Dear Faith Family-

It’s been a long time since I’ve written to you. I apologize for that period of silence. A very busy schedule around Easter followed by an extended bout with bronchitis really threw my schedule into disarray.

Last week we concluded our worship series focused on the Sermon on the Mount. This Sunday (tomorrow, May 2) we’ll observe the Lord’s Supper together, and on Mother’s Day the following Sunday we’ll begin a family-based worship series we’re titling “Growing a Godly Family.” In this series we’ll be referring to “family” as both that household unit we know as family as well as the “church family” of which we’re a part at Faith. So I feel confident that our worship each week will speak to each of us.

Tomorrow, as we observe the Lord’s Supper together, we’ll be trying a different approach. In the past, we’ve done it in a pretty much private manner- each receives the elements at his or her own seat with little if any direct interaction with others. At my encouraging (and I say this only so you’ll know where to direct any complaints) the elders have agreed to join with me in trying a different approach for this Sunday. Instead of their serving from a single table and distributing the elements throughout the congregation, we’ll instead be serving from four different tables positioned in various locations around the sanctuary. An elder will be stationed at each table. During an extended time of worship and praise led by our Worship Team, we’re asking that you, along with your family unit or cluster of friends, make your way to one of the tables to receive the elements of the Lord’s Supper. There, the elder will spend a moment with you asking if there is any need in your personal or family life for which he can pray, after which he will pray personally with you. Then he will share with you the bread and the juice, and close with a brief word of prayer. You may then return to your seat and continue with the worship experience. We’re hoping that this more personal approach will help strengthen the bond of fellowship we are seeing being developed at Faith, and also allow our Elders an opportunity for personal ministry to you and your family.

I look forward to seeing you as we gather to worship tomorrow. May God bless you,