A new church wide campaign, “Return to Your First Love,” (from Revelation 2:4), will begin January 11, 2009, with an introduction on January 4, 2009, from Pastor Burns as part of his final message before beginning his sabbatical.

As happens in many relationships, we have a tendency to get used to the other person and take them for granted.  Through routines and busy-ness and distractions, we can become blinded to his/her unique qualities and become insulated from our original responses to our friends and spouses.  That can easily happen to our relationship with Jesus, too.

In an effort to help us all “Return to Your First Love,” and to share in Randall’s sabbatical journey, we will use “The Jesus I Never Knew,” an updated study from Philip Yancey.   This renewal sabbatical time will help us refocus on Jesus in ways that will help us to see His awesomeness again, and to see Who we fell in love with when we first met Him.  This will be our emphasis from January 11 through February 22.

Lent begins on Wed., February 25 and from that point on through Palm Sunday, April 5, we will focus on some Spiritual Disciplines, their meaning and their practice.  During part of this same time, Randall will be on a similar spiritual journey through some personal spiritual direction and quiet time in Denver and at the Spiritual Life Institute also in Colorado, a monastic retreat center in the Rocky Mountains. 

The following quotes are from Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster.

“Spiritual growth is the purpose of the Disciplines.”  (COD, pg 8)  “In and of themselves they (Spiritual Disciplines; added) are of no value whatever.  They have value only as a means of setting us before God so that he can give us the liberation we seek. … The Disciplines are merely the means.  They are not the answer; they only lead us to the Answer. … Let us forever center on Christ and view the Spiritual Disciplines as a way of drawing us closer to his heart.”  (COD, Pg 110,111)

The study of “The Jesus I Never Knew” in the first part of this adventure will sharpen our focus on Jesus. Our experience with spiritual disciplines during Lent will help us to deepen our intimacy with Jesus. 

What an awesome way for our entire congregation to start the New Year by seriously seeking to “Return to Your First Love” together!   Please sign up and get more details at the bullen board.

(All the DGroups including Sunday morning DGroups will be part of the campaign.  For folks not in DGroups, you are welcome to join the Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting that will also be taking part.  Any new groups being formed will be announced and advertised.)