VBS Week!

Good morning,

Many updates regarding VBS this week:

1.       We are looking for folks to help provide meals to the volunteers before VBS each night.  Helen Lupien coordinates the meals.  Please see her on Sunday if you are willing to help.

2.     We are in need of large water bottle/soda bottle donations for the craft team.  Liter/2 Liter size.

3.     There are still some volunteer slots that need filled.  Please see Elizabeth Barrett for how you can help.  List is in the lobby.

4.     From 7-8 pm I will be leading an adult class in the sanctuary on the end times.  I am planning on this being more of a study with lots of discussion than a lecture or sermon, some come with questions and ready to talk!  Here are the (tentative) topics for each night:

Monday – A look at the 3 main views of the Millennium and the cases for and against each one.

Tuesday – A study of Revelation 20, a key passage regarding the end times.

Wednesday – A look at the Great Tribulation found in Revelation 6 – 16.

Thursday – What we know about the reality of both Heaven and Hell.

Friday – False Teachings about the End Times.

Light and fun topics, aren’t they?  I’ll do my best to keep things moving and not too dark!

5.     You can preregister your kids this year! We will have the forms available on Sunday for you to sign everyone up.  We will be using these forms in our youth and children’s ministries moving forward so that our volunteers have some information regarding food allergies, emergency contacts, etc… when someone is at the Bridge for the first time.

Finally, you may have noticed some changes to the downstairs door leading into the fellowship hall. It now has a window in it and a “breaker bar” on the inside of it, making it more of a security door. Once the kids and volunteers are downstairs for Junior Worship on Sunday mornings the door will be closed until the service is over. The breaker bar allows everyone to get out if needed and also provides some security so that our volunteers can keep their focus on ministering to the kids. If you need to pick up your child before the service ends, you can knock on the door and someone will let you in.

Our hope with these two changes is that we can provide a safe and secure space for everyone and give parents (especially those who are new to ABCF, a group that keeps growing!) peace of mind that they can trust the church with their kids while still being the same welcoming place that the Bridge has always been.

Here's what’s happening:

1.                This Sunday is our first coffee fellowship time from 9:30 until 10 am. There is a sign-up sheet to provide the snack on the bulletin board in the lobby.

2.               We will be having a brief time of prayer and commissioning for the missions team next Sunday during the worship service.  The team leaves for North Carolina on Saturday the 19^th,

This Sunday we are looking at the disciple Jesus said was an "Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit."  What did Jesus mean by that and what does it mean to be the "real deal" as a Christian?  I am looking forward to our look at the life of Bartholomew!

Scott