THIS WEEK'S PATHWAY 10-26-16

P A T H W A Y

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Celebrating 90 Years of Ministry in the Community!

THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

PASTOR'S BLOG

"Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine."

~ I Samuel 17:40 (NIV)

Hello Cascade Friends and Family,

Serving as Cascade's lay leader these first few months has been both energizing and daunting. Energizing because of the great and amazing opportunities that lie before us and daunting for the same reasons. Thank you for the opportunity to talk about my journey on Laity Day; and, thanks to all of the many people who made Sunday happen--laypeople, pastors, and staff: the "us" of Cascade.

Today, I urge you to take a look at the new pole banners in our parking lot and "Rethink Church" with us, in terms of what Cascade could be. In the coming months, you will experience new endeavors, actions, events, and receive communications from the lay leader team to engage all of us in moving forward. Do this to get going in the next 30 days:

Come to Church Council Meeting, and ASK QUESTIONS!

Save the Date: Tuesday, December 6, 2016--our last meeting at 7 pm in Fellowship Hall.
Say YES if you are tapped to add your voice and ideas to a listening session.
ASK someone to tell you just one hope, one dream for Cascade. Share your idea with the lay leader team at layleaders@cascadeumc.org.
Take this challenge. Over the next 30 days, during your quiet time, your commute--whenever you have a moment--commit to speak at least one life-affirming thought or idea about our congregation, our children, our church, and our community. The outcome of this collaborative effort by Christian believers will be four, deliberately positive thoughts each day for a month. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that "death and life are in the power of the tongue!" Breathe life into this challenge and let's see some power!

David faced his giant, Goliath, with five smooth stones and a giant-sized conviction: "The LORD owns this war." An ordinary shepherd boy used an ordinary slingshot and five ordinary stones to overcome his giant. Whatever the giant may be in your life, whatever the mountain or obstacle that is in your way, God can use the most seemingly-ordinary thing to overcome it. He uses ordinary US to accomplish extraordinary things. We have giants to overcome at Cascade, for our church and for our community. Our God is greater than any giant. Our battles belong to Him.

In response to several requests from Sunday's worshippers, I am sharing what the five smooth stones represent for me:

F ace the facts of the situation. Know what is real and true about the "giant," but more importantly, know what is real and true about God.
A ssess what you have - Identify the skills, abilities, gifts, and connections you possess and take them to the fight. Maximize your gifts!
I nvest all that you are - Push through and go for it. Step outside your comfort zone.
T alk to your "giant" - words have power, so use "trust talk."
H ope in God - expect victory because hope does not disappoint.

Ultimately it is FAITH, "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" that will take us through our giants, individually and as a congregation.

God has plans for us, plans to prosper us, to give us hope and a future. Cascade is where He has placed us to live out our individual calling. So, ask the questions and dare to dream. The lay leader team is here to support you.

We are a Christ-centered, activist congregation, sincere in our witness, called to be a light and anchored in the Lord. We are destined to live out our calling. We are eternal--part of the triumphant Church of Jesus Christ. WE ARE CASCADE!

Blessings,

Cyde Creagh

CUMC Lay Leader