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Good Morning Common Ground! We're looking forward to worshipping with you at the Silk Mill or online!
My Dearest Church Family, ![]()
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On January 20th of 2009, I came to you in a season of what I thought was going to bear great fruit. With Kasaan being only one year old, I remember Sara Cadiere taking such good care of him in the nursery while I preached messages and prayed over you as a wounded body of Christ. Soon my prayers over you turned to your prayers over me. The next ten years of my ministry here among you were filled with times of profound loss, unending grief, as well as unexplainable joy. You held me. You prayed when I couldn't and you preached when I needed an early Sabbatical. Bragging about you is one of my favorite things to do when I am in circles that can't imagine a community so faithful to Christ that they would carry their wounded Shepherd to the waters of life. In the last decade it has been my greatest joy to perform your weddings, walk in the rivers of baptism with you, anoint your baby's for dedication, and to lead you, not to myself, but to the imitation of Christ alone. ![]()
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The last couple of years have been professionally very hard for me and our staff and elders. However, God has been crafting a narrative in my personal life that I never would have believed had you told me three years ago. I was convinced that it was my lot to suffer in this life and to use that suffering for the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit however is the one who raised Christ from the grave and is also the one who has raised my dry bones to levels of joy I never thought possible. Jamie and Jack came to me like a kiss on the mouth from a God who never left me. Our marriage in 2020 was a watershed moment for my ministry and understanding that we can only give out of what we have. I have talked to you for years about joy and lament. I've preached so much lament and I hope that has helped you in your hours of darkness. I have been through so much darkness that I hope that has given you hope to believe that the light is truly winning. Even when you could not see it. Even if we were not to bear a child out of our love together, her love for me, God, and you has been such a counterbalance to my lament. She has been one who has suffered in such a different way from me and yet together the Lord has given us a son. In the next couple of days Jamie will go into labor and our lives will be changed forever. Your lives will be changed forever. Your pastor will not be the same. Our staff will not be the same. Our church will not be the same. As we just walked through the Advent season we know one thing for sure, a child changes everything! ![]()
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It is with this in mind that I want to write to you today. This community of believers loves you and needs you! I have never done this all on my own and it takes an entire church to say, "Here I am! Send me!" in order to cultivate the soil of the Kingdom. I know you are tired but do not give up. I know you have experienced your own lament, but wait patiently for the joy. I know you have been angry, but in your anger do not sin. I know you have been hungry for more, so in your deep hunger run to the table each week and be filled in community with the body and blood of Christ. ![]()
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Do not let this season of my absence lend to the temptation of your absence. In fact, I want to hear stories of how you gave more while I was gone to help relieve the burden of ministry from Melissa, Hans, Rick, Kristin, Matt, Nathan, and David. Our staff and elders have been so gracious in giving me parental leave and while they want to give me time away, they do not know the future needs of our church family while I am away. Therefore I want you to commit to the following and not just while I'm out the next couple months, but for your own spiritual renewal. ![]()
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Do not give up on each other no matter what. Family means there will be differences yet Christ and his cross means we can overcome and we shall overcome! ![]()
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Your elders have not spent nine years of theological training nor do they have 20 years of pastoral experience under their belt. They have two months of drinking from a fire hydrant as I have poured into them all I can before this parental leave. Be so gracious with them and their pastoral care. Reach out to them when you are in need of prayer and listen to their preaching and teaching as if it is "TRUTH through THEIR PERSONALITY" - God will reward you with nuggets of wisdom as you hear and sit under a plurality of leaders. Open your minds and widen your hearts to their leadership. Be the first to jump on board to their new ideas and pray for their families, children, and sacrifice as they build up the body of Christ. ![]()
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I would love for you to pick up a copy of Henri Nouwen's "In the Name of Jesus" and read it leading up to Easter. When I first got hired as a pastor in Northern Virginia I was given a book by a CEO business leader about how to grow a great company. It spoke of nothing about making disciples. For the last 13 years the first book I give to our staff is “In The Name of Jesus” and my prayer for you during this winter and spring is that you would anchor down into the root system of the saints of old. That you would bear good fruit that comes from quoting scripture at the Devil in the wilderness of your own fasts. Nouwin takes the temptation of Jesus and brings so much profundity to it and I hope you apply each and every chapter to your walk with God right now. It's short!! I mean it's almost shorter than one of my Taboo sermons!! Get after it! ![]()
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Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, your heart will be also." We have not passed the offering basket at church for over two years. I want to invite you to go online right now and lock in your recurring giving as a testimony of hope for your belief that we all need to do our part and for your heart to truly be in this community through your giving. It is easy to pick up stakes and move to another church while you don't get want you want. It's more Christlike and more like a family to stick it out and invest in the tilling and giving and share the load not just in volunteering, but in your tithes and offerings. I am adjusting my tithe this month from last year and I hope you will do the same. Ministry will not look the same as it ever did. We aren't going back to normal. We are moving into uncharted waters and we need you all in! ![]()
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In my home study there is an airline oxygen mask with all of its components and Jack and Kasaan love it when I hit the button and mask drops down simulating the airline cabin pressure loss. I remind them that in the event of an emergency, "Who gets the mask first?" That's right!! If I don't have the oxygen in my lungs necessary to help them, then they are in peril. Church, I love you. Some of you are surviving off of a different kind of mask. There is a gas blowing into your lungs that will eat your soul and divide your heart. I am begging you to move into a contemplative life with Jesus! This involves reading and meditating on his word daily, regular times of prayer, regular times of fasting, regular rhythms of worship, and times alone in nature. Review John 15 and Abide in Christ. ![]()
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Today is my last day at the office before this baby comes. This Sunday will be my last sermon until April 3rd. If I have not seen you in a while please come and share an embrace. If I saw you last week, please come and share an embrace. You are the body of Christ and I will be praying for you everyday that I change this little one. Praying for your changing into the likeness of Christ. You are the lifeblood of joy and as my son kicks and coos, I'll be thinking of the gift you gave me to experience it. You are the servant to the least of these and seekers to the lost and as I hold this precious boy in my arms I can only pray that he would grow into such faith as you display every day! Be good to our Pastoral team of Hans and Melissa. They have been by my side in all things. Treat them the way you would treat me! Let them shepherd you! Each of them will rise in my absence as you lean on them for leadership and comfort. If you are in the hospital, reach out. If your heart is broken, reach out. If you need to get married, reach out to them. If you need baptism, reach out to them. If you need prayer, they are your pastors as much as I am they are eager to sacrifice for you. ![]()
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Finally Common Ground, pray for Jamie and I. Her last labor was traumatic. My last labor was 14 years ago. Pray for the blending of families. Pray for our rest and sleep. Pray that Christ would use this sweet boy to bridge our other two boys and pray for our marriage that through this momentary suffering that we would reap a harvest of joy. I love you like no pastor has loved their flock. You have loved me, served me, saved me in so many ways. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! ![]()
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Love Big ~ Be Well![]()
Gregg
Hey CG! Back with another Thursday Recap from Gregg's message on Loneliness in our Faith in Fatigue series! We will be back together on Sunday and ask the question, Am I Tired? ![]()
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkEyQ6BGLz0
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Hey CG! Back with another Thursday Recap from last Sunday's message on Loneliness in our Faith in Fatigue series. See you all Sunday as we move on to look at...