Each year
our church plans and organizes for a September to August “ministry year”
because most of us plan and organize more around the school year than the calendar
year. That means our ministry “New Year’s Day” this year is Sunday, September
12, and we’re calling that day Acceleration Sunday.
Why the
name Acceleration Sunday? First, because that’s the day our congregation’s ministry
makes a fresh start and begins accelerating into its highest levels of activity.
Second, because that day is an opportunity for each of us to personally accelerate
into a new year of spiritual growth and ministry for God. It’s an occasion for
us to get off the mark and move forward in our walk with God in a fresh and focused
way.
So what’s
happening at Northwest Hills on Acceleration Sunday to help facilitate that?
Worship
and teaching from Scripture to refresh our spirits and draw us to renewal with
God for a new year.
Introductions
of some of the great ministry activities and opportunities upcoming for us in
this next ministry year.
Many
of our groups and ministries on display in our courtyard, ready to provide
information to those who are interested in participating.
Children,
two years old through fourth grade, moving up to their new Treasure Harbor
Sunday School classes.
Our
middle school and high school groups beginning their new year of Sunday morning
gatherings in the Student
Ministries Center.
Fun
and tasty refreshments to stimulate our senses, served in our courtyard between
the 9:00 and 10:45 a.m. worship services.
Reconnection
with our Northwest Hills brothers and sisters in Christ after our summer breaks
and vacations.
For most
of us the pace of life will begin to accelerate this month and the subtle but
powerful temptation will be to decelerate our spiritual-life activities in
order to keep up with everything else. Let’s avoid giving in to that temptation
by making the deliberate choice to put first things first and accelerate in our
walk with God instead. Participating at Northwest Hills on Acceleration Sunday is
a great way to seal that choice.
