on here next week.

You have probably heard that we are taking a team to Ecuador this summer! We will be partnering with missionaries that we have living there. The team will be showing the love of Christ by ministering to orphans and helping to build a community center for a remote village on the Oncelet River.

If you would be willing to support them financially or through prayer, you can download a form by clicking HERE.

We ask that if you are a part of the Calvary family, and giving financially, that your gift would be above and beyond your normal giving and Faith Promise

The combined service is not this Sunday, but the next Sunday (the 22nd). I contacted everyone that left a comment, but if you’re out there and you were planning on donating a couple dozen too then please wait until then! If you don’t get this message that’s ok, we’ll still eat them

Hey parents, I’m curious about something…

How many of you insist that your kids come to church? I was going to say “force your kids to come to church”, but that sounds a bit harsh.

I’m curious how many of our students come by their own choice, and how many come because mom says so.

I know this is a loaded question, and that every family and situation is different. I’m just curious how much freedom your kids have in choosing whether or not they come to church.

I’m pretty sure that most of our kids want to come each week. And I’d even bet that the kids that are required to come probably would come anyways.

So how do parents make these decisions? How do you respond when your child doesn’t want to come any more? When are they old enough to make that decision on their own?

The 2009 Senior Dinner will be on June 13th.

Senior Sunday will be the next day!

say that ten times fast!

March 22nd is a combined Sunday with junior high and high school. We like to feed their faces on these days (more than usual that is). We’re looking for 10 dozen donuts to be donated by high school families, as well as 10 dozen from junior high families.

Comment here and let us know how many you can donate, or once again you can email us. Or Twitter us. Or Facebook us. Or text us. Or… call us? Or write a note on my office door in Sharpie. Or don’t.

THE EARLIER POST SAID THAT THE COMBINED SERVICE IS ON THE 15TH, THAT IS INCORRECT

March 15th is THE FEAST, and we’re looking for some moms and dads who can be waiters and waitresses that night. The meal is rice and beans, so serving it up will be SIMPLE. Program starts at 7:00, but you’ll need to be a little bit early to get set up.

Interested? Comment here or email mbrosch@calvarylife.org or rguard@calvarylife.org

Andrea, our faithful donut and coffee coordinator, has broken her foot and can’t help out while she’s healing! We need someone to fill in. Maybe you?

You would show up before EDL (at about 8:20), cruise down to the kitchen where our coffee/hot chocolate/donuts are waiting for you, and bring them to the gym. You’d be in charge of setting up the table by 8:40, five minutes before the kiddos show up.

Interested?

There is only one service at Calvary next week. Bring your kids to the main service at 9:30am to worship and hear from Shel Arensen, one of Calvary’s missionaries serving in Kenya.

You can find more info on Calvary’s website