Very Important Announcements

We have two announcements coming up that will affect the entire church body. We are holding a member meeting on May 22nd, in place of our regular Wednesday service, to make these announcements and discuss them with the members.

There will be limited nursery, no meal served that night and youth and children will be with their parents in the meeting.

Please be in prayer for our time together that evening and the direction of the church moving forward.

These are indeed exciting days for our church family.

- Pastor Randall

Church Membership Meeting

Tonight in our Adult service we start a new video series called Alter Ego by Craig Groeschel. Youth will wrap up our series on Identity and also crown a minute to win it champion. Kids World will continue to practice on the Wax Museum for next week. Mission Team is also hosting a baked potato bar. Come early, or stay late, and eat with us!!!

Membership Meeting - We will have a Church Membership meeting on Wednesday May 22 at 6:30 PM. This will take place during our regular church time. We will still have Youth service as well as Kids World activities. We have some important news and announcements to share with the body and wanted to start with the members of the church. We will not have a regular bible study/adult ministry night. Meeting only. No pre-service meal will be served on this night. Hope to see you there!

Summer Camp - If you are a parent wanting your child or teen to attend summer camp, this week is the deadline to register. We need a firm count to deliver to the camp. Please see Kimberly or pick up your information at the table in back of sanctuary. Kids Camp is July 12-14 and Youth Camp is July 29-Aug 1.

West, Texas Explosion

Spiritual Response to Terror and Tragedy - Wednesday night I was speaking to our teens in a briefing prior to youth service about the bombing in Boston. At that time I did not know there was a fire in West that would later lead to an explosion that would later lead to a very tragic situation for a community that most of us have passed through a time or two in our lives.

I encouraged our teens to do three basic things with terror and tragedy. 1 Listen to what "they" are saying. It is ok to take in the facts from the media, but do not let them form your response or beliefs. 2 After you have heard what "they" say listen for what God is saying. Is there something He wants to say to you or to the world for that matter in the midst of events like these that capture the worlds attention. 3 Have a response. Say or do. That is what faith does...it responds. Faith without a response becomes dead.

It is easy to get caught up in speculation, emotion and even conspiracy. We are always safe when we stick with the truth and respond accordingly. Some of you are going to find that God may have been urging you to pray specifically prior to these events. During the 21 day devotion and prayer time there were reoccurring times when I saw a huge mushroom cloud of smoke over Texas. Some of you no doubt have sensed a "burden" and just could not explain it.

God is speaking...we need to respond.

One of our own Christlynn Henderson has given me a list of items her dorm at Baylor is collecting for those displaced by the explosion in West. She is at the ladies conference this weekend and will return to Waco after church on Sunday. She will take back any items donated. If you would like to donate items on the list feel free to bring by the church the next couple of days or bring them on Sunday. Please pass the word. One suggestion toward clothing items. I heard one report from an hour ago that clothing items have come pouring in. (That usually happens in these situations) There is not a huge need for clothes at this time, but all of the other needs on the list are in demand.

- Pastor Randall

Donation Items Needed
- Bottled Water
- Personal Hygiene Items
- Baby Items
- Clean Clothes
- Bus Passes
- Canned Goods

Spiritual Response to Terror and Tragedy

Most of us by now have heard the news of the bombing in Boston yesterday. Regardless of numbers, any senseless loss of life is a tragedy. As Christ Followers we must be able to have a Spirit-led, Spirit-Empowered response to times like this and not rely only on emotion. The emotional urgency will wear off from this event, but the Spirit urgency will not.

Emotionally we are all moved to pray for those involved as well as capture of those responsible. Very sad for the family that wakes up to participate in a historic race but ends the day bloodied and mourning the loss of an 8 year old son.

Spiritually, there are answers...though difficult answers they may be. There is a reason Spiritually this happened, a reality it displays, and a response that the Spirit requires. Being able to do so requires us to let our own spirit lead instead of our emotions. That is tough to do. Our emotions are powerful...but so is our spirit.

We will discuss more in the days to come, but I encourage you to listen to the Holy Spirit in these times more than the news media. Open scripture before you open that link to a site.

You are going to be needed in the days to come. Get ready. Get prepared. Your Spiritual response is about to be required of you.

- Pastor Randall

Attention Parents

Kings and Queens - Teens and Pre-Teens are invited to a great weekend of ministry. Most of our teens are growing up, graduating high school, and moving on in life, NOT KNOWING WHO THEY ARE!!

We have lots of O'Mazing things planned for our youth 5th grade and up this weekend. If you know of teens that plan on attending, please RSVP by going to our website and clicking the kings and queens link. You can sign up there... its all free!! We crank it up Friday night at 6:30 PM.

Live Bible Wax Museum!!! - Our Kids World crew is teaming up with our Mission Team to put together an awesome wax museum of Bible Characters. Kids will pick out characters this Wednesday night and begin to work on their scenes. Even if you are not a regular to Wednesday night services, we still would love to have your child involved!!! The wax museum will be open to the public and will be a great time of learning for all of the kids and hopefully parents as well!

If you would like to have your child take part, please have them here Wednesday nights at 6:30 PM!!