This Sunday is jam packed-so prepare to read fast.

This week we will be continuing the “-ish” series with another story of the prophet Elisha, and one word that can bring healing and life-change, or disaster and destruction depending on what we do with it.  This is not a story you want to miss…or a word you want to “-ish”.

This Sunday also marks the kick-off of our efforts at this years York Relay for Life.  (June 22-23)   If you have never been part of serving those with cancer at Relay, believe me when I say it is an experience that will change you…and one that you will want to repeat!  Kenna will be giving us an overview of what’s happening…and how we can be involved.  Mark the dates on your calendars…and get ready for the most fun you can have while making a difference in our community!

T-shirts!                      T-shirts!                             T-shirts!                           T-shirts!

Our 2012 line of actionchurch t-shirts also go on Sale Sunday.  There are 4 designs including two uni-sex designs, a beautiful ladies design and an actionkidz shirt this year.   They will be $12 for Adult shirts  and $10 for the kids.   EVERY DOLLAR raised from the sale goes to help cover the cost of our Relay for Life events!  This is a great opportunity to do good…and look good while doing…it by purchasing an actionchurch shirt.

If that wasn’t enough, we have a brand new artist,  Katy Glorioso, on stage Sunday.  actionkidz is cranked up and ready to provide an amazing hour of learning about the Bible and fun for your kids as well!

It all starts at 10:30 am (NOT 10:30-ish) at Frank Theaters Queensgate (Directions).   So come earlier to enjoy  Coffee, Maple Donuts, bagels, and Muffins with the friendly folks of actionchurch.

I snapped this picture with my iPhone this Sunday morning before load-in at the theaters.  I wanted a visual reminder of how blessed we’ve been in the past eighteen months as a church.

I was feeling blessed because I was sure that our newly painted and logo’d truck was carefully loaded with everything we needed for Sundays Services at our amazing venue at  Frank Theaters.  I was also sure that a swarm of extremely skilled and hardworking actionchurch crew would be there soon to make short work of unloading the truck and turning three theaters and a party room into actionchurch in 90 minutes.  We are incredibly blessed.

Just eighteen months ago,  I pulled up to Frank Theaters in a borrowed truck, waiting for a borrowed sound system, praying that the odds and ends we had salvaged from our stay at Club 19  could be used at our new theater venue.  I was carrying a long list of items that we would need (and could not presently afford to purchase), and expecting for that list to grow as we scrambled to set up in our new home.  I was praying enough volunteers would show up…and since this was our first time setting up at the theaters…praying that somehow time would slow down enough that we could get everything set up before our guests showed up.  (and…full disclosure…I was also hoping that when everything was set up…someone would show up…since we had only had one week to spread the word about our new location)

I think it’s so important to be grateful to God for all the blessings we’ve received in the last 4 years as a church, and specifically how we have been blessed since moving to our newest location.  I hope we NEVER become smug, secure, and take God’s blessing for granted.  I also don’t want to ever overlook where blessings “come from”.

Blessings come from people who chose to get up early on Sunday mornings instead of sleeping in.

Blessings come from the people who chose to “be the church” instead of just attending a church.

Blessings come from the people who have chosen to share their money with others.  ( If you are wondering if your donations matter…a VERY SMALL percentage of the blessings of the past eighteen months have come from outside contributions…the vast majority has come from actionchurch folks being generous and faithful each week with their money in very difficult financial times.)

Blessings come from people who chose to give up their sunday service to make sure that our kids hear about Jesus in the most captivating way possible.

Blessings come from people who open up their homes to host an actiongroup, pick up a friend on Sunday morning, or simply invite someone to join them on Sunday.

Blessings come from people who work during the week to repair equipment, restore and maintain the truck, return emails, or create art so that the message on Sunday Morning is clear and captivating.

Blessings come from people who use their contacts, influence, and talents in countless ways to make actionchurch possible each week.

Blessings come from people.

Yes.  Blessings come from people.

And as people…we are blessed that God gives us the ability, resources, and opportunity to be a blessing to others.

Just wanted to remind you this morning that YOU are “where blessings come from”.  Thank you.

This Sunday is Mothers Day, and a very special edition of actionchurch.   We’ll be continueing our look at the life of the prophet Elisha in the “-ish” series.   This week we’ll tell the story of an amazing Mom who plays an incredible role in Elisha’s  life and travels…and ends up teaching a lesson that ALL of would do well to learn.  We’ll be talking about words that moms “-ish”, and one word that great mothers NEVER do…

Our friends Farewell Flight will be providing the rock, and your kids will spend an hour learning great truths from the Bible  (and maybe making a gift for mom…shhhh.)  We also have a great gift we’d like to give to every woman who attends actionchurch Sunday.

