October 8, 2015

We will have a Canopy Conference this Sunday (Oct. 11) to vote on a recommendation to begin construction on the All In Project!! Both the elders and the expansion planning team have unanimously approved the construction plans and cost and will present their recommendation to the church at two conferences sessions in the worship center at 5:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. The expansion planning team members have worked diligently over the past four months to reduce costs while preserving all of the originally envisioned functionality of the expansion. I believe you will be encouraged and inspired by their recommendation. If you are a member of the church, I hope you will make plans to come to one of the conferences. Regular attenders and guests are welcome to attend as well. 

Groundbreaking is tentatively planned for Sunday, October 18th. If the church approves going ahead with construction this Sunday, we will have a groundbreaking service at both worship hours on the 18th. I will interview our architect and construction manager about how the plans were developed and what to expect with construction in the coming months. At the end of the service we have something special planned that will enable every family to pray and leave a permanent mark in the new building. You will not want to miss it!!

Trunk or Treat is only two weeks away!! We still need trunks of candy and volunteers to help in various places. Email Joy Whithaus to sponsor a trunk or volunteer to help. Pray that God will use this event to help us connect with hundreds of unchurched people in our community.

Help us build community. This week we heard from someone who has been attending our church for over a year but still does not feel at home. Even though she serves in a couple of ministries, few people speak to her family members each week. Her family likes the church but doesn't feel connected after months of regular attendance. This disturbed me greatly! Our natural tendency is to group up and hang out with people we know. Enjoying fellowship with friends is a vital part of being in God's family. However we must give attention to new people that God leads to our fellowship. Every week we have first time guests and repeat guests looking for community and a place to call home. Some folks, like this family, have been coming for months without feeling connected. We must do better! We can do better!Here are some ways we can raise the bar on community:

• Wear your Canopy Roads name tag each week. This helps us meet people and feel comfortable talking to people we have already met but forgotten their names. If you need one, email Cathy and we will get one for you.
• Speak to people you meet in the parking lot, hallway, worship center, café, etc.
• Meet and get to know all of the people who serve in your ministry.
• Ask God each week to show you who you need to meet or talk to. Your cheerful greeting or word of encouragement could change a life this week.

This Sunday we will study the Apostle Paul's experience in the city of Athens. The title of the message is "Never Enough gods". Read and reflect on Acts 17:15-34 in preparation for the study.

All In for Him,

Matt Hall