What's Happenin @ BridgePoint in February 2008

There’s alot happening at BridgePoint Church in the month of February!

At the James 5:16 Center…
Sunday 3rd 6pm “BridgePoint in 2008”
Saturday 16th 11am meet for flyer passing in Tarentum
Sunday 17th 10am monthly service with refreshments following
6pm Grand Opening planning meeting
Sunday 24th 6pm launch team meeting
Friday 29th 7pm Potluck Dinner

Also..
Friday 8th 7pm Nite Out @ the Pittsburgh Mills

For all the “skinny” on these events throughout February, check out bridgepointchurch.cc or this blog.

Where, When & How?

This is Francie posting & I’m so excited to tell you…

Last night BridgePoint Church hosted its very first evening of worship & prayer. We had about 30 people that included our launch team, Pastor Chris & Kate from APC & a few new people. We were charged up & ready to go! The first portion of the evening was marked by praise, worship, personal reflection & renewal. We then went into a time of prayer for BridgePoint, Tarentum & the Allegheny Valley. Then we spent time on a short teaching in Acts 3:1-9 about Peter, John & the crippled beggar. We went back into a time of worship. At that point, people began to come forward for prayer as we continued in an attitude of worship. God is so real & He was there!

After the meeting was over, one of our launch team members reported to Greg that during the teaching time God had touched him. He told Greg that he had had an irritating pain in his left thigh for some time. While Greg was teaching on how the crippled beggar was healed, the launch team member touched his thigh & immediately the pain was gone!! He was hesitant to tell Greg at first because he wanted to be sure the pain was completely gone. But, it was completely gone!!

We don’t know where, when, & how God heals but we are so excited to see what God has in store for BridgePoint Church!!!

A Night of Worship & Prayer

This Sunday Night January 27th @ 6pm we'll be having an evening of worship & prayer @ the James 5:16 Center. BridgePoint is very excited to have joining us that evening Pastors Chris & Kate Griffin along with members of the APC Choir! The choir has adopted BridgePoint as they're missions & prayer focus for 2008. Needless to say Francie & I feel so blessed that they felt lead to storm heaven for the church & that they'll be partnering with BridgePoint throughout the year.

Sunday evening will be a time of excitement & expectation...our desire is that God will lavish the church with His presence as we approach our Palm Sunday Grand opening. Not only BridgePoint but Tarentum & the entire Allegheny Valley as well. We'll also be praying for your needs. What ever it is you've been seeking God for, financial, physical, emotional, we're ready to stand with you as you desire more of Him.

Looking forward to Sunday night!

BridgePoint Church 4th Monthly service

Yesterday BridgePoint church had its 4th monthly Service. 51 people braved the fridged temps. & once again the launch team did a great job. Thank you so much for your dedication & love for the Lord. Serving along side each of you is a blessing.

The vision of BPC is to Connect Real People to the Real God & the service was a reflection of that vision. People were welcomed with a warm smile and a great hand shake, were served warm coffee/tea as well as bagels & muffins and as the music started people were invited to worship the Lord experiencing His warm presence. Although it was one of the coldest days of the year outside of the James 5:16 Center, it was warm on the inside!

As we all start 2008 the message encouraged people to leave the past behind & step boldly into their future. The Israelites did this when they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. They followed Joshua & the presence of God. His same presence prompted a number of people in the service to step forward signifying they had left the past behind & were stepping boldly into their future. They recognized that only Gods presence working in their lives could lead them. We lingered, worshiped & prayed together for some time.

After the service we all put on our coats & headed out into the chilly temps but this time some left warmly different from when they came in!

Tommorows Forcast for Tarentum, PA

Tommorrows forcast for Tarentum, PA outside the James 5:16 Center...chilly

Tommorrows forcast for Tarentum, PA INSIDE the James 5:16 Center...
warm & toasty

Something For the Whole Fam!!

Did I tell you...BridgePoint Church, this Sunday January 20th @ 10am @ the James 5:16 Center, Tarentum, PA.,... something for the whole FAM!!

Don't miss BridgePoint Church this Sunday AM

BridgePoint Church...This Sunday January 20th 10am...James 5:16 Center, Tarentum...Live band with kickin Praise & Worship...food & refreshments following the service...Jr. Church, Preschool & Nursery...bridgepointchurch.cc

for directions & information...Thanks Jim & Wes, you guys did a great job hanging the sign on the front of the building!!!

This Sunday, January 2oth @ 10am, we will be having our 4th monthly service. BE THERE...regardless of the weather!

This Sunday January 20th BridgePoint will be having our 4th monthly service

@ 10am @ The James 5:16 Center. Checkout bridgepointchurch.cc for directions.

Last Friday night BridgePoint had it’s 3rd

“comeback” event. Jim, Stacey & their kids, Jim, Leann & their kids as well as Rachel & her sister joined Francie & I @ Bladerunners. We spent about 2 hours gliding around the rink & I don’t think any of the adults fell once. (We weren’t hanging onto the boards either!) Hot chocolate @ Kings was a great way to end the night.

On Saturday we passed flyers promoting this Sunday’s service. We covered all of West Tarentum & ¾ of East Tarentum. Thanks to Kate & the APC choir members who came out to help as well as those from BPC.

