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where God meets world . . . that's sanctuary

meeting sundays 1010am @ hollywood blvd. theater in woodridge

August 24, 2010 - 1:24pm

answered prayer

it's not often that prayers are answered with a celestial smack upside the head.  usually God answers in the still, small ways.  but sometimes he just blows your socks off.

so last week, one of our sanctuary families invited me over to pray for their family and for their home.  they had been trying to sell or rent it for years.  as the summer was winding down, they needed to make some decisions as to where they were going to live this school year, downers or buffalo.  a couple of us gathered.  we prayed.  and as usual i left confident that the returning family would be strengthened in this freshly blessed home. . . . a few days later, the house was rented, and the family will spend the year in buffalo.

it's funny.  that really wasn't our prayer.  we didn't pray, "hey God, sell this house so we can go where we really want to be as a family."  we simply prayed for God's blessing, and ultimately, "not my will, but yours be done."  God's will was done, like a 2x4 right across my prayer chops!  thompson family, we send you with the love of God!

never forget the power of prayer.  the power that's not in your ability to articulate yourself, or sound eloquent, or impress your friends.  but the power of Jesus Christ himself who says, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father."  John 14:13

keep praying. 
and (as my daughter likes to say), "be strong, never give up."
pj

August 5, 2010 - 11:52am

anne's pizza party

anne vreeman's pizza party

in honor of anne vreeman whose job has banished, er, sent her lovingly to northwest arkansas (and that's a good thing), joe and dawn vitiello are hosting a pizza party at their home.  joe will be throwing homemade pizza pies and the entire sanctuary is invited to chow down. 

when?  Friday, August 6, 6:30 PM

where?  731 Ohio Street, Lisle, IL

contact?  dawn by email or cell, 630-253-1613

we wish you nothing but the best anne!  and we will miss you.

pj

July 21, 2010 - 11:51am

mission happens every day

so last night a couple of sanctuary folks got together to tell some stories (it was really just an excuse for me to get some pie and coffee, but anyway).  we laughed, we ate, and we listened . . .

". . . a couple of weeks ago we invited people over to our house for a bbq.  we were careful to invite all different kinds of friends, with different kinds of experiences, and it was awesome."

". . . a friend of mine was in need of some help.  so i got together a group of friends and we helped her unpack all of her boxes from her last move."

" . . . a family that we're close to is experiencing some significant health problems.  so we've been bringing dinners over whenever we can."

" . . . we've invited a mutual friend of ours to sanctuary.  she hasn't taken us up on the offer yet, but we know when they'll come when they're ready."

" . . . we helped a neighbor who was in need by mowing their lawn."

" . . . i volunteered at a local community event."

" . . . i helped my neighbor during one of those wicked storms who needed a hand to bail out his basement."

" . . . we hosted a neighborhood group over for a night of boardgames."

" . . . i walk my dog every night and go out of my way to spend time building relationship with people in the neighborhood."

it's not too late to  hop onto the summer of mission bandwagon.  i know that karen and i are planning two hosting events in august!  but even more than that.  it's not about a SUMMER of mission, it's about a LIFE of mission.  may God continue to inspire you to serve . . . host . . . invite . . . in every way, share the love of Jesus!

pj

June 9, 2010 - 10:24am

Sanctuary Reunion 06.20.10


as part of the summer of mission, we are getting the old gang back together to reminisce about sanctuary and the ways God has used this ministry in so many different ways.  we're hoping some of you who've moved on to other cities, churches, and ministries will join us for a special time of thanksgiving to God for the ways in which He's used sanctuary to extend this mission. 

so whether you knocked on doors, were there at the inaugural service, survived the exile at o'neill school, painted the truck, contributed to the art show, moved equipment, watched narnia on christmas day, stood in the cyclone of food pantry money, donated to project hope for katrina victims, handed out cocoa to black friday shoppers, played in a band, made the consumer Jesus art, or worshiped with us once or a hundred times, i hope you'll join us and share a story.
 
pj

May 27, 2010 - 4:16pm

Summer of Mission: talk to a neighbor

summer of mission is<br /> coming
Starting June 27, we will begin Serve Week at Sanctuary as a way to share the love of God with our neighbors in tangible ways.  Serve Week will encourage each of us to actively get involved in helping those around us who need a helping hand.  It can be as simple as helping a neighbor by mowing a lawn, or as complex as repairing a decaying porch. Some will require only yourself.  For others, you might need a hand. 

To that end, we are looking for some projects that we might be able to work on together that might require more than a single pair of hands.  So here's your homework:  talk to a neighbor that you know and ask if there's anything you can do to help around the house.  They could be elderly, or new parents, or just working long hours these days.  The projects can be completed really any time, but we're shooting for the week of June 27-July 3.

So Sanctuary, get out there.  Talk to your neighbors.  Find a project.  And share the love of God!

When you find a project, email me, and share it in the comments below.

May God use us all to change this world with His love!

pj

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