January 27-28, 2007
You’ve undoubtedly heard a lot about how we hope to use this upcoming Super Bowl party as a strategic means to build bridges with those who do not attend Dayspring. As we’ve been hearing about people asking friends, we are already sure that the event will be a success. By the way, whenever I use the word success, I’m thinking not of the normal human definitions, but of how God defines success. Faithfulness is what he’s looking for. When we’re faithful to ask, we’ll always find him faithful. The results are up to him! We’re just to invite, to reach out, to make friends, to speak up, to live it, and he does the rest.
So, you may be thinking, this Super Bowl thing sounds good, but what other major events are we hoping to take advantage of this year? Is there anything in the works? Can we get in the habit of regularly gearing up for big events? Yes, this is part of strategically planning to accomplish our purpose. And, yes, we already know one answer to what will be next. We plan to pull out all the stops and get as involved as we can in the Keizer Iris Festival! This is the biggest annual event in our town and we want to follow the lead of Col. 4:5,6.
Before I share any more of my excitement about this opportunity to serve, let me say something about Dayspring and Keizer. I know that many who attend here don’t live in Keizer. I like that. We hope to grow as a regional church and I think our proximity to I-5 and the quality of our programs allow for that regional mentality. At the same time, our church is located in Keizer. It makes sense to do as much as we can to bloom where we are planted while still reaching out farther.
The first year I was here I attended the Keizer Iris Festival parade. I sat on the curb with some people who attended another church in town. They asked me why my church wasn’t involved, why we at Dayspring didn’t have a float. I didn’t know the answer.
So last year we were involved and had a cool float. I even played rhythm guitar in a blues band on the back of a truck! As George Harrison once said after a demanding session in the recording studio, “I got blisters on my fingers” (rock music fans: tell me what song he was playing). Now that is suffering for the gospel!
And this year we get to step it up yet another notch! Get ready for this: we have been given the opportunity to be the title sponsors of the whole Iris Festival this year! We don’t yet know all that this will involve for us (many details will be fleshed out later), but what we do know is that this fits what we’ve been talking about. Here’s a huge chance to walk across our town! This level of involvement would not have been available to us except for the vision and generosity shown in a special gift. Our participation will mean that we are able to make a serious statement about our desire to connect with our community. In case you are worried, I should clarify that we will not be connected with what used to be called the beer garden (now called the entertainment tent). There will be no Baptist brew, no pastor’s porter, no salvation suds, no church chugging and no Larry Lager! The entertainment tent has a difference sponsor that better fits that venue: Coors Light! We’re into something different: serving the community for the sake of Christ! Let’s praise God as we continue to serve him in creative ways.
So, you may be thinking, this Super Bowl thing sounds good, but what other major events are we hoping to take advantage of this year? Is there anything in the works? Can we get in the habit of regularly gearing up for big events? Yes, this is part of strategically planning to accomplish our purpose. And, yes, we already know one answer to what will be next. We plan to pull out all the stops and get as involved as we can in the Keizer Iris Festival! This is the biggest annual event in our town and we want to follow the lead of Col. 4:5,6.
Before I share any more of my excitement about this opportunity to serve, let me say something about Dayspring and Keizer. I know that many who attend here don’t live in Keizer. I like that. We hope to grow as a regional church and I think our proximity to I-5 and the quality of our programs allow for that regional mentality. At the same time, our church is located in Keizer. It makes sense to do as much as we can to bloom where we are planted while still reaching out farther.
The first year I was here I attended the Keizer Iris Festival parade. I sat on the curb with some people who attended another church in town. They asked me why my church wasn’t involved, why we at Dayspring didn’t have a float. I didn’t know the answer.
So last year we were involved and had a cool float. I even played rhythm guitar in a blues band on the back of a truck! As George Harrison once said after a demanding session in the recording studio, “I got blisters on my fingers” (rock music fans: tell me what song he was playing). Now that is suffering for the gospel!
And this year we get to step it up yet another notch! Get ready for this: we have been given the opportunity to be the title sponsors of the whole Iris Festival this year! We don’t yet know all that this will involve for us (many details will be fleshed out later), but what we do know is that this fits what we’ve been talking about. Here’s a huge chance to walk across our town! This level of involvement would not have been available to us except for the vision and generosity shown in a special gift. Our participation will mean that we are able to make a serious statement about our desire to connect with our community. In case you are worried, I should clarify that we will not be connected with what used to be called the beer garden (now called the entertainment tent). There will be no Baptist brew, no pastor’s porter, no salvation suds, no church chugging and no Larry Lager! The entertainment tent has a difference sponsor that better fits that venue: Coors Light! We’re into something different: serving the community for the sake of Christ! Let’s praise God as we continue to serve him in creative ways.
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