Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

GREETINGS IN THESE 50 DAYS OF RESURRECTION REJOICING!

Gloria Ruby, Richard Tiegs and I attended Southeastern Iowa Synod Assembly under the theme, “Go Tell the World”. It was a wonderful gathering encouraging us to tell our stories of Jesus. And we left with swag.

If you were at worship, you saw the conversation cards dispersed in the sanctuary, fellowship hall and even the bathrooms. Instead of searching for Easter Eggs, search for that question that just might help you to share your story or wonder about what God might be up to in your life and in this community.

· How do you discover the needs

of your neighbors?

· Tell a short story about someone who influenced your faith.

· How does being a part of this congregation help you live out your faith day to day?

· What’s your favorite hymn or worship

song and why?

· What is one change you can make to be ready for God’s work through you?

· What deepens your faith and love for God?

· What ministry of your congregation do you think makes God smile?

· Where, when, or how do you see

God in others?

· If God gave you one job for this time and place – what might it be?

Journal or converse with these questions or ones you might see laying around church. Trust the Holy Spirit to walk with you as you explore and wonder.

The other piece of swag we received was a green megaphone to boldly proclaim God’s good news in Jesus Christ. We put words to the love that God has poured out upon us and made known to us in Jesus. The megaphone can also be a popcorn holder and I am hoping we can create our own megaphone/popcorn holder to hand out to our neighbors. Let’s spend some time in prayer, listening to the Holy Spirit and put some words on a megaphone. What do we want to tell our neighbors as we invite them to join us for National Night Out on the first Tuesday in August? Listen well, talk to each other and let’s see what gift we have to offer the community and makes God smile.

Bold Inquisitive Belief Loving Expansively,

Pastor Connie Spitzack