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Sunday Mind Dump

• It is such a privilege and I am so honored to pastor Meadow Spring! I LOVE this church!
• Totally a great morning!
• My mind can't imagine what is going to happen on Easter when everyone starts praying for and inviting their friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family to Meadow!
• We are in for some real God-empowered, mind-boggling stuff!
• Offering was great today! So thankful for those who sacrifice every week to support Meadow!
• Thought the opening song the band did was off-the-chart! Wow!
• My mother-in-law was in church today and I think she still loves me after the band rocked out today!
• My daughter got married yesterday and I was honored to officiate.
• I've been able to officiate at both my kids weddings - total honor and privilege which I am grateful for.
• Can't believe we are only two weeks out from Easter.
• Who are you praying for and inviting?
• Had a family come today because one of our teens invited them! That's so AWESOME!
• Sandy and I have an important meeting this week to help us make a huge decision. We'd appreciate your prayers. I hope to give more info next week.
• The house has been a chaotic zoo the last few days with family and dogs here. At one time we had 5 dogs running around the house! THAT is a literal zoo!
• Made a Facebook event for The Ultimate Easter Experience. Have you RSVP'd yet?
• Here's the link to the event page ... The Ultimate Easter Experience
• Invite your friends too! But make sure you follow the event invite up with a personal contact.
• We are not doing any advertising in the newspaper - we are depending 100% on YOU to spread the buzz and invite!
• We are also only 4 weeks out from the start of construction! I am SO ready!
• Ladies Night Out is next Saturday and once again - I'm not going.
• Making some changes in my leadership approach and style. I've been analyzing our growth and realized my leadership style is a "lid" to our growth. If we expect to keep growing, I must change.
• MeadowKIDS is gaining strength and I couldn't be happier - our volunteers so ROCK in there and once we get the new kids center going - I anticipate things to just take off!
• This Wednesday will be John Pennucci's first time leading our teens. If you have teens or know of teens - get them to the church this Wednesday at 7 PM!
• I've seen his plan and our teens are in for the ride of their lives!
• Next Sunday is baptism Sunday and we already have 7 people who we will be celebrating with as they get baptized!
• So looking forward to our Good Friday service and the visual engagement with the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Christ! This could become a tradition for Meadow that stays fresh every year.
• Did I mention that Easter is only two weeks out? Who are you inviting?
• Here's what I'd like your thoughts on this week ... Our average attendance is running about 175/Sunday. If we were to set and then pray for an attendance goal for Easter Sunday - what do you think that goal should be? As I asked this morning - what is your heart saying?

You Asked For It

I'm thinking about doing a series this summer based on YOUR choices and questions. Sort of a "People's Choice" series. What series or messages from the past meant a lot to you and you'd like to hear again? What questions do you have that we might address from Scripture?

I can't promise we'll do this for sure. But I am thinking through my summer teaching series and this is just one idea that popped into my brain. So I'm exploring it!

Oh...and I'm open to suggestions from everyone - whether you come to Meadow or not. What questions would you like to hear more about what the Bible says? It could be questions about specific issues or about something at Meadow. It could be about marriage, sex, dating, money, time management, parenting, decision making, movies...whatever trips your trigger.

Feel free to leave a comment, post a comment on my Facebook, or send me a private message. I'm all ears!

Ready? Go.

