Each year the leaders of our congregation spend a weekend in retreat to consider the health, needs and direction of the congregation, and to pray and plan for the coming year.  Last Friday afternoon the elders and Darren and I met at the Christian Renewal Center near Silver Falls State Park for this retreat.  We spent […]

After the High School Senior graduation barbecue on June 7, I and the six graduates and three chaperones headed to the coast for a one night camp out at South Beach State park.  The purpose was to celebrate graduation and have some fun, but it was also designed to have some time for serious reflection […]

A couple of weeks ago I preached for the congregation on the transition of our children “leaving the nest” and beginning to establish themselves as fully functioning faithful adults. At the end of the sermon I had our middle school students hand out cards inviting the whole congregation to pray frequently for our own high […]