Devotional
My Father-in-law doesn’t know Christ. He’s the most kind-hearted, selfless, loving, self-proclaimed atheist I know. I love him deeply. Liz and I so deeply want him to know Christ and the joy and freedom and salvation that our Savior Jesus brings. As him and I grow closer and our talks get deeper and our love for one another deepens, my heart begins to fill with grief and sorrow for his soul. I read these words from Paul and I began to weep:
“I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren…”~ ~Romans 9:1-3a
“I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren.” Reread that.
If only I could view my Father-in-law with this type of love. Let me be cursed and separated from Christ that my Father-in-law may have the joy and love that I experience from God. Let me give up my first love so that he may experience the wonder of the God we worship. If only we could see our neighbors, coworkers, friends and enemies this way! This is how Jesus viewed the crowds as he preaches his Sermon on the Mount!
“The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him and… when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain… He opened his mouth and began to teach them saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
This week I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to change how you view people. Let us be a people who display the type of love Christ showed us.
~Nick Smith
Missional Resident
In-Person Service Information
There is still space available for this Sunday’s in-person service at Aggie Park at 10am. If you’d like to join us in-person this Sunday, October 11th, you can register by clicking here. We have indoor and outdoor seating options available with safety protocols put in place to help keep us all safe. Please review our safety protocols prior to attending by clicking here. Doors will open at 9:40am in order to allow for enough time to usher everyone to their seats in time for the service. We will still be live-streaming our service on Sunday at 10am on Facebook, YouTube and our website. We hope you will join us in what ever way you feel most comfortable and safe.
Prayer Request
If we can pray for you, please contact your parish pastor directly or you can submit a prayer request by clicking here. We have a prayer team who will join you in prayer.
6 Week Studies
If you’re looking to connect through a study, you can still jump in on any of the studies currently meeting over ZOOM on Monday nights. A new group was just added called Peacemakers. The Peacemakers study is a place where anyone – believer or not – can come with their questions and enjoy a conversation with likeminded people free of debate or persuasion. It’s a group founded on the beliefs that we have permission to ask questions and seek answers, that doubt doesn’t mean we are faithless, and that the tension between knowing and uncertainty is just another place where we can find truth. Participants are welcome and encouraged to come with topic suggestions or to simply come and join in on the conversation. To sign up for this study, or to view any of the other studies, you can click here.
Wednesday Night Worship & Prayer
Join us Wednesday nights at 8:30 PM on Facebook Live or YouTube Live for a time of worship and prayer. We look forward to interacting in real time as we re-center our hearts on what God is doing.
Church Chats
Join us every Thursday morning on Facebook Live at 10am for Church Chat. We will have some pastors from our church community gather to discuss topics and questions sent to us from you, our church family. To submit questions, email questions@theparksa.org.
Stay in Contact
If you are experiencing any hardships during this time, we want to be there to support you. If you have questions or needs we can help with, email us at info@theparksa.org
Covid-19 Needs and Assistance
The Park is still gathering the needs of our community. We have created a way for you to request assistance. If you have a need you can click here. If you are able to offer assistance to others you can click here.