BPC’s Newest Staff Member

Sunday was not only exciting cuz it was New Year’s Day but at BridgePoint Church I announced our newest volunteer staff member! Kim Cogley has joined the BPC Staff as my Administrative Assistant and boy oh boy am I so glad Kim’s on board with us!

Kim has an incredable gift for Administration and Detail which was clearly evident during BPC’s biggest outreach of 2011; Hope for the Burgh. (see above pic) Kim did a fantastic job leading that event coordinating over 100 volunteers & serving close to 500 people from our community. Kim loves God, is a hard worker and a great example of what a servant of Christ should always be; willing to help out where there was a need!

Kim has the MCM Pittsburgh Network of Churches DNA running through her spirit having been raised by her parents, Bill & Donna Machen who were a part of Allison Park Church in the North Hills while Ron Bailey was the Pastor. Kim came through Pastor Cal & Miss Vickie’s very first children’s ministry as part of their original “Son Shine Kids.”

At BPC Kim’s responsibilities will include handling all the day to day Admin aspects of the church so that I can now focus my efforts on Prayer, God’s continued vision & mission for BPC, Staff & Leadership Development as well as other parts of BPC’s ministry that need my immediate attention.

BridgePoint now operates with a staff of 6 dedicated leaders who love God will all of their hearts, souls, minds and strength and Love their neighbors as themselves continuing to Connect Real People to the Real God in Tarentum and the entire Allegheny Valley!

Welcome a board Kim; we’re so excited you’re a part of our team!!

BPC’s 1st podcast of 2012

Happy New Year!

On New Year’s Day I began a new messages series entitled: “Text Messages; What We Believe About the Bible as We Develop Spiritual Disciplines for Life” and the title of BPC’s 1st podcast of 2012 is; “Texting Application.”

James 1:22-25 is our Text (I couldn’t resist the pun so please excuse me) and it reveals a lot about the condition of our hearts because reading, hearing, obeying and then applying God’s word can be measured by the effect it has on our behavior and attitudes! There’s much more to this message then this so you’ll just have to listen to the podcast. And…

Listening to BPC podcasts is as easy to do in 2012 as it was in 2011; Just click on the title of this blog post and you’ll be directed to our podcast webpage.

Hope you’re blessed by my very 1st message of 2012!

BPC New Years Eve Blessing & New Years Day Service

Merry Christmas again and Happy New Year to you and your family!

Francie & I had a lovely week with our adult kids, Alexandra & Greg Jr., who were able to spend 7 days with us for Christmas! They’re all grown up now so this morning after a delicious breakfast at “Uncle Bob’s” (Bob Evans) they began the trek back to their jobs & friends in Springfield, MO. Although we’ll miss them we know that God has something incredible for them in 2012…as He does for you! So…

Tomorrow evening from 6-7pm at BPC we’re hosting our annual Family Blessing. “What’s up with that?” you’re asking. BPC will be open for 1 hour on New Year’s Eve and during that time we invite you, your family & friends over to the church where Pastor Maribeth, Francie & I would be honored to pray a Prayer of Blessing over you as we launch into 2012. Anyone and everyone is invited for this special time of blessing. You’ll be in and out in no time so you can get to that celebration to ring in the New Year. Afterwards grab a good night’s sleep and then…

Join us on New Year’s Day at 10am for our 1st service of the 2012 where I’ll be starting a new message series entitled; Text Messages; What We Believe About the Bible as We Develop Spiritual Disciplines. We’re also going to have Communion together so you don’t want to miss that! Bring the whole family cuz we have ministry for Nursery, Preschool & Elementary Children as well as “kickin” music and a inspiring talk for the adults!

God has so blessed BPC during 2011 & I’m in awe of all He’s done but…I don’t think He’s finished with us just yet so…fasten your seat belt cuz 2012 is gonna be "Off the Hook!"

BPC Podcasts The Stories of Love & Promise

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2011 at BPC was “Off the Hook!”

Every year on Christmas Eve at BPC we celebrate the birth of Jesus with a Candlelight Service and we sing Christmas Carols. During the Svc I continued our December message series; “Once Upon a Time; God’s Timeless Story of Christmas Blessing” with a talk entitled, “The Story of Love.” Centered around the angels announcement of the birth of Jesus; in this message I also told another Love Story that’s centered around Tim Tebow; the starting QB for the Denver Broncos. This year Christmas Day landed on a Sunday so we continued the celebration hosting a 1 Hour service and this Christmas Day was special for Francie & I because or son, Greg Jr., concluded my December sermon series with a message entitled; “The Story of Promise.” Greg Jr. preached a powerful message on the genealogy of Jesus found in the book of Matthew. Francie & I were so proud and inspired as our son delivered a thought provoking & life changing word.

I know you’ll be blessed and encouraged as you listen to both of these messages.

