Self on the Shelf

If you come over to our home, you may notice a small Santa-like character wedged between the curtain rod and the ceiling in our living room. To be honest, we simply missed it when we were taking down the Christmas decorations about a year and a half ago, but I find it kind of fun to keep it up (and Tami doesn't mind, either).

Some of you may be familiar with a children's book and accompanying stuffed doll by the name of "Elf on the Shelf".  Maybe your family even has one.  The basic storyline is that Santa is monitoring the behavior of the children by way of these elves who return to the North Pole to report to him each night after the children go to bed. Each day the elf finds a new place to view the children being either naughty or nice. Families who have taken up this tradition play a kind of hide-and-seek game each day looking for the little guy.

While putting an elf up on the shelf may be limited to the Christmas season (unless you're a Palmberg), we are called year-round to put our self on the shelf.  What I mean is that God calls us to take our natural tendency to be self-centered and put that aside in favor of becoming more self-less in our relationship with others.

However, that's a whole lot more easily said than done! We are constantly driven to "look out for #1" whether it means grabbing the last slice of pie for ourselves, relentlessly arguing our position on some topic, or jockeying our way into the place of honor or power.  The only way to effectively reject this selfishness and live in the freedom and joy of a selfless life is through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

I hope you'll be able to join us this Sunday, July 21st, as we look at Philippians 2:1-11.  

COMMUNITY Covenant Church

Last December our church put together a fun evening of comedy and Christmas music for our community that we called "A Cool Yuletide".  The purpose was simply to provide a fun event and make connections with people who might be reluctant to walk into the church building on a Sunday morning.  Through this program, we let people know that we care about Twisp and like to have fun. It was completely what you might call "relationship building".

I've been thinking about ways we can continue to do this without all of the effort and expense of creating an event from scratch. What are things that are already going on that we could join? How can we find ways to move out beyond the walls of our building and be in our community?

In a few weeks there will be a charming little 4th of July parade going down Glover Street.  I want a group from our church to participate in the parade with the goals of

1. Being an active part in this community event
2. Demonstrate that Christians like to have fun
3. Make a memorable/funny contribution to the celebration

So, Tami and I are putting together the "Community Covenant Church Synchronized Napping Brigade". That's right: we're going to be marching -- and napping -- our way down Glover Street. It will be silly, funny, and definitely memorable!

So we're looking to recruit all of you willing to be a little silly for the cause. Let me know that you're ready to  join the Brigade!  We'll have one dessert/practice at the church on Tuesday, June 30th, at 7:00 pm. Then we'll muster at Twisp Works at 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 4th for the 11:00 AM parade.  It should be a hoot!

Annual Agros 4th of July Fund Raiser

When: Saturday, July 4th   Music begins at 4:30, potluck dinner at 6:00
Where: The White House - Lookout Mt. Road
Why: Raise money for Agros (to learn more about this ministry check out 
www.agros.org
Questions? Call Bill or Suellen at 997-3252