Hi there!  Wasn’t the Devotion great today?!!  Every week I write this “Blog” while thinking of you!  This is part of my commitment to helping you become a more fully-devoted follower of Jesus!

I was in the UPPER ROOM on MONDAY (8/23) when we heard Paul say, “I am really sure of this…that God who began the good work within you will continue it until it is finally finished on that day when Jesus comes back again!” (Philippians 1:6)

[caption id="attachment_189" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Pastor Bill"][/caption] Have you ever started something that you never quite got around to finishing?  If you are anything like me…then your answer is “YES!”  The great good news is that God who starts shaping you for service in His purpose always finishes what he starts!

Have you ever contracted with someone to do a much-needed project in your home with an agreed upon finish date…only to have it continue well beyond that date?!  The great good news is that God who starts shaping you for service in His purpose always finishes on time!

Have you ever done something or have it done by someone else only to discover that the finished product is less than perfect?  The great good news is that God who starts shaping you for service in His purpose always provides BETTER than we ask!  Why is God so focused on developing you and me into the likeness of his Son, Jesus?

WWWWWWEEEEEELLLLLLLLL…that’s a really great question!  Thanks for asking!  Tuesday’s author quoted Catherine Booth, the wife of Salvation Army founder General William Booth.  She encouraged and challenged her children often by saying, “Remember, you are not here in this world for yourselves!  You have been sent for God and others!  The world is waiting for you!”

WOW!  Take some time to wrap your head and heart around that thought!  Everything God is doing in your life and mine is because the world desperately needs what God is doing in you and me!

Paul said that “It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ago he planned that we should spend these lives helping others!" (Ephesians 2:10)

God is working around the clock to shape us like Jesus so that others will be able to see, hear and know Jesus when they see, hear and know us!  Why?  Because the world needs Jesus and all the things God brings to the world through Jesus!

For God to continue and complete what he started through Jesus he chooses to use you and me to do it!  That’s why he is working day and night to produce the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in you and me in order to reveal to a waiting world the person of His One and Only Son! (Galatians 5:22-23)

God is not sending us into a waiting world to fail at his purpose!  Those family members, friends and folks around us are way too important to Him for us to fail!

SSSSSSSOOOOOOOOO…he continues working until the transforming work of salvation is complete and we are able to do the things that Jesus did and even greater things than that! (John 14:12)  Remember…we are not here for ourselves!  We are here for God and others!  The world is waiting for us!  Let’s not keep them waiting!

Thanks for listening!

Adult

Adult ministries challenge people to grow deeper in their spiritual journey, become active participants in the IRC community, and develop leadership skills. The ultimate goal is to develop disciples of Christ, who in turn make disciples.

Contact: Dawn Schissler
Adult Life Connections Director
267-7922 x20, Dschissler@ircumc.com

Young Adult

Fusion replaces Axiom as the ministry for 18 to 22 year olds at IRC. Young adults meet and connect with each other weekly for worship and relevant teaching. Fusion is hosted by Park Avenue Baptist Church in the Ashkelon building (located at 1651 S. Park Avenue) meeting on Sundays from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.  

Youth

Emerging Student Ministries is a missional community of middle and high school students who are passionate about being the church and living the teachings of Jesus.

For more information about Emerging Student Ministries ... CLICK HERE

Children

Children's Ministry provides a welcoming place for kids to come and learn about Jesus and how he loves them. They learn to change their lives and become lifelong followers of Jesus.

Children’s Ministry strives to:
• Make children feel safe, both physically and emotionally.
• Intentionally shepherd our children and volunteers.
• Remain Biblically based in our teaching.
• Teach creatively, through modeling, by making learning fun and interactive.
• Make Bible lessons applicable to everyday life.

Click here for the latest Kid LINCS newsletter

Contact: Linda Benson
Coordinator of Children’s Ministry and Nursery
267-7922, ext. 19
lbenson@ircumc.com

Worship

IRC Worship Arts Community is an integrated group of Artists reaching upward, inward, and outward. We believe that God has given all of the artistic gifts to glorify God, to build up the community of God and to testify to the world of God’s greatness.

Contact: Sharrett Henderson
Worship Arts Director
267-7922 x26; shenderson@ircumc.com

Click here for website

Membership

Accepting Ministries supports the church body by accepting people as they are. They make people feel loved, so they may come to know and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

Contact: Jennifer Taylor
Accepting Ministry Director
267-7922 x17, jtaylor@ircumc.com

Pastoral Care

While building people for life, Pastoral Care Ministries is there to meet the needs of those who are suffering from illness, life changes, difficulties, isolation and bereavement. If you have a pastoral need, let us know. We'll be glad to help.

What is Pastoral Care Ministry?
Pastoral Care is about building people for life …. Eternal life. It brings the love of Jesus Christ to those in need, to those who are hurting. Jesus says, Matthew 25:45, “as long as you do it unto these the least of my brethren, you do it for me."

Contact: Rev. Ginger Doherty
Pastoral Care Director
267-7922 x24, gdoherty@ircumc.com

Nursery Ministry

IRCUMC nurseries provide a welcoming and safe environment for young children to interact with each other and learn basic truths about Jesus. Our nursery staff is made up of both paid and volunteer caregivers. Parents are supplied with pagers and name tags, so they can be reached if necessary. Children six-weeks through age 5 check in at room 14.

Sunday Morning
9:30 a.m.
Infant Nursery 6-weeks - 2 yrs. Room 12
Toddler 3 & 4 age 3 by Sept. 1 Room 24

11:00 a.m.
Infant Nursery 6-weeks - 2 yrs. Room 12
2 - 3 yrs Room 10
4- 5 yrs Room 16

Saturday Night Celebration
6 p.m.
Saturday Nursery birth - 5 yrs Room 14

For more information contact:
Linda Benson
Coordinator of Children’s Ministry and Nursery
267-7922, ext. 19
lbenson@ircumc.com

Serving

We believe that serving our world in the name of Christ is important at any age. Therefore, we encourage people of all ages to engage in serving and provide many differents opportunities.