In brief, the following are some of the dreams that I have been dreaming re: our involvement through the park:

1. Building and donating a quality, safe and enjoyable piece of playground equipment.  Dream big; isn't the castle playground in Rushford awesome?!

2. Adopting a little league team.  Supplying uniforms, attending games, hosting ice cream socials for them at the church, etc.

3. Something as simple as painting all the existing equipment to make it look good again.

4. A big colorful sign on the North Park side of our church instead of that 1950's-looking brick sign that leans at about 15 degrees toward the east.  So that they actually see the church.

What are your dreams?  What would you like to see us do?

In Christ,

Jon

"Hello to all you who visit this page!  I am glad to see that you have popped in!  I am writing to tell you how very excited I am about our growth emphasis for 2008--If You Want to Walk on Water, You've got to Get out of the Boat!  It is a fantastic book that I feel will be both challenging and encouraging to you in your spiritual walk.  I hope that everyone finds a small group (if you  haven't already!) and gets a copy of this book to join us in the journey together as a church.  If you would like more information on small groups, feel free to see me at church or contact me through this blog and I will make sure that you are plugged in to a small group.

Small Group Leaders--we will be trying to use this space as a communication point.  If you have questions or concerns, feel free to post them here and I will do my best to respond to them as quickly as possible. 

May God bless you as you strive to grow closer to him!"

-Walter Hopkins

 One of the greatest joys of pastoring this church is getting to know the many people who passionately serve Jesus with their time, talents and treasure!  One of the hardest things about pastoring this church is being able to communicate with everyone that is ministering.

This section of the blog is reserved for those who are actively serving in a ministry capacity at the church.  There will be subcategories for each ministry that needs various persons to communicate with each other on a regular/semi-regular basis.  For instance, one of the great benefits of Small Group ministry is the various times and places they can be offered; however, that makes it very difficult for the various small group leaders to talk to one another and with Walter Hopkins and myself.  This is the place.

Think of it as a ministry meeting that you can show up to whenever you want, wearing whatever you want, from wherever you get online - and your voice will be heard, and opinions shared for the others in the ministry to see and reply to.

The next step is to post a comment for your ministry team if you want a subcategory, and get the ball rolling.

In Christ,

Jon

""Hey! Come on in!  Make yourself at home!  Is there anything I can get for you?"

 These are the normal sounds one hears upon visiting a friend's home.  Sounds of welcome, excitement and service.  It is the response you were hoping for when first you decided to drop by, and it is the assurance that they feel about you as you feel about them.  In short, they are truly glad that you showed up, and they are looking forward to spending time with you.

First of all, I hope that you will find that spirit to be true of this home on our blog!  More than thoughts shared it is to be a place of shared life and joy.  I invite you to participate in this our home, drop by often and share your heart on matters that are important to you.  As your host, I will try to make sure that you are welcomed and comfortable; and I simply ask that you extend that courtesy to the others that drop by as well."

I hope that you will find this to be true of your experience on our blog here at North Park as well.

For any of the comments that you read, that you would like to post a response to, simply click on "comment" at the bottom of the original you are responding to.  Your post will then be emailed to me for approval for posting.  This is to make sure that we maintain that spirit of hospitality with one another, especially when we find ourselves disagreeing.  I will not remove a person's opinion from the discussion, only seek to limit the way we speak to each other.

 This comment is for information only, and is not able to be responded to.

 If you have any further questions please feel free to email me at:

jonw@northparkwesleyan.com

In Christ,

Jon

 These are the normal sounds one hears upon visiting a friend's home.  Sounds of welcome, excitement and service.  It is the response you were hoping for when first you decided to drop by, and it is the assurance that they feel about you as you feel about them.  In short, they are truly glad that you showed up, and they are looking forward to spending time with you.

First of all, I hope that you will find that spirit to be true of this home on our blog!  More than thoughts shared it is to be a place of shared life and joy.  I invite you to participate in this our home, drop by often and share your heart on matters that are important to you.  As your host, I will try to make sure that you are welcomed and comfortable; and I simply ask that you extend that courtesy to the others that drop by as well.

 Secondly, as I ponder upon those 4 simple phrases that I started this conversation with - I am, as always, brought back to our church home; and I find myself asking this simple question, "Are our guests welcomed with excitement and service?"  From the parking lot to the pew, do they feel that we would get them a glass of ice water if they were thirsty, a seat if they were weary or a listening ear if they wanted to talk?  Those of us who call North Park "home" should make sure that we "host" guests with that heart - of welcome, excitement and service.

 ...What are your thoughts?  Do we do a good job of hosting?  Are there ways that we can improve?  Do you feel as though you (if you call North Park home) are an active host?

"Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.  They have told the church about your love.  You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.  It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.  We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth." (3 John 5-8 NIV)