Next months “comeback” event is on Friday Night February 8th & flyer passing will be on Saturday February16th. Checkout bridgepointchurch.cc for details.

Relax, Drink Up & Lean In

BridgePoint church is taking part in Fasting & Prayer this week with the MCM PGH network of churches. Check out the MCM/APC blogs for great insight & practical ways to approach this week of spiritual renewal & attend as many evening services as you can where they’re offered.

In a phrase, “seek God & purposely lean into Him” during times of prayer, reading & study this week. As you’re setting aside that luxury speak to Him & allow Him to speak to you. Those extended times may be personal, used for family or friends and maybe even your church family (don’t forget to include the extended church family - MCM PGH). SEEK GOD! For those who’ve made this a yearly thing…God has been waiting all year for you to keep this yearly appointment so don’t ‘nickel & dime “ it away. Besides, it’ll be over before you know it.

Over the years for Francie & I this week has always been incredible. Every year we’ve come away learning something new about the Lord, ourselves, each other & His Kingdom. Some years God has shown Himself right after the week & other years gradually through the year. You just never know what the exact results will be. But what does it matter, when you spend extra time leaning into Him He knows the best results to deliver & when to deliver them.

So, relax, drink up & lean in.

Bladerunners & Flyer Passing

This Friday night, January 11th @ 7pm, BridgePoint will be having our 3rd “Comeback Event”, Ice Skating @ Bladerunners in Harmerville. It should be lots of fun. Maybe you don’t skate or haven’t skated in years (like me). No sweat, there’s bleachers @ the rink so you could watch the rest of us glide along on the blades. Afterwards we’ll grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.This is open to anyone & everyone. Not doing anything this Friday night?...we’ll see you @ Bladerunners.

Also…

This Saturday, January 12th @ 11am, we’ll be passing flyers in Tarentum. Our next monthly service is on Sunday January 20th @ 10am so…now is the time to get the word out. Kate Griffin & members of the APC choir will be partnering with us. BTW…Kate & the choir have adopted BridgePoint as their prayer & ministry support focus for 2008 so this won’t be the last time they join us in Tarentum! Are you pumped? I AM!!

Exercise & Seabiscuit

Over the past 2 years Francie & I have been walking on a regular basis. (a few weeks…O.K., maybe more than a few weeks…were not too regular). Alexandra was telling us that she works out a few times a week on a treadmill in the exercise room @ her apartment complex in Springfield. She suggested a treadmill would be a good present we could get each other for Christmas. So that’s what we did. (we got a great deal too…Internet $, floor model & 25% off of that!) We’ve positioned it in the basement in front of the DVD player/TV so we could pass the time watching a movie while walking. It’s really been great, now we don’t have to put on our coats to walk outside. Its shorts & t shirts in the colder months baby!

During the past 2 workouts we’ve watched “Seabiscuit”. The movie is about a winning thoroughbred from the 1930’s. This true story follows the lives of each of the main characters, the owner, trainer, jockey & the horse. It shows they all share a common bond…characters that needed a 2nd chance. Each had it pretty hard before they came together, each wasn’t given much of a shot @ success but out of their brokenness they found each other and managed to beat the odds making it to the winner’s circle more that an few times. In the end the jockey comments that their combined love for Seabiscuit and each other “fixed” them from their broken lives.

There’s just something about a 2nd chance & everybody needs one. We serve the God of 2nd chances. I look back over my life to this point & I thank Him for the 2nd chances He’s allowed to come my way. 2nd chances that have taken me on a road from brokenness to becoming “fixed” or whole. Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20 He’s calling & knocking and although we may not have heard him clearly at first (for whatever reason); He’s still calling & knocking! Jesus doesn’t say, Sorry, you blew it. You should have heard me the first time. You missed your chance. No! He says if anyone hears my voice & opens the door He’ll be there for them.

He can fix whatever is broken. Sometimes He’ll bring others who are broken/were broken into our lives so we can all be “fixed” together or they can show us how we can be fixed. This weekend APC is hosting the Spiritual Breakthrough. It's a great experience that shows us how to break free from the brokenness of the past and into a liberating life in Christ. It's about the 2nd chance! Every time I attend I get something fresh out of it. Check out allisonparkchurch.com for more info. I also love what Max Lucado says regarding people who come to Christ or break through to Christ, “God loves you just the way you are but, he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.”

Question…are you glad for 2nd chances? Answer…I am & so was Seabiscuit!

Welcome to 2008!

Welcome to 2008!

Francie & I had great “Happy” Christmas & New Year! Alexandra & Gregory drove in from college & grad school in Springfield, MO. Needless to say Mom was very happy to see them & we spent a lot of time together. They went back to school yesterday morning leaving @ 5am. How about this…there wasn’t any snow in the forecast until New Years Eve day, 1 – 3 inches through Wed. & when we all got up @ 4:30am…snow was on the ground but… they reported clear roads on I 70 after driving through Columbus, OH. (Parents, don’t you just love cell phones?)

Once again Francie & I are empty nesters and are looking forward to 2008. Especially the Grand Opening of BridgePoint Church on Palm Sunday March 16th ! You can read all about what’s been happening in previous posts & look for updates in future posts as we approach the Grand Opening. Also check out bridgepointchurch.cc

Praying God's best for you & your family in 2008…It’s going to be great!