Tico Tuesday, August 16th

Happy Tuesday!

The last couple weeks I have been swamped with work as we prepare for our next church-wide series, in which the sermons and small group material complement each other, and a 6-7 week season when all small groups are in full swing and many new groups open. It has been a bit stressful at times, but stress in this job doesn't feel like stress I've had in other jobs. I don't know if it's the job or if it's the ways I've grown and changed, but while I've felt pressured to get lots done with little time, I haven't experienced the same kind of underlying fear/angst I've felt in the past, and I am so glad!! Thanks and praise be to God! I think this is the best and healthiest work environment I've ever been a part of, and I am so, so grateful. We care for, serve, and support each other, and it's just beautiful. I'm still feeling a bit overwhelmed with work and have a lot of things coming up over the next couple months, but, I'm trying to keep my eyes on Jesus, stay organized, and keep plugging away.
In the midst of all this work one of the neatest things that has happened is that, as I called people who filled out those commitment slips I had to staple to the bulletin a couple weeks ago, I was the first person from church to reach out and contact them. I got to talk with people that are really excited about my church and what God is doing in and through it. Several people want to open a small group and haven't even been to the welcome/membership class yet! I hope they will make it to the class tonight so they can open their groups!
Thank you so much for keeping my church and me in your prayers. God is at work and it is my desire to see people get plugged in and meet with other people to grow together through worshiping, sharing, studying, serving, and evangelizing together. There is much to be done, but it is God's work. He is doing it, and it is all about him and it is all for him. To him alone be the glory!
Thank you so much for coming alongside me and helping make my service here possible through your financial, emotional, and spiritual support.
May God continue to use you to be an instrument of blessing to those around you,
Carrie