Summer Fun
With school already in session, summer seems to have disappeared. Yet, the warmth of the sun continues and is reminiscent of refreshing times before.Summer began with a Memorial Day carnival. Carnival games included soccer, basketball, croquet, miniature golf, horseshoes, and frisbee golf. Every participant won a prize and enjoyed candy of many variations. The Warwick’s also set up a volleyball net. Toddlers enjoyed their own games in a separate area where there was a tent, bubble play, mini golf, and water play. They also had a chance to pedal a tractor through an obstacle path. Free food was offered which included: salad, chicken dogs and vegetarian burgers. People picnicked and enjoyed the activities.
Other activities were face painting. Dynamic music for the kids began our event and set the tone for a fun afternoon. We had a welcome table where kids could hear the story of Jesus and do scratch art. We had a professional photographer taking free family photos. We had a puppet show and a brief talk about the Wordless Book relating how Jesus is our Savior and died and rose from the dead to open the way to heaven. More than 70 people from our community join us as well as 46 volunteers from Hillside EFC. I wish I had time to tell all the stories of how the love of Jesus was very evident in the way they interacted and served. We were even able to help a woman who was living out of her car in a parking lot in Santa Clara with two children.
This was such an encouraging event. Many of my neighbors came out. I saw friends from the Puppet In the Park ministry and our Good News Club. I have gotten to know better many of those from Hillside. Seeing all of these people getting along and having fun was a God thing. The directions to the park were a little misleading and several people got lost on their way to the park. But despite some of the foibles in organization, people were smiling and enjoying themselves. I thought about how it must have been when Jesus taught the crowds and saw so many who like sheep without a shepherd. How different was this crowd! Yet how much each of us are searching for the Good Shepherd. And how thankful I am that the Good Shepherd seeks each of us and calls us to himself. I pray that someday, that God’s love will be evident throughout my community in people who know Jesus as their Shepherd, Savior and Lord.
Following the Memorial Day Carnival, in June we invited our community to a different kind of event. Teens who were from The Peninsula Bible Church in Cupertino performed a drama they had performed in Mexico for youth there. Goyo, who had been their interpreter, made contacts and through his leadership assembled the “Magnificent 7.” The teens not only performed a drama, we had music, a memory verse and craft. Goyo narrated the drama and then gave an invitation to the families attending. The result: a boy who had previously said, “No” to Jesus opened his heart. He is a normal kid that may never have given Jesus the time of day, but not that day. Praise God who opened his heart to trust in Jesus as his Savior. God continues to work!
The teens reminded me of Jesus in so many ways. I am thankful for how they were willing to give their time and effort and labor of love. Just as Jesus was willing to leave the 99 for that one lost sheep, they were willing to stick their necks out and serve. They displayed the same heart as Jesus had for His lost sheep. It didn’t matter whether the crowd was large or small.
Over August 14 –18 we had a 5 Day club, which included soccer and baseball skills development. Singing amd Bible Memory started the day, Puppet Shows, and Dramatic Bible studies gave the kids a break while they snacked on cookies. I was praying that we would have 30 kids sign up. We actually had 32 sign ups but only 30 came. Some were neighbors, friends from Puppets in the Park ministry, my son’s baseball team, a mom’s prayer group, others invited friends and one family I have no idea how they heard. Two of them made a commitment to trust Jesus as their Savior. I praise God that no one was injured! I cannot express how much I am so thankful for folks from Hillside who came to help and Max from the Peninsula Bible Church in Cupertino. Each of the volunteers showed a great willingness to serve, be stretched and be flexible. When the parents dropped off their kids, they kept telling me how much their kids were enjoying the club. They said if we do another club they would definitely be signing their kids up. Our volunteers made the club not only a fun place, but a safe place. And they were a lot of fun to work with, too! At the end of club, some asked, “What’s next?”
I am hoping to start an Alpha Group and other small discussion groups from among the families who came to our summer events. At our home, we are beginning a Good News Club. We are also praying that God would open the doors to our local school for an after school Bible club.
As I think about these summer events, I rejoice in Jesus my Savior. There is no one like Him, who can speak to our heart and captivate our thoughts. With all these activities, I am able to invite people from the community and keep in their mind that there’s a new church starting. This new church is fun, inclusive, and always talks about Jesus because Jesus is so great!
We have a vision for an emerging church in Sunnyvale, where people love Jesus, worship Him in spirit and truth, grow in their faith, share about Him, and welcome and love all people. Thank you, Jesus! And I thank all of the volunteers and Hillside EFC and PBCC who continue to contribute to this ministry!
posted by Dwain Fairweather @ 5:08 PM
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