Sunday Mind Dump

• One person trusted Christ today and became a follower of Jesus! THAT is AWESOME!
• Record non-holiday attendance today!
• I had a blast!
• LOVED the band's performance song! Talk about a real "shaker"!
• Met some new familes today - again!
• New website is about ready to go live and it looks FANTASTIC!
• Did I mention I had a blast today?!
• WARNING!! ... Unless we have additional volunteers step up, Sunday morning bagels might be discontinued! (Yes, I am serious.)
• Winners of the paintings? ... First service = LJ & Char Johson. Second service = Karen Bentz. Congrats!
• We are one week closer to starting Phase 1 remodeling and I am so ready!
• 7 guitars on stage today? Really? 7?
• Can't believe my daughter is getting married this coming Saturday!
• On that note...we've got lots of family coming in this week and most of them will be staying at our house. Gonna be a week of a packed house!
• We've got several people signed up for baptism in two weeks - can't wait!
• Easter is only three weeks away. Who are you inviting?
• We are not doing any newspaper advertising of our Easter services this year - too expensive with little or no results. We are depending 100% on you to spread the word and get the place packed!
• Just in case you missed the announcement today - we have just over $90,000 in our Building the Dream Fund! This is all due to your faithful giving!
• AND...because of your faithful and generous giving, starting April 1, John Pennucci is moving to three-quarter time paid staff and will be leading our youth ministry!
• Meadow is the most givingest church! I love it!
• Thanks to those who served at Feed My Starving Children - we packed 23,000 meals!
• As much as I was looking forward to teaching today, I can't WAIT until next week.
• We had a lot of people gone today and STILL had a record attendance!
• I've already seen the music plan for next Sunday and we are doing a new song that will rock your face off!
• Sandy & I are about to make a HUGE decision about our future. We would appreciate your prayers. Hopefully I can get more specific in the next couple of weeks.
• Did I mention yet that I had a BLAST today?
• Just had someone ask about getting an "I love my church!" hooded sweatshirt. Unfortunately, we don't have any, but I'm wondering if there's much interest in getting some. Yes? No?
• If not "I love my church!" sweatshirts - what about "My Church Rocks!" sweatshirts? Your opinion please.
• Well...my mind is now dumped. :)
• Later

7 Reasons I May Not Sleep Tonight

1. After a three week break, I get to preach and I'm chompin' at the bit!
2. The music and worship just might be the best ever! And I get to experience it three times!
3. I get to show you the physical evidence that God is moving at Meadow!
4. I get to announce what happened last Sunday that proves God is changing lives!
5. MeadowKIDS will be jazzed up with energy and action and learning about Jesus!
6. I get to see and hang out with Meadowites!
7. I LOVE my church!

Experiencing Christ's Crucifixion at Meadow

Last year on Good Friday, Meadow presented an engaging, emotional, and visual experience that walked everyone through the arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death of Christ. It was, by far, a HUGE highlight of the Easter weekend. People left with a whole new perspective on what Christ went through to forgive our sin.

Just yesterday, the staff and Leadership Team decided to do it again this Good Friday. If you weren't able to attend last year, this is a must attend service that will literally rock you to the core of your emotions and understanding of Christ's crucifixion. If you were able to attend, you know the impact it had and will once again be able to experience it.

This experience is open to anyone - Meadow attender or non-Meadow attender. Everyone and anyone is welcome. Invite someone to come with you and experience it together. It all starts at 7:00 PM in the auditorium.

And don't forget "The Ultimate Easter Experience" on Easter Sunday! Two identical services at 9:00 & 10:30 AM.

Meadow's Ministry to Your Kids ... Part 3

With the preschool group, I love that my son walks away learning life applicable lessons. For example, it was a Tuesday and he told me "I will share my things, mama." and then shared a toy with me, well that Sunday before, the main point in the lesson was "I will share my things." It was obvious at the point that MeadowKids is helping him to learn life lessons through biblical teachings. Which I think is so important, because its great for kids to learn about the Bible and all the major events that took place, but I think it is also huge for them to learn how they can apply that to their life as they grow up. That is were we build firm foundations and understanding for our kids to grow from.

 

I enjoy volunteering in this group as well as all the kids are so eager to learn and it is so fun to dance a long with them, play fun games, and help them with their crafts! MeadowKids has been such a blessing to our family and I am so excited to see it continue and see what it will become once we have the proper space that everyone is eager to have done!

 

Meadow Spring can offer your kids a place where they can establish a little community to grow up with and learn to trust! While all along the way learn Bible based life applicable lessons to build a firm Christ centered foundation for the rest of their lives!