Bring your mom…and a friend as well.  It all starts at 10:30 am (NOT 10:30-ish) at Frank Theaters Queensgate (Directions).   So come earlier to enjoy  Coffee, Maple Donuts, bagels, and Muffins with the friendly folks of actionchurch.

Over the past four years we’ve done countless sermon series with simple, one-word titles. This is a first.  Sunday marks the beginning of our brand new series named with a single syllable…not even a complete word…just a suffix.   [-ish]   Yep.  That’s it.  Just [-ish].   What can one simple suffix change in your life?  You’ll just have to bring someone Sunday and find out for yourself.  It’s going to be amazing…ish.

We’ve also got Jesse Baker appearing with some great music for you, and actionkidz has an amazing morning planned for your kids.  (not amazing-ish…actually amazing).

It all starts at 10:30 am (NOT 10:30-ish) at Frank Theaters Queensgate (Directions).   So come earlier to enjoy  Coffee, Maple Donuts, bagels, and Muffins with the friendly folks of actionchurch.

The average week at actionchurch is kind of like watching a duck swim:  It looks peaceful and calm…but the duck is paddling like crazy under the water.   Here’s a little peek into some of the stuff happening “under the water” at actionchurch.

Mothers Day-  coming up in just two weeks. (4/13)  We’ve got a special gift for the women of actionchurch…and we’re finalizing plans for a great Mothers Day service!

2012 T-shirt Line:  The new line of actionchurch t-shirts is less than a week from going to print.  We’ve got a special tee for the ladies, two really exciting designs that fit everyone, and kids tees coming as well.  All proceeds from the sale of the shirts help fund our York Relay for Life efforts, and our t-shirts are a surprisingly common way that people find out about actionchurch.  I’m so excited about the new wearables we may have to do a runway show…

Summer actiongroups: Summer is going to be huge for actiongroups. We’ve got new outdoorsy groups such as hiking and mountain biking in the works, as well as other summer opportunities to jump into a group.  If you have not yet found a group…this summer will be a great time to change that.

Truck/Shed/Billboard?: Maybe you’ve noticed that the ugly green actionchurch truck has been repainted and is now the ugly black truck.  Not for long.  Soon our faithful gear hauler/ storage shed will be transformed with graphics pointing people to actionchurch on Sunday Mornings.  We’ve dreamed of an actionchurch billboard for years.  I’m super excited that soon we will own one…a billboard that can haul tons of heavy equipment…and let people know about actionchurch wherever it goes!

Fathers Day:  Fathers Day is just over a month away…and we’re already at work on a father-tastic day…and an awesome gift for all the men of actionchurch.

actionkidz:  The fastest growing area (and the best!) of actionchurch is our kids area.  As Kylie shared with us Sunday…they are working hard to grow staffing and equipment needed to make actionkidz even better.  (Every sunday morning our actionkidz crew sets up and staffs TWO theaters and a party room!)

York Relay for Life:  (June 22-23rd)  Relay for life may be 6+ weeks away…but the actionchurch crew is already hard at work planning and preparing for the event.  (You’ll hear more from Kenna very soon)  This year actionchurch will provide and staff a free breakfast for the 500+ attendees of relay.  We will also provide and staff a  Free Shaved Ice stand that generates tons of smiles…and thousands in donations for the American Cancer Society.  We will also provide and staff a free overnight coffee stand that will provide the brew needed to keep walkers walking all night. actionchurch will also provide and staff bounce houses and a children’s area for the event…while teams of our walkers stay on the track to raise money for the event.  We’re already keeping our UPS driver busy with equipment shipments  (the shaved ice equipment came in yesterday)…and I’m praying for 100+ actionchurch volunteers for the event.  Stay tuned!

ETC… There’s actually so much more going on in our sound/music area and we are launching a brand new sermon series on Sunday!   The other great part of actionchurch is that there are also many other amazing things we are working on as a church that I am completely unaware of…  I just thought I’d give you a little peek at what is on my radar “under the water” at actionchurch.

Want to be part of the action?

How do you conclude a sermon series about a two-thousand-year-old conspiracy to cover up the most significant event that happened on this planet?  How did the first church in Jerusalem continue it’s meteoric rise, after growing from a few scared followers to tens of thousands in a matter of months?   Is there anything that happened in their story that still affects us today?  And…of course…what terrible “cow conspiracy” will be exposed this week?

If you would like answers to any of the above questions, you’ll just have to show up to the conspiracy finale on Sunday.   We’ve also got great music on tap from 9th Hour Legacy, and your kids will love the very BEST part of actionchurch-actionkidz.

It all starts at 10:30 am at Frank Theaters Queensgate (Directions).  Come earlier to enjoy  Coffee, Maple Donuts, bagels, and Muffins with the friendly folks of actionchurch.

