Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
- Hebrews 10:24

The Way of Jesus is a way of community and encouragement. Not only are we responsible for helping others along the way, but we need the help of others as we follow Jesus in our day-to-day choices. Wrestling with our faith alone is not only hard, it’s foolish – and frankly, it isn’t the way Jesus taught us to live. No matter how smart, disciplined, moral or well-balanced we might be – we need others and they need us.

• Because hearing a message once a week isn’t likely to change your life 
• Because worshipping in community once a week is likely to leave your spiritual gas tank on empty                                     
• Because praying with and for your church family is a daily privilege and responsibility        
• Because we all have gifts, talents and abilities which God gave us to honor Him and advance His Kingdom
• Because it’s not just helpful, it’s good and pleasant to journey with other followers of Jesus
• Because we need to discuss, encourage and equip one another to live the full life Jesus makes available to us
• Because those who have yet to meet Jesus need honest conversation, genuine community and the love of Christ         
• Because those of us who have met Jesus, need that too
• Because we all need a place to get to know and become known by others

Kairos is back at Pathways!

Groups are now forming. For more information or to sign up, just send an email to stan at pathwaysweb dot com.

It’s impossible to grow in the way of Jesus without spending time in Jesus’ story.  As a community, we’ve committed to reading through the entire Bible in one year.  It only takes 10-15 minutes a day, but it’ll make a positive impact on the rest of your life. 

Here are a few hints and suggestions as you read:

• Pray before you read: ask God to reveal Himself to you through His word
• Don’t get stuck on difficult passages – keep reading.  If you don’t understand something, write yourself a note and get back to it later.  Some things will become clear over time, so give it time.
• Remember the Bible is God’s story, and Jesus is the main point.  That won’t be apparent in every reading, but keep it in mind as you read – it will help you figure out the point of some of the stories and conversations.
• The Bible contains many conversations: God speaking to people; people speaking to God; people speaking to people about God; and people speaking to people about people (and things).  What God says is always true.  What people say to or about God or one another is sometimes true, sometimes not.  When people are wrong about God (like the Pharisees and false prophets) – the Bible will let you know (sometimes God corrects them directly, sometimes he sends prophets to do it).   
• Have fun with it.  This is the greatest story ever told, it has drama, humor, wit and wisdom.  Enjoy. 

Stan begins a new series dealing with how God calls us to carry out His mission. Stan uses some of the more recognizable figures in the Bible and how God called them to relate God’s call for us.

In this message Stan explores Abraham’s story.

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The Pathways Community has been blessed with a baby boom, but with blessing comes responsibility: namely, that we’ll do everything we can to raise these children to become Christ-Followers. So, on Sunday, May 31st, we’ll be holding a Child-Dedication Service followed by our quarterly 5th Sunday Feast. Bring your favorite brunch food and celebrate God’s blessing on our community.

Pathways is hosting a Mother’s Day Tea at the Harford Family House in Aberdeen on Saturday, May 16th from 3-5 PM. We’re going to pamper the ladies of the house and give them a rare opportunity to relax and reclaim their worth as a child of God. Contact Ali for details.

While reading Finding God in Unexpected Places by Philip Yancey, I stumbled upon this gem from C.S. Lewis.

“For the wise men of old, the cardinal problem of human life was how to conform the soul to objective reality; and the solution was wisdom, self-discipline and virtue. For the modern mind, the cardinal problem is how to subdue reality to the wishes of man; and the solution is a technique.”

The Children’s Ministry Team will be painting a mural Friday night and Saturday (1-2 May) at the Pathways Facility.

The team will also be hosting a planning session on Sunday (May 3) immediately after the morning service. On the agenda will be a discussion of ministry opportunities for children this summer. Contact Rachel Crouch or Kathy Graham for details. Lunch will be provided.

Pathways is hosting a Ladie’s Tea & Dessert Party on Monday, April 27th at 7:00PM. Bring your favorite dessert and/or mug or tea. Also bring your ideas, since this will double as a planning session for the upcoming Mother’s Day Weekend Service Project at Harford Family House! Contact Ali Caiazzo for details.

It’s spring cleaning time at Pathways. Join us this Saturday, April 11th, beginning at 9AM as we thoroughly clean and spruce up the space God has blessed us with.

Pathways’ 6th Annual Stakeholders’ Dinner will be held from 6-9 PM on Saturday, April 18th. Along with sharing a great meal, we’ll get to celebrate some of what God has been doing in the past year, and look forward to some of what we believe God has in store for the rest of 2009. And as always, we’ll try to break the world record for the fastest business meeting ever, when we approve our 2009 Spending Plan and elect Trustees for the coming year.

Cost is $5.00 per person, or $12.50 for a family of 3 or more. Please RSVP to Stan Graham so that the caterer will have an accurate count. See you there!