 

NOTE: This is a guest post from Emily Bemis and is Part 3 of 3 about our MeadowKIDS Ministry. Thank you Emily!

Meadow's Ministry to Your Kids ... Part 2

What does Meadow Spring have to offer your kids...I will share my experience with you as we have been coming to Meadow for about 9 months now. I should mention that my husband, Mike, and I have a 2 1/2 year old son named Ezekiel.

Since day one of coming to Meadow, the volunteers within MeadowKids have always been so nice and just down right wonderful! In the beginning Ezekiel wasn't overly excited to go into the nursery as it was new to him (parents of 2 year olds understand), but everyone was so helpful in acclimating him and assured me that they would text me if there were any issues, and of course there weren't! He would have a blast and has since met some new buddies the he talks about at when we are at home. 

After a few months of attending Meadow, I was asked if I would like to volunteer within MeadowKids and I was more than happy to! With my son being right on the border of the nursery age and preschool age he has been in both groups and I have volunteered in both.

In the nursery, like I mentioned he has made so many little buddies and knows all their names and talks about them at home and I love that! Its about building that trust and community at a young age and that is what Meadow is doing! As for me and volunteering in the nursery, I love being able to get to know Ezekiel's little buddies, play with them, share Gods love with them, and then also get to know their parents a little bit more, which has even lead to friendships and playdates outside of church! Which in a mom's book, is always wonderful!

NOTE: This is a guest post from Emily Bemis and is Part 2 of 3 about our MeadowKIDS Ministry. Check back tomorrow for Part 3!

Meadow's Ministry to Your Kids ... Part 1

If you are newer to Meadow Spring or haven't even stepped through the doors of Meadow yet and you have children you maybe wondering, "What does Meadow have to offer for my kids?"

That was one of the things I too wondered when we were first looking into Meadow. I will speak to the elephant in the room and point out the obvious that the current kids area isn't totally ideal as it is an old theatre with tiered floors, but GREAT NEWS!! That is in the process of being taken care of!! And honestly, that was one of the things that brought us to Meadow, no not the tiered floors, the fact that if they were non-traditional enough to buy an old movie theatre then they wouldn't be the stuffy and stick to tradition type of church that we weren't really interested in. We are from Chaska so we saw the old theatre shut down and then transform into a church, so we didn't mind the accommodating space while they officially made the theatre their own!

NOTE: This is a guest post from Emily Bemis and is Part 1 of 3 about our MeadowKIDS Ministry. Check back tomorrow for Part 2!

