Sundays, September 20 and 27 at 11:30 a.m. in the Library of Kenmore Presbyterian Church
Published in 2007, The Shack by William P. Young, with Wayne Jacobsen and Brad Cummings has sold over seven million copies and is a New York Times Bestseller.
During the first session, we will look at the book, using a study from The Thoughtful Christian, a web-based curriculum service. They write their study for The Shack was the result “of requests from Christians who (1) want to use the book as a jumping-off point to examine their own understanding of and relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit; (2) would like to refute the theology presented in The Shack; or (3) would rather not read the book, but would like to know enough about it to respond to its overwhelming presence in society.
During the second session, we will spend more time with the theology of The Shack, asking, “What does it have to say about salvation, the Trinity, and why bad things happen to good people?”
If you have read the book, then you understand how it challenges the reader to think about how we think about God. If you haven’t read the book, you may wish to read it before Sunday, September 20 to be familiar with its unique approach to questions of faith. The Shack is available at most bookstores. If you have any questions or comments, leave them here or contact howard.boswell@gmail.com.
Continue reading about THE SHACK: An Introduction to The Bestselling Book
8/30/09 (Right click and “save link as” to download)
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It may seem too early to talk about lessons learned from the Forty Days of Purpose Campaign. After all, by the time you receive your May Newsletter, we will only have begun on Sunday, May 3. Yet, working with the Church Health Team and Campaign Team since February, I will venture to share a few first learnings.
First, the Forty Days of Purpose Campaign was the right program at the right time for Kenmore Presbyterian Church. When a group of us attended a retreat with Paul Nixon, the author of I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church, at the beginning of March, he applauded our decision to go forward with this ambitious campaign. During an hour-long consultation, Paul applauded our decision to participate in the Forty Days of Purpose Campaign, because it addresses our minimal factors of Need Oriented Evangelism and Passionate Spirituality.
Second, people prayed for the success of this campaign faithfully. Marilyn Koszarek approached many people and groups to pray for the reality of God’s presence, for God to enrich our prayer life, for open hearts and minds, and for our church leaders, with each prayer represented by a penny. 1,701 pennies were poured into a glass container!
On April 22, 2009, the following persons prayed for a half-hour for the Forty Days of Purpose and for Kenmore Presbyterian Church: Thelma Brynolfson, Helen deGuehery, Betty Fix, Jean Avery, Marilyn Plache, Nancy Macakanja, Warren Milroy, Rick Newell, Irma Sisson, Janet Meahl, Neil Farmelo, Margaret Schmidt, Earl Rockelman, Janet Campbell, and Marie Hewett. Also, Marilyn Koszarek, Gene Koszarek, Marie Hewett, Nancy Macakanja, and Dick Macakanja joined me for a prayer walk throughout our neighborhood. I believe their prayers are being answered with a resounding, “YES!” as God blesses us as we begin the Forty Days of Purpose.
Third, we know how to work hard together and have fun together. The Campaign Team worked hard to plan and implement what we’re experiencing, but I doubt anybody would call our meetings boring! We’ve had FUN! The Kick-Off began with the Pancake Fiesta, which was a blast! Thanks to Chef Michael Bloomquist and his able assistant, Katrina Robinson. Our Youth Group did a great job in decorating and in serving, then continued to show enthusiasm as they led our worship, which was wonderful. I want to thank Rhett Boswell, Meaghan Thomas, Devon Ward, Jessica Feather, Alex Schultz, Amanda Schultz, and Dylan Cottrell for all their hard work. I want to express my gratitude to Ian and James Boswell, who ably led the Kick-Off Event and did a great job! Of course, all of this is possible, because of the outstanding work of Nancy Fuster, our Campaign Director.
Finally, I believe people are ready to see God work in their lives. We have over fifty people in eight different small groups. I want to thank Gail Janiga, who’s working with Gateway to God and with Small Groups, and Warren Glover, who went the extra mile to call 82 members to personally invite them to participate. The response shows we’re ready to know God’s purposes for our lives.
Continue reading about ONE BLOCK NORTH: What We Have Learned So Far from 40 Days of Purpose!
On Sunday, April 26, Kenmore Presbyterian Church will kick-off Forty Days of Purpose: A Churchwide Spiritual Growth Campaign. 
At its March meeting, I shared with the session my believe that the Forty Days of Purpose Campaign could be the most important spiritual growth event in the history of Kenmore Presbyterian Church. This congregation has never been challenged to consider God’s purposes for our lives in such a comprehensive fashion. Currently, the Forty Days of Purpose Campaign Team has involved over thirty members of the congregation in communicating the campaign; planning for its worship; developing plans for small groups, Gateway to God, and Youth Fellowship; preparing for the Kick-Off, the Ministry and Mission Fair, and the Celebration; and praying for the success of this campaign.
