We were packed out at our first Ash Wednesday service.  It was so good to see everyone come out for an evening of reflection on God’s grace and our need for it.  If you went home without one of our cards giving a Scripture reading each day until Easter, you can download a copy here.

Ash Wednesday was nicely placed between the first two weeks of our series on the church entitled, Ecclesia.  Last week we started the series with Christ as the head of the church.  Ash Wednesday allowed us to continue in reflection of Christ and how real repentance and new life starts with us as the church.  Then this coming week is about elders.  Now that we acknowledge Christ as our Lord, who helps us stay on track?  I hope you can come and hear what the Bible says about the office of elder this weekend.

Then next weekend we will talk about the mission of the church – the Great Commission.  We will have a guest speaker from Thailand, one of our three focus countries.  Timothy Jeng has served the church in Thailand for 30 years and is a personal friend of mine.  I am sure that you will have a greater understanding of that country, and even more importantly a greater passion to partner with Timothy there, after meeting him the weekend of March 7-8.

Don’t forget to faithfully bring your Faith Promise funds.  What you pledged in December for the current year’s mission fund is critical in supporting the work in Thailand.  We can’t give it until you do.  Just mark your check GCF (Great Commission Fund) when you make it out to Princeton Alliance Church (check bulletin for details).

See you this weekend.

It was exciting to be with the crowd at the opening session of the Financial Peace University seminar last Sunday.  140 of us started the journey in understanding God’s design for our financial peace and the stewardship of what He has given us.  It will be an great 12 weeks together and I am looking forward to how I come out at the end!

I am also excited about our new series, Ecclesia.  We talk a lot about what we should do and be as followers of Christ but rarely teach about the fundamentals of the Body he created that we call Church.  We will start at the top this week.  Who leads?  And why?  Come prepared to actively worship as we look at an incredible passage in Colossians 1.

We would love to have you join us for our first Ash Wednesday service this coming Wednesday, February 25 from 7-8 p.m.  Ash Wednesday was instituted by the early church to prepare for Easter.  It was to be a time of rededication and sacrifice in honor of the one who died and rose on our behalf.  In that spirit we will prepare together this Wednesday.

See you on the weekend.

I hope our series on Money was helpful.  We still have job and financial counselors available and our He Cares, We Care ministry is in full swing for critical immediate needs.  And this Sunday starts our Financial Peace University seminar on Sunday afternoons.  We are grateful for the opportunity to help you.  Lets also keep our eyes open in our communities to offer these services to those we know who may need help.

I appreciated the support in the votes cast for both the budget and the board nominees.  Both have been overwhelmingly passed.  We will be reporting back to you on a regular basis concerning the finances.  I want to make sure to keep you current on both what is coming in and going out.  I also appreciated your support, as well as the board’s, for the completion of my Ph.D.  The plaque was a generous surprise.

We have a guest speaker for our Valentine’s Day weekend.  Dr. David Schroeder will be with us from Somerset Christian College.  Somerset Christian College is a close neighbor both geographically and in their passion to raise up Christian leaders for our world.  Come and listen.

We will be starting our next series about the church next weekend.  We call it Ecclesia.  It wil be five weeks to hear what God says we should be together.  I can’t wait.

And take the chance to join me this Sunday at 2 p.m. for D1, the Discovering Community class that serves as our gateway to membership.

See you this weekend, and at D1, and at the first session of Financial Peace University.