Over the past few weeks, you may have noticed the uptick in our attendance again. We praise the Lord that he has increased our numbers. In fact, on November 23, we will be adding 21 members to the rolls! Two of those are a dear brother and sister returning after a few years away, but the rest are new brothers and sisters! With these new friends, comes the opportunity and challenge for more fine-tuned hospitality! Open the attached PDF to follow along as you read, especially if you’re a newer part of our church family!

Parking

As in the past, more numbers means we are renewing our efforts to park cars more effectively. As your pastor, I’ve been the most guilty of using more than I should, so I’m striving to lead the charge in more hospitable parking! First, if your family drives multiple cars on Sunday mornings, take steps to reduce that number, ideally to one. If you absolutely must drive more than one car to worship, park the second car across the street in one of the dental office lots. Second, if you are able-bodied and able to hoof it up the hill easier than most, park in the gravel API parking lot at the bottom of the hill. You can enter it from the south edge of our east lot or enter and exit from Parkway Dr. Third, remember, the spots directly across from the Upper Lobby entrance are for visitors. Please reserve those for folks visiting with us for the first or second time. We have LOTS of parking, no pun intended, but not if we all try to park right next to the building. Some of us will need to spread out for hospitality’s sake! Finally, we have a variety of Handicap spots around the North end of the campus.

Pregnancies

Continuing the parking theme, we’ve had three babies park among us this fall! Three more will be with us by spring! Over the last week, I heard about one new mother trekking up the hill from the gravel API lot next to an expectant mother, who is in the middle of her third trimester! We want to be more hospitable to these young families, so we are reserving the 4 spaces between the Youth Center Entrance and the Upper Lobby Entrance for New & Expectant Mothers. So, if you do not have a baby in your person or vehicle, do not park in those spots. Keep them available for those who have or are about to have new babies! As an aside, this can also be said for Sanctuary seating. We have LOTS of seats, but not if we all want to sit toward the back and at the end of the pew. Scoot up and in! Make room for that new friend you haven’t met yet!!

Also, Parking

In addition to the Handicap Parking spots, we also have two by the outside stairs near the tower that are marked by a sign reading: “Special Needs.” This may be someone who is temporarily injured and needs a spot closer to the door, has a special needs child that requires extra time or accessories to get into the building, or this may be an extra expectant mother or family with a new baby.

While the first Sunday we have a lower attendance, it will be easy to forget these instructions, let’s stay diligent to NOT let parking become a hindrance for those wishing to worship at New Life!

Pericopes

I will be preaching AM & PM this week, from Acts 20, “The Script for Revolution”, and Colossians 1, "You're Why He Did It!” I can’t wait to see you all there. It’s been a blustery, rainy weekend, but the Son of the Living God will shine brightly on us this Lord’s Day!

Blessings,

Pastor Joel

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