Sunday Mind Dump

• This is the second Mind Dump I've written today. The first I had written but fell asleep with my finger on the backspace key before I hit "finish"!
• It's been two weeks since my last Mind Dump - maybe I forgot how to do it.
• Today had to be one of the best times of worship and messages I've ever experienced at Meadow! Wow!
• PACKED is an understatement for our movie night on Friday. We literally had more people in the auditorium than we have seats.
• People were sitting on the aisle steps and on the stage ramp! Wow!
• We are going to have to add a second showing in the future. But when?
• Maybe 6 & 8 PM on Friday night or 6 PM Friday & 1 PM Saturday? What do you think? Let me know your opinion.
• Had a GREAT Leadership Team meeting this past week. I totally love meeting with these men and women to talk about how we can continue advancing the ministry at Meadow.
• There will be some big changes coming to open the doors for more growth.
• One of the changes is the way I lead. I will be transitioning to leading teams rather than leading individual people.
• Another change is immediately begin sending invites to all new move-ins to the area. This will be an average of 250 each month!
• Another change is moving John Pennucci from half-time paid staff to three-quarter time paid staff and adding youth ministry to his leadership. His new title will be Pastor of Worship and Youth!
• What else? ... continue our free movie nights, block party in August or September, greater emphasis on prayer & stretching faith, beginning a focused small group ministry this fall, and a possible major marketing campaign in September.
• Some of this will require additional financial resources so the challenge is before us to be faithful in our giving - even increasing your giving if you are not giving a full 10% tithe.
• Got a meeting with the builder of our Phase 1 Remodel this week to confirm final bids and time line.
• As of right now, construction starts Monday, May 5th.
• I do have a boat-load of documents the bank is wanting. My head just hurts thinking about putting it all together.
• This week I will be featuring a 3 part blog post, written by our own Emily Bemis, on our awesome MeadowKIDS ministry. Starts tomorrow!
• So stoked about John Pennucci adding the Meadow youth ministry to his leadership and what God will do with our teens through him!
• I've got a major non-Meadow personal change taking place in the next couple weeks. I'm excited but your prayers would be appreciated. (I'll let you know what it is later.)
• AND...my daughter is getting married in less than two weeks! Wow...seems like yesterday she was just starting kindergarten!
• It's been three weeks since I have preached and I am literally chomping at the bit to preach! I'm ready for next week NOW!
• They say doctors are not good patients ... well - preachers are not good at just sitting and listening to others teach!
• Can't believe Easter is only 4 weeks away and we have got something very exciting planned that will PUMP YOU UP for a refreshing relationship with Jesus!
• Here's the deal...we are not doing any Easter advertising in the newspapers this year. We are depending 100% on you to spread the word to your family, friends, and neighbors (and even enemies!).
• Let's use the power of social media to pack out the auditorium for both our Easter services! It CAN be done! We did it for the movie night. Let's do it for Easter!
• So...who are you inviting to our Easter services?
• Well...I better finish this up before I delete it again!
• Let me know your opinion on when a second showing of the free movie could be.
• Later!

Excited!

I LOVE my church and meeting with the men and women of the Leadership Team. Meadow is in very good and wise hands! Last night when we met, we made a couple MAJOR decisions which we believe will launch us forward in reaching more people and guiding more people into a refreshing relationship with Jesus!

Check these out!

Beginning immediately, we're going to start contacting all new families who move to the Chaska/Carver area and invite them to come check Meadow out! This will be a direct reach to an average of 250 new families every month and will be done through a uniquely designed postcard mailed to them which graphically communicates the refreshing difference Meadow is! If someone new moves into your neighborhod, invite them to come with you to Meadow!

Beginning April 1, we are excited to move John Pennucci from a half-time paid staff position to a three-quarter time paid staff position! Woo Hoo! And in making this move, he will now, in addition to his leading our worship ministry, be leading our ministry to teenagers! His title will change from Pastor of Worship to Pastor of Worship and Youth. John has experience in youth ministry and a real heart for teens and now he will be able to not only commit more time to our awesome music and worship ministry, but he will also be able to focus his passion for teens and see more teens and their families reached for Jesus!

End of Summer Block Party is planned for sometime in August or September. We still need to nail down the specific date. This block party will happen in our parking lot and will involve inflatable play equipment, grilling, and a possible "rib cook-off"! We are excited about this as we wrap up the summer and launch into our fall ministries and programs! Keep an eye for more information!

Beginning this fall, we'll be putting major emphasis into a new small group ministry. Deep spiritual growth and strong relationships happen in small groups. And our intention is to invest more time, energy, and financial resources into building a healthy small group ministry at Meadow!

All of this is in addition to:

• The Ultimate Easter Experience on Easter Sunday
• Monthly FREE Movie Nights
• Flying Sideways (our band) concert on July 26th during Chaska River City Days
• Our regular awesome Sunday services
• Our dynamite ministry to kids
• Our new remodeled youth center
• Our new remodeled kids center

There is no doubt in my mind that God is moving at Meadow!

Now...with these steps and decisions comes additional financial responsibility for all of us at Meadow to be even more committed to giving. If you are tithing I sincerely thank you. If you are not giving a full 10% tithe, I encourage you to re-examine your giving and make a fresh commitment to tithing. Your financial giving will ensure being able to resource all of the above and more as we passionately pursue God's vision for our ministry of reaching more people and seeing more lives changed.