You know the drill; just click on the title of this blog pose and you’ll be directed to our podcast web page.

God Bless and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Additional Parking for BPC’s Candlelight Christmas Eve Svc this evening at 6pm

We are so excited to have you join us tonight for our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 6pm in our very own building so, here’s the scoop on parking.

Our friends, George Gatto & Gary Duster, have graciously allowed us to use their parking lots this evening so, if you can’t find a parking space on 9th Ave or Corbet St. you can park your car a very short walk away at Duster’s Funeral Home on East 10th Ave or Gatto’s Motorcycle & Repair Service Center on East 7th Ave.

Follow the link below for direction to BridgePoint Church and our additional parking lots.

http://www.bridgepointchurch.cc/?i=3328&mid=7 or go to www.bridgepointchurch.cc, click "News" and scroll down to "Parking and Directions."

We are looking forward to seeing you, your family & friends as we celebrate the birth of Jesus this evening at 6pm!

BPC's 2011 Holiday Line Up of Services

Christmas is just 5 days away, can you believe it! Like many of you, Francie and I have entered this week not only excited to celebrate the birth of Christ with our BPC family but also excited to be spending Christmas with our children, Alexandra and Greg Jr., who will be traveling home for the holiday. As a matter of fact the Rev Gregory S. Krowitz Jr. will be preaching at BPC on Christmas Day!

As you make your plans for the next few days leading up to Christmas I wanted to make things easier for you by letting you know our Holiday Line Up of Special Services so, here we go…

On Saturday evening December 24 at 6pm, we are having our 4th annual Candlelight Christmas Eve Service; all children will be with the adults. This 1 hour service is one of my favorites services of the year. With the sanctuary all decorated for Christmas, we dim the lights and light up the Candelabra’s adding a warm glow to the sanctuary. I just love looking out into the crowd as the BPC family gathers together to celebrate the Birth of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ! I’ll be continuing our series; “Once Upon a Time; God’s Timeless Story of Christmas Blessing” with a message entitled; “The Story of Love.” As a side note; for your convenience we will be taking the offering during the Christmas Eve service and will not be taking an offering on Sunday, Christmas Day.

On Sunday morning December 25 at 10am we are having a Christmas Day Service. We invite you to take a short break from all the Christmas morning fun & excitement at home and join us for this 1 Hour service as we continue celebrating Jesus’ birth. My Son, Greg Jr., will be concluding our series with a message entitled; “The Story of Promise.” Also, Pastor Steve & Miss Shelby will be having something special for the elementary kids.

On Saturday evening December 31 from 6 – 7pm we will be hosting our 3rd annual New Year’s Eve Blessing. The church will be open for 1 hour as the BPC pastoral Staff will be on hand to pray a special prayer of blessing over you, your family and your loved ones as we all launch into 2012! It’s kinda like an “Open House” so you can come and go as you please at your convenience. Francie & I so love this as well because it’s our honor & privilege to stand with you as you believe God for great things in 2012!

On Sunday morning January 1 at 10am we‘ll “Kick Off 2012” with Rockin Praise & Worship, a time of Prayer for the New Year and I’ll be starting a new message series entitled; Text Messages; What We Believe About the Bible as we Develop Spiritual Disciplines for Life. Following the message we’ll be celebrating Communion together which is a great way to begin 2012!

Well, that’s BPC’s 2011 holiday line up of services. Francie & I invite you to join us for any and all of these special services this Christmas and New Years!

God Bless you & Merry Christmas!

The Story of Joy & BPC Holiday Schedule of Services

What’s the difference between Happiness and Joy? I want to pass along to you what my Pastor told me regarding this question. “Happiness is based on our circumstances but Joy is based on having a relationship with Christ.” For many the outward circumstances of a particular something dictate whether they will be happy or sad but for those who know Christ we can have Joy on the inside while things are not so great on the outside. In John 16:33 Jesus said; In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Nowhere is this truth more evident than in the life of the young woman Mary. We also know her as Joseph’s fiancé and Jesus’ Mother. In this latest installment of BPC’s podcast we’ll examine the announcement of Jesus’ birth from Mary’s perspective & very clearly see that Mary chooses to respond with Joy from the inside rather than reacting with fear & doubt while the circumstances of her life were raging on the outside.

Just click on the title of this blog post and you’ll be directed to our podcast web page.

Also; I’ll bet you’re just dying to know our Holiday schedule of services so, here it is;
Saturday December 24 6pm Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, all children will be with the adults; Sunday December 25 10am 1 hour Christmas Day Service; Saturday December 31 6-7pm New Years Eve Blessing; Sunday January 1 10am Service with Communion. I’ll also be starting a new message series entitled; Text Messages; What We Believe About the Bible as We Develop Spiritual Disciplines for Life.