I am so thankful every week for the great number of people who chose to be part of the actionchurch crew.  I’m in awe at the talent, dedication, and hard work needed to make  actionchurch services happen each week. Thank you all!

However, I believe on area of service at actionchurch is critical.  It’s why I often call actionkidz the “best part of actionchurch” . I thought I’d take a few minutes this morning to explain why:

It’s NOT because actionkidz volunteers have some of the toughest, and most important jobs…even though I believe they do!

It’s NOT because the actionkidz area is growing even faster than our main adult service on Sundays…even though it is.  (You guys are seriously making some babies!)

It’s NOT because I personally am so grateful that my daughter chose to follow Jesus…and learned to love going to church in actionkidz….even though that is true!  Thank you SO MUCH actionkidz crew!!!!  I am eternally grateful.

It’s NOT because I think that our greatest opportunity…and our greatest need for more crew members is in actionkidz….even though all of those things are true.

It’s NOT because I think that actionkidz crew members sacrifice the most on Sunday…they give up their “right” to attend a church service…and instead chose to serve OTHERS by providing a great environment for their children. That is truly the best example of Loving God, Loving people, and taking action I can think of!

The reason why I believe actionkidz is the “best part of actionchurch” is because of what Jesus said when his disciples were arguing about who was the greatest among them in Mark 9:33-37

³³ After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” ³⁴ But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. ³⁵ He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”³⁶ Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf^[ welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”-Jesus

Jesus personally used the idea of welcoming children into a relationship with him as an example of the GREATEST thing you could do on earth.  I believe his words still stand. Thank you actionkidz crew members for being the “best part of actionchurch” not according to me…but according to Jesus.

Parents:  Have you thanked an actionchurch crew member for the incredible sacrifice and service they perform each week for your children?  Could you give up one sunday a month to serve in the best part of actionchurch?

Not-yet-parents, never-going-to-be-parents, thank-God-my-kids-are-grown-parents:  consider serving in the actionkidz area so that others with children can spend time in the service away from their wonderful little ones…along with everyone else?

Everyone:  Take a moment to thank an actionkidz crew member.  Let them know they are appreciated.  Ask them how you could serve them.

I believe one of the keys to actionchurch being the best that it can be, is resourcing and assisting the BEST PART actionchurch-actionkidz.

In this week’s episode of “CONSPIRACY”, our story get’s even more exciting. As the powerful religious elite try to cover up the spreading story of Jesus being alive, they make a high-profile arrest, there is a mysterious jailbreak, and one of their leaders comes up with a plan that will forever change the future of the world. You can read about it in advance in Acts 5:12-42.  You can also be sure that on Sunday conspiracies will be exposed, cows will be blamed, and we will have a way of illustrating this story that will become wedged in your brain for the rest of the week.

This week’s musical guest is “Me equals you”, and our great actionkidz crew have an equally memorable and fun hour planned for your kids.  Bring your friends this week, it will be so much more convenient than spending the rest of next week trying to explain to them what happened Sunday morning…

It all starts at 10:30 am at Frank Theaters Queensgate (Directions).  Come earlier to enjoy  Coffee, Maple Donuts, bagels, and Muffins with the friendly folks of actionchurch.

Last week, on Easter Sunday,  we “broke” the story of the conspiracy to cover up the resurrection of Jesus.  This week the story spreads…and the cover-up and crack-down reaches the highest levels of government, religion, money, and power.   If you invited someone last week…you will want to bring them back this week…because the story is just getting better!

Sunday’s message will also include, The Masters tournament, the General Lee, my favorite scripture, NASCAR fans, another possible “evil-cow” conspiracy,  and music from a brand new band- Divine Air.  You definitely will have to be there to see how it all comes together on Sunday. I’m sort of looking forward to seeing that myself…  Our great actionkidz crew has an amazing hour of fun and learning about Jesus planned for your kids as well.  (They will NOT be taught conspiracy theories about cows.)  :-)

It all starts at 10:30 am at Frank Theaters Queensgate (Directions).  Come earlier to enjoy  Coffee, Maple Donuts, bagels, and Muffins with the friendly folks of actionchurch.  Don’t miss it.

Sunday I put out a very credible  connection between cereal bowls, croc shoes, and eating vegetables. (and for some reason from this photo, I also apparently imitated a bear).   Here’s the thing though, soon after I exposed the incredibly crafty forces behind the conspiracy, the theater lights mysteriously went out and the previews began playing to distract us all.  Yesterday, I heard the the audio files for the podcast are hopelessly corrupted and we will not be able to release Sunday’s sermon. Could it be that someone or something does NOT want that information released?  Coincidence?  I blame the cows…  

Sunday we’ll talk more about how the amazing story of Jesus being alive made it from the first century to the present,  (obviously they didn’t rely on audio files) and I will further expose “you know who”.  Tell no one.