February 12-18

Our first week back at work went awesome!

Tuesday I threw myself back into planning worship services for Sunday (one for the 9am liturgical service, the 10:30am contemporary service, and Trinity's 9am relaxed service.) I am finding that I really enjoy using my resources to plan services with creative responses and organizing the songs each music group picks to fit in the service to create a smooth flowing worship experience.

Ken was busy Tuesday with meetings with the Children's ministry director, a conflict resolution meeting with one of his volunteers (which went very well, but please continue to keep this person in your prayers that they be given a teachable humble spirit), and a BCNZ meeting where he got to interact with the other profs and discuss the semester coming up!
That night we led our guitar class and made some goals for our group: mainly that by June 2008 we should all be able to plug into a worship team and play with them the songs we're learning together in this small fortnightly meeting time! How exciting!

Wednesday Ken and I enjoyed lunch with a church member in Summerhill who shared with us their vision for reaching out to the people of Summerhill. It is exciting to hear how God moves in so many people's lives - it is rather overwhelming to think how He can orchestrate so many things within His church all at once.

Thursday was Valentines Day. Ken and I went to coffee and began to read a book entitled The Five Love Languages. That night Ken had a meeting with the children's minsitry team - they decided last time they met to include children back into worship at St. Luke's instead of taking them out during the sermon for sunday school. However, this is being met with oppostion because it's difficult for some people to have their children the entire time. Please keep this in prayer as it is essential for the spiritual growth of children to be involved in the worshiping church body. Ken feels very passionately about this and hopes over the next year to equip and teach the leaders here about the importance of this.

Friday Ken led youth night on his own - I officially am no longer a youth leader. I felt it was burning me out to do so much at the church and decided to give it a break for a while. He felt that the night went really well. He's revamped it so that the first entire hour is filled with games, snacks and hang out time. The second hour then focuses on Bible study and discipleship. Although his dream would be to have Friday nights be just a fun night and have the youth be meeting in smaller break-out groups during the week at various youth leader's homes. Please keep that vision in your prayers.

The weekend was one of relaxation and rest. We didn't do a lot outside of Palmy. Took the dog on some nice long walks at the Esplanade, hung out with Sam and Jen for a "game night" and became hooked on our new favorite TV show...Desperate Housewives (everyone has their little sins, right?!)

So, it's great to be back home. We both feel very settled and enjoy the work the Lord has given us to do here.

p.s. sorry there are no pictures...we really didn't take any!