Before Sunday…

This coming Sunday our congregation will start meeting in two worship services at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m.  Here are 12 things every Alameda member needs to know before Sunday…

All doors will be open and classes will meet in their usual places.

The only part of our building that will not be in use this summer is the auditorium. Every other part of the building will be open and in use.

The nursery will be available during both services.

Power Hour for 3’s-Kindergarten will be offered at both services and will last all hour of the worship service, due to our limited seating capacity in the gym.

Each worship service will last one hour.

Because of this, we will be doing a few things differently during our worship time.  We will not be making announcements as usual, so please train yourself to read the church bulletin each week and regularly check Alameda’s Facebook page and website for the latest news and happenings.

We will also be showing a “Welcome” video a few minutes before each service starts that will contain important information that our guests want and need to hear.  When you hear the video starting, please be quiet so that our guests can hear what’s being communicated.

Due to our tight time schedule, please get to church early and be seated 5 minutes before worship starts. That way you can greet others and see the “Welcome” video.

Think guests.

Each week, God blesses us with a number of guests. Please look for them, welcome them, and make them feel comfortable. Offer to help them find the coffee, Bible classes, and information about our ministries.

Connect with others.

Going to two services will help us connect with others more intently, so let’s take advantage of that opportunity. Come to worship expecting to connect with God and others instead of just consuming .

Serve.

Two worship services increases the volunteer needs we have each Sunday. That means that you have even more opportunities to get involved in the exciting things that are happening at Alameda. Serve because you’re needed, because we Christians are called to be servants, and because it will help you grow as disciple of Jesus Christ.

You’re already planning to be at church on Sunday, so why not serve while you’re there? When you serve, you help our church family make Jesus known in impactful ways so please invest your time and energy in sharing the love of Christ in practical ways through service.

Adopt a Joshua and Caleb attitude in our time of displacement (Numbers 13).

Meeting in the gym will be a different experience but our experience depends on our attitude. Just as Joshua and Caleb chose to focus on their God and His plans for them, we can choose to focus on the exciting future God has in store for us instead of fixating on our challenges. Just like the Israelites, we’re going to be “camping out” for awhile but we are in complete control of the attitude we bring with us. So let’s be positive!

Keep the big picture vision in mind.

The renovation of the auditorium and going to two services are two pieces of a bigger 5-year vision that is designed to help us grow as faithful witnesses of Christ who are making Jesus known to more people more effectively. This vision will push us outside of our comfort zones – and that’s a good thing.

Seize the opportunity to reset spiritually.

Alameda’s 5-year vision is an act of repentance for our church. We are repenting for not pursuing the Great Commission of Jesus with greater intentionality and for not bearing the kind of spiritual fruit we are capable of producing. Our effort to “reset” some things as a church provides a perfect opportunity for you to reset spiritually too. So what things in your life do you need to change in order to follow Christ more closely?

Be patient.

Our time in the gym is going to be like spring training in baseball – it’s a time to practice, to try some new things, to make mistakes and learn from them, to hone things before we move back into a renovated auditorium. Two services is a new experience for most of us, which means that we will make mistakes. So let’s be patient with each other and help each other out. We can grow together.

Forgive (Ephesians 4:32).

Not everyone has embraced the changes we are making, and that’s o.k. But now is the time for us to “turn the page” and march forward together in unity. If there’s someone you need to forgive, forgive.  If there’s someone you need to be reconciled to, be reconciled. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, and one of the best ways we can make Jesus known is through our love for one another.

We are on an exciting journey together and God has given us a grand vision of how he wants to use us for his Kingdom purposes. Let’s pursue that vision with enthusiasm and joy.

See you Sunday!