How did the session arrive at the decision to participate in the Forty Days of Purpose? The Church Health Team recommended it to them as a way to work on our minimum factor of Need-Oriented Evangelism and our second lowest factor of Passionate Spirituality as defined by the Natural Church Development Survey we took in the fall of 2007. I suggested the Forty Days of Purpose Campaign to them because I believe it to be a focused way of addressing these issues by changing the habits of our congregation.
Forty Days of Purpose will begin with a Kick-Off Worship Service on Sunday, April 26. During that worship service led by the youth of the church, we will see Rick Warren by way of video. He will describe what the Forty Days of Purpose is all about. He will lead us to commit ourselves to three things:
- To hear all seven messages in the sermon series, The Purpose Driven Life.
- To read The Purpose Driven Life book every day for the next 40 days and to memorize a verse of scripture every week.
- To join a 40 Days of Purpose small group.
Let me tell you what each of these commitments mean.
During the Forty Days of Purpose, I will preach on The Purpose Driven Life every Sunday as follows:
Sunday, May 3: “What on Earth Am I Here For?”
Sunday, May 10: “Worship–You Were Planned for God’s Pleasure”
Sunday, May 17: “Fellowship–You Were Formed for God’s Family”
Sunday, May 24: “Discipleship– You Were Created to Become like Christ”
Guest Preacher: The Reverend Lowell Avery, Pastor, Cleveland Drive Presbyterian Church
Sunday, May 31: “Ministry–You Were Shaped for Serving God”
Sunday, June 7: “Evangelism–You Were Made for a Mission”
In worship, we will explore these themes through music and drama, teaching and testimony.
Then, every day, you will read a chapter from The Purpose Driven Life, which will deepen the impact of the Sunday morning message. Let me tell you a little about this book. In February, I introduced Ten Books I Think Every Christian Needs to Read. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren was number five on that list. Since its publication in 2002, it has been on the New York Times Best Seller List for advice books and has become one of the best-selling non-fiction books of all times, selling well over 30 million copies by 2006.
How would I explain this book’s popularity? Well, I believe it addresses the most basic question all of us ask at one time or another, “What on earth am I here for?” While most self-help books suggest we should look at our own desires and dreams, Rick Warren starts with God and God’s eternal purposes for our lives. We find real meaning and purpose when we understand and fulfill God’s purposes for putting us on earth. The Purpose Driven Life helps readers understand God’s incredible plan for their lives. Warren enables them to see the big picture of what life is all about and begin to live the life God created them to live. The book’s website describes, “The Purpose Driven Life [as] a manifesto for Christian living in the 21st century…a lifestyle based on eternal purposes, not cultural values.” Once I heard the great Riverside preacher, Ernie Campbell comment, “If someone said that a book changed their life, wouldn’t you be a fool not to read it?” The Purpose Driven Life changed my life. I believe it will become one of the great devotional classics of all time. Rick Warren presents a powerful picture of what it means to live a truly Christian life. For this reason alone, I’d urge everyone to read the book.
Finally, I encourage every member to become a part of a Forty Days of Purpose Small Group. Following worship on Sunday, April 26, everyone will be invited to Connections, a fun event that will introduce you to the Forty Days of Purpose Small Group Curriculum and get you into a group. In your weekly small group, you will have the opportunity to go even deeper into The Purpose Driven Life through video teaching from Rick Warren, discussion, prayer, opportunities for service and sharing, and mutual accountability. If you’ve never been a part of a small group before, this opportunity offers you the best introduction to one of the finest ways to grow in your spiritual life I know.
During the Campaign, there will be special events. On Wednesday, April 22, we will have a Day of Prayer and Fasting, in which we will prepare ourselves spiritually for this important experience. We will have members sign up to pray every hour during the day from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m. we will have a service of prayer and praise in the Chapel. I already mentioned the Kick-Off and Connection Event on Sunday, April 26. On Sunday, May 31, following worship, we will have a Ministry and Missions Fair, which will provide you with an opportunity to consider service within the life of Kenmore Presbyterian Church and in the larger community and world. Then, on Sunday, June 14, we will have Celebration, in which we will share what God has taught us about God’s purposes for our lives during our forty day journey.
If you still have questions about the Forty Days of Purpose, then please speak with Nancy Fuster, our Campaign Director or visit Central Terminal in the Narthex or Fellowship Hall where you’ll find a brochure and helpful folk who can tell you more about it. Also, you can post your comment as question on this website or contact me directly at revboz@kenpres.org.
I challenge you to become a part of this important season of spiritual growth and renewal for Kenmore Presbyterian Church. I pray you will be blessed as we discover together God’s purposes for our lives and our life together.
In Christ,
The Reverend Dr. Howard W. Boswell, Jr.
Pastor
Continue reading about One Block North: Forty Days of Purpose and The Purpose Driven Life
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