YOUR GUIDE TO STAYING CONNECTED DURING COVID-19

Be sure to read the entirety of this email as new and pertinent information is shared in each week's edition.

I just read a verse that baffled me. Let me give you some context before I give you the verse.   Israel has taken possession of the Promised Land. God has fulfilled every promise He made to Israel, doing what was impossible. This all began when God allowed a barren woman to give birth (Genesis 21). Now, hundreds of years later, Israel has defeated its enemies and finally settled into the Promised Land. The book of Joshua closes with this triumph, only to have the book of Judges open with these amazing words:   "After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel." -Judges 2:10 Read that verse again. What!?!?! How could that even be possible? After living in slavery for 400 years, after being delivered from the Egyptian superpower of the time, after the parting of the Red Sea, after miracle after miracle, after manna from heaven, after defeating much stronger enemies, after being able to see the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day, and after receiving the Ten Commandments, a generation grew up who didn’t know God or what He had done for them? I don’t understand. How can parents (and leaders) not lead their children to God or tell them what He has done for them?   The problem with questions like these is that they’re often boomerang questions that come back and hit you between the eyes. The Holy Spirit has a way of holding up a mirror — all of a sudden, we see ourselves in the Biblical story. How many times do we fail to tell our children about what God is doing in our lives? How often do we live lives that requires faith? How often do we lean on the church to do what God has call us, as parents, to do? How often do we sit with our children and walk through and talk about the Bible? Do we point our children to God or are other things more important? The sad reality is that we ourselves can be guilty of not pointing the next generation to God or not telling them what He has done. May this not be our story. In Jesus’ name, may this not be our story! If it is, let’s repent and resolve to do much better! Those looking up to us need it! Trying to do better, too!  Pastor Kenneth

RELAUNCH STRATEGY We recently announced our plan for relaunching Parkgate. We are currently in Phase 2 and plan to move to Phase 3 for Sunday, May 31. We've created a helpful page on our website that covers this plan. As a reminder for groups meeting in the church parking lot or under the pavilion, there is absolutely no building access available. Please bring your own lawn chairs and plan accordingly.

Click the image above to view a PDF version of our COVID-19 Relaunch Strategy.

Click the image above to view a PDF version of our Relaunch Expectations guide.

ONLINE SERVICE: SUNDAY AT 10:45 A.M. Here are three simple ways to access our online worship service, which will stream Sunday at 10:45 a.m. CHURCH WEBSITE: Visit www.parkgate.church/worship-services and click play on the video. YOUTUBE: Subscribe to our YouTube channel and be alerted when our service posts. FACEBOOK: Follow our Facebook page to join us in watching the service there or join the Parkgate Online group and watch there. We encourage you to share these links with your families and friends in an effort to help #bethelight.

KiX DRIVE-THRU Save the date for Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. - Noon. During that time frame, you and your kiddos can drive-thru the church parking lot and pick up a KiX Summer Kit. Our KiX Leadership Team will be distributing supplies while wearing masks. We are looking forward to having a short visit with you, but do ask that you remain in your vehicles for the duration of your stop! Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll find inside: (1) An age-appropriate KiX Sermon Notebook for our Moses series this summer. Kids can use this in service until regular KiX programming resumes. (2) A tip sheet for best engaging your child in worship service and a suggested packing list for Sunday morning services. (3) Hands-on materials for all online summer Sunday and midweek programming (e.g., craft and game supplies). (4) A cool Grow Like Jesus Workbook challenge for our elementary school kids. (5) A special board book for our nursery/toddler kids. (6) Color-your-own VBS invite cards to distribute to family and friends to encourage them to join in the fun at our online Wilderness Escape VBS. (7) Lots of other fun surprises! REGISTER

ONLINE VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN While we're having to make some changes to how we have it, Vacation Bible School is STILL happening this summer! (July 15 - 19 at 6:30 p.m.) And we're still traveling back in time to Bible times, just like we've done the past couple years. Only this year, you'll be traveling from home, alongside your family. Plus, you'll have the option of having VBS over 3 or 5 days, whatever best suits your schedule.   Before VBS starts, we'll have a drive-through pick up where you can come and get a Wilderness Trek Pack for your family, which will include almost all of the supplies you need for the week. At the end of VBS, you'll drive-through again to drop off your missions project offering and to pick up a bag of prizes.   Watch this video for more information, then click the REGISTER button below. REGISTER

WEEKLY SCHEDULE We have created a new space to connect with you on Facebook via our Parkgate Online group. All online content for the church is now linked to this group. Our weekly streaming schedule is as follows: Daily Encouragement: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. Sunday Mornings: 9 a.m. IMPACT Student Lesson (6th - 12th Grade) 9:30 a.m. KiX Toddler Time (Age 2 & 3) 10 a.m. KiX Worship Lesson (Age 4 - 5th Grade) Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m. Toddler Story Time (Age 2 & 3) 6 p.m. IMPACT Student Lesson (6th - 12th Grade) 7 p.m. Club KiX Live! (Age 4 - 5th Grade) Pastor Andrew and Pastor Chelsea are arranging online Zoom gatherings for students and kids during this time. Please click their names to send them an email requesting further information.

GIVING DURING COVID-19 Remember, the church is often the place folks first turn to in times of crisis. While it looks different in this season, tremendous amounts of ministry are still taking place. Your ongoing financial support enables us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our community. Here are three easy ways to give during this time: Give online. Click here for instructions. Give via text. Click here for instructions. Put your check in the mail. We have made arrangements to continue receiving mail. For those who choose to give via mail, you can be confident your gifts are being received securely.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS We are posting our Sunday services, student videos, and children's videos on YouTube. Click the buttons below to be directed to our channels.

PARKGATE COMMUNITY CHURCH CHANNEL

IMPACT STUDENT MINISTRY CHANNEL

KiX CHILDREN'S MINISTRY CHANNEL

CELEBRATE MAY BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES Help us celebrate the folks in our church family with May birthdays and anniversaries by sending them a card. Download a list of those celebrating this month here.

PRAYING FOR EACH OTHER DURING THIS TIME We want you to know we consider it a privilege to pray for you. We have three ways we encourage you to request prayer during this time: EMAIL. We have set up a special account to receive prayer requests that you might not want broadcast at a wider level. Simply email prayer@parkgate.org and share your request. You can let us know if you prefer it remain confidential (within the staff level only) or if you'd like it shared publicly. FACEBOOK GROUP. Our Parkgate Prayer Page Facebook Group is a private group where you can request that members of our church community pray for you. PHONE. Call the church office and JD will take note of your request and pass it along.

ONGOING LOVE NOTES MINISTRY

We've been talking with our friends at the mayor's office and the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce about the best ways to love and support our city during this time. Join us in providing cards for doctors, nurses, first responders, and nursing home residents. Grab the family and follow these 4 simple steps: Grab the WHOLE family and work together to draw pictures and write thank you notes our encouraging prayers to a doctor, a nurse, a first responder, or a nursing home resident. Make sure to include who you are and where you're from in the card. If you are a kid, write your age! Put the card in an envelope. Seal it with a gluestick or tape to avoid the spread of unnecessary germs. Label the envelope with who the card is for (a doctor, a friend in the nursing home, etc.). Then, make some more cards! Gather all your cards together and put them in a large envelope, then either (A) drop them off at the church Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the large box outside the office doors or (B) send them in the mail to Parkgate Love Notes Ministry • 3715 Preston Road • Pasadena